Notifications

Clear all

What's your favorite big bait ?

william · 2009-01-20T14:22:18Z

One of my favorite big baits to use is the amberjack .Using whole or half of 30-50lb amberjacks was a method i started using to catch big sharks back in the early 1980's on the Bahia Honda bridge in the Florida keys.I first started using the big AJ's from the need to have a large enough bait that would stay below the surface of the treacherous current that flows beneath the Bahia Honda bridge.Back in those days after hearing some of the stories of big sharks spooling 14/0's i was one of the first to start using a rope to target the huge hammerheads and tiger sharks that were making the shark fisherman feel under powered on the overseas highway bridges.In March and April of every year like clockwork the Amberjack run is in full swing on the Islamorada and Marathon humps ,,,,,,,,,we knew this because we fished hard during those two months targetting the big hammers that also made there annual appearance during spring following the evergrowing schools of tarpon.On the way down to the bridges we usually stopped at the docks to get fresh shark bait and the big AJ's were on the floor or hanging from racks behind every charter boat and most of the mates sold us for a small fee or gave us whatever we needed for bait.A big amberjack head will also last longer then just about any other bait because of it's size.We would fish those big baits for up to 24 hours and they'd still had blood in them when they hit the pavement.If you did'nt want to mess with the nurse sharks or small blacktip sharks but rather have a bait that can only be swallowed by a big bull shark ,tiger or large hammerhead then a big AJ head is the way to go. A big bait will usually mean a big shark or a small one that aggravates the fisherman. Because of the weight of a big AJ or AJ head you have to use 12lb mono or heavier to tie your balloon to your bait because sewing thread would break right away. A big live jack for shark bait is one of my favorite "Big Baits" and will outlive any other live bait you can use and the sharks love them. A live jack must be tended to because they will swim in a big circle and tangle everyone's line. Another favorite big bait is a whole live barracuda or a half of fresh caught one. Back in the 1980's Rene and some others in the club would use a whole tarpon for bait ,,,,,usually with the devastating affect of of having our Penn Senators stripped. A bigger bait will last longer and sometimes keep away the smaller unwanted sharks.

Page 4 / 4 Prev

Last Post

RSS

monoxide

(@monoxide)

Noble Member

i like big sting rays, big jacks and tarpon with the tag of course.

ReplyQuote

Posted : 10/12/2011 1:49 am

Tarpon J

(@tarpon-j)

New Member

5 to 6 foot blacktips and bulls beware..
I will be rigging you up to bigger hooks and running you back out there

ReplyQuote

Posted : 10/15/2011 2:05 am

CATCHINJIANTS (cj)

(@catchinjiants-cj)

New Member

5 to 6 foot blacktips and bulls beware..
I will be rigging you up to bigger hooks and running you back out there

YEA!!!!

ReplyQuote

Posted : 10/17/2011 7:01 am

rippinlipsoff

(@rippinlipsoff)

New Member

5 to 6 foot blacktips and bulls beware..
I will be rigging you up to bigger hooks and running you back out there

YEA!!!!

IF it was up to me i'd be using that grander you caught

ReplyQuote

Posted : 12/08/2011 6:24 pm

CATCHINJIANTS (cj)

(@catchinjiants-cj)

New Member

5 to 6 foot blacktips and bulls beware..
I will be rigging you up to bigger hooks and running you back out there

YEA!!!!

IF it was up to me i'd be using that grander you caught

Haha :mrgreen: IDK that grander is worth about 40 grand, would you use a 40 thousand dollar bait?

But the grander head and skin would make some MONEY baits, Thats why the world record Makos and whites come from Tuna grounds.

ReplyQuote

Posted : 12/08/2011 6:55 pm

SharkOutlet

(@sharkoutlet)

New Member

For me I love some cownose rays.

ReplyQuote

Posted : 01/11/2012 10:09 pm

annamariakid

(@annamariakid)

New Member

In the Tampa Bay Area, June-September, large Black Drum can be caught around most of the bridges using a half of a blue crab. The smaller ones up to around 20# can be used whole and live. The bigger ones can have the tails cut off or really big ones cut in half. They are the best bait you can use for really large Bulls.

On anna maria island i heard a crazy story that was backed up by a few people of a live black drum getting eaten by a monster they paddled it out live and i guess a 12 got dumped to about 100yards left of braid so it ran about 1000 yardss curious to see what would happen if i put one out...

ReplyQuote

Posted : 06/08/2012 7:01 am

presby12

(@presby12)

New Member

Mine has to be a 15-20lb southern stingray fished whole.

ReplyQuote

Posted : 06/08/2012 10:05 am

belyea

(@belyea)

New Member

i love a big jack for my big reels or a mackeral for my 6/0s but lately i havnt been able to get many jacks off the beach so useing whole grouper carcasses on my 9/0's and 12/0s. dad got tore up on his 50 wide few weekends ago on a 24" grouper carcass but i have a few 40" carcasses in the freezer waiting for a camping trip at end of month! and hopefully a cooler full of fresh grouper and american red carcasses

ReplyQuote

Posted : 07/10/2012 7:19 am

JPSHARK38

(@jpshark38)

New Member

As We All Know Baits Vary Due To Season, I Used Bonitos, Tuna, Cuda, Ray, ( Wings ) Jack, Ladyfish, Bluefish, It Go's On. Over All I Have To Say Cuda Because We Kinda Have Them Here All Season And They Naturaly Produce Their Own Scent Trail, Only Other Bait I Know Does That Is A Bonito Or Tuna.

ReplyQuote

Posted : 10/18/2012 8:51 pm

Batrayz

(@batrayz)

New Member

Well in California my favorite bait is fresh caught Mackeral live or live surf perch. This summer I will try some batray chunks to see if ray works in the Pacific also.

Once I get my 14/0 I will be running 15-20lb batrays, salmon carcasses, tuna heads if I can get any or about 40 Mackeral on one hook if I can't get anything else :lol: