Sabiki Rig for Catching Bait Fish

[owtdoorguy]

To start, I am a big fan of a cast net. Love mine, tore it to shreds at the dam and tied the whole thing back together 3 hrs later.</p>

But I know there are rigs for catching bait fish, and one that I have come across is a Sabiki Rig and its corresponding rod. I want to make my own in the next weeks prior to going to florida for vacation and fishing. Anyone ever made one? Guys on other forums in Florida and the Keys swear by them, and they seem logical enough to make. I just don't want to buy one.</p>

Second question, anyone ever used something like that around here for gizzards, threads, tuffies, etc?</p>

For us cast net guys, its fun to throw a net but it can get tiring, especially if you aren't pulling anything up except weight. Thoughts appreciated.</p>

 

[SpurHunter]

I dont recall ever hearing about a guy that LOVES to throw a cast net as a primary method of fishing, as you seem to. You must be in pretty good shape! LOL
They are hard on your body to throw that much.

Anyways, as far as a sabki, I use them a bunch for skipjack when they are biting it. You occasionally run into other species that will bite it, but not often.
Be very careful creating your own, if your hook size is too large you run the risk of breaking the law defining multi-rig hooks.

 

[buzz]

Why make your own? If your going to Fl, they sell them in every color/shape you can think of. Cheap too. Walmarts or tackle shops have them. Use any rod....of no rod at all if your on a pier.

 

[owtdoorguy]

You both have a point.

I do love to throw the net, never know what you're gonna get. And then when you get something, never know what's going to eat it when you put a hook on it.

Good point about the multi-rig hooks. Been seeing folks using anything from size 4 - 40 on forums. I will probably opt for smaller targeting cigar, threads, up to 2-3inches.

Buzz, got a buddy who is going with me and loves a good project. Gonna task him with the rod from PVC and i'll make the rig. Should be fun, but you're right, every Gas station even has a sabiki down there.

 

[owtdoorguy]

SpurHunter - 3/26/2013 1:25 PM I dont recall ever hearing about a guy that LOVES to throw a cast net as a primary method of fishing, as you seem to. You must be in pretty good shape! LOL They are hard on your body to throw that much. Anyways, as far as a sabki, I use them a bunch for skipjack when they are biting it. You occasionally run into other species that will bite it, but not often. Be very careful creating your own, if your hook size is too large you run the risk of breaking the law defining multi-rig hooks.

</p>

Spur, by the way, enjoyed the run you guys made last night on Catfish show. Tough water seemed.</p>

</p>

 

[SpurHunter]

Thanks for the support, it was VERY late in the season to be noodling, we gave it our best.

I use a VERY small hook/bait style sabki and have never had a threadfin bite it, they feed on plankton, so the only way to catch them is to snag them. And they done live long after that. I have caught a couple gizzard shad, but only large ones and you have to just hold it stationary for them to bite it.

 

[foodsaver]

they seem like they would be very difficult to tie lots of tiny hooks.

 

[owtdoorguy]

You know I read that threads were herbivore, and yet I still wrote that. Oh well.

Guys along the coast have a bit more aggressive bait than us.

Foodsaver, if I don't go with a pre-fab rig, I will be tying a bunch of little knots, thats for sure.

Say Spur, I am still getting used to the bait scenario up here. Should I think about bait in seasons or will they continue to start showing up during warmer weather? I know last spring/summer was my first up here from Atlanta, and I am just trying to gauge what to expect for the next couple months. Any thoughts? Or is it all up in the air and dependent on environmentals?

 

[Liveliner]

I use the crap out of sabikis in saltwater but around here it is too much like just fishing. The saltwater bait fish will tear them up but here. No... Stick to the cast net and keep it out of the rocks.

 

[craazyboutbass]

I have caught skipjack and threadfin on sibiki rigs below Pickwick dam. Never caught many threadfin on them, but if I casted into a school of them, I would always bring some in.

 

[owtdoorguy]

<div>

Liveliner - 3/26/2013 7:46 PM I use the crap out of sabikis in saltwater but around here it is too much like just fishing. The saltwater bait fish will tear them up but here. No... Stick to the cast net and keep it out of the rocks.

</div>

I am familiar with the rocks, hence, having the retie my net for a few hours, with my wife just begging me to get a new one.

</p>

Any advice about hook size, leader length, location for bait sourcing in saltwater? I will mostly be on the beach, but might go to a pier one day.</p>

</p>

 

[Liveliner]

Where and when are you going to the beach. On the beach you are pretty restricted to catching Mullet and shrimp in your cast net, If you are where you can find marsh tide creeks and small canals then you can also pick up Mud minnows in addition to Mullet and shrimp. I like the Mud minnows... ... If you are on a pier then you have a lot more altitude, Your cast net will work if it will sink fast. In deep water you should have a Pound per foot of weight or keep it shallow. High piers will require a longer rope. The sabiki rig with a good sized weight on the bottom worked up and down in the water column neat post and walls will produce all the bait you should need. You will get all types of bait fish. Pinfish will be mostly what you catch.. That and greenies, depending on where you go...</p>

In shore rocks. pick up a bunch of finger sized mussels attached to the rocks. If you are fishing for Sheepshead slightly crack the shell todisturbthe contents and stick a Solid shank J hook in behind the shell hinge. In marsh grasses in low tide catch the Purple and white fiddler Crabs. Leave the browns ones alone unless that is allyoucan find. The crabs are good for most everything you should be fishing for.The shrimp you can catch is good but I seldom if ever buy shrimp. Instead I will buy Baby small squid. Tell me where you are going and I may be more specific</p>

 

[Liveliner]

Your hooks, leaders and tackle is wide open. Tell me where and what you want to target and then I can narrow it down. i.e Shark leaders differ from redfish rigs.

 

[owtdoorguy]

Liveliner - 3/26/2013 8:34 PM

Where and when are you going to the beach. On the beach you are pretty restricted to catching Mullet and shrimp in your cast net, If you are where you can find marsh tide creeks and small canals then you can also pick up Mud minnows in addition to Mullet and shrimp. I like the Mud minnows... ... If you are on a pier then you have a lot more altitude, Your cast net will work if it will sink fast. In deep water you should have a Pound per foot of weight or keep it shallow. High piers will require a longer rope. The sabiki rig with a good sized weight on the bottom worked up and down in the water column neat post and walls will produce all the bait you should need. You will get all types of bait fish. Pinfish will be mostly what you catch.. That and greenies, depending on where you go...</p>

In shore rocks. pick up a bunch of finger sized mussels attached to the rocks. If you are fishing for Sheepshead slightly crack the shell todisturbthe contents and stick a Solid shank J hook in behind the shell hinge. In marsh grasses in low tide catch the Purple and white fiddler Crabs. Leave the browns ones alone unless that is allyoucan find. The crabs are good for most everything you should be fishing for.The shrimp you can catch is good but I seldom if ever buy shrimp. Instead I will buy Baby small squid. Tell me where you are going and I may be more specific</p>

</p>

Liveliner, you are quite a gentlemen. I am heading to Seagrove Beach, west of Panama City. Middle of May for about a week. Might head over to PCB pier one day, but most will be on the beach. I hope to score and find some bait balls moving up and down the beach, but a rig might be only thing that produces. I will have two nets. 6ft radius, 3/8in mesh. Pretty standard nets I think. I want a 8 or 10 but not just yet.</p>

What do you think about sourcing bait in some of the smaller ponds/lakes nearby? Is that futile?</p>

 

[Liveliner]

Small Tide backwater pools creeks and ponds is where I CATCH 90% of my inshore bait.. for beach fishing, find the rig i just posted this week and go with that for all fish that does not have aggressive teeth. You will most likely get into some Spanish mackerel. use a 30 -40 lb Fluorocarbon leader at least 4' long. There are so many differing ways to fish and fish to target, there is no way I can list even some of it. But as I said for most everything use my freeline rig for best results.

 

[owtdoorguy]

Absolutely.

Your rig is great, and it is something i have been using for a while...actually after seeing it from Jeremy Wade on River Monsters. haha
Glad to hear you can target those ponds/creeks for bait. I have been mapping those out to see which ones might host more bait.

So, for all these species I could target, which ones would you recommend I NOT eat? I was going to try a few if I find some good ones.
Thanks.

 

[Liveliner]

On the Beach you always go for whatever is running. You will only know that when you get there. I love to catch 2' - 3' Pup-Sharks with cut-bait. They are... always there in the warm months. </p>

C & R PLEASE ... I love my Sharks.</p>

 

[Blackeyedshad]

Just buy a sabiki and take a small piece of pool noodle to wrap it around when not using it. Once you use the rig its hard to store and be able to reuse it, imo.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

ive used sabiki rig on guide trips in the carolinas with children, get around some white perch and let the kids have at em! hard to keep up getting them off the hooks for the next drop. kids laughing the whole time! would be great if youre using white perch for bait...........the nightmare of trying to tie my own.......no thanks!

 

[Lx545]

Thread resurrection here