There are all sorts of theories as to what works, and why, when you fish bait.......
Your best Bait from the Surf so far this year, and Why?
There are all sorts of theories as to what works, and why, when you fish bait.......
There is the school of thought that says clams and worms are a great bait for early spring. and once the bunker school up in numbers, you should switch to bunker.......
There are also those who say that only the biggest fish come on bunker......
In general, that's true.......
There are always exceptions....
I know of 4 bass over 45# that were caught early Spring by guys fishing clams from the surf, or land.
And a few 30+ lb fish from guys fishing 2-3 worms at a time......
But the majority of bigger fish, (caught on bait from land), that I've seen and gotten reports about, have been on bunker, heads primarily,,,or live bunker......
So what has worked for you from land, and why?
Is that different from last year, in your experience?
Definitely a bloodworm guy in March & April. Love to hit the sod & back spots to get some bites and catch numbers of fish. Size isnt really important. Great time to get the kids out also, and get them doing battle with fun sized stripers.
May & June is bunker time. And almost exclusively night time surf fishing. I love it. Heads & head halfs when trying to fend off doggies. I dont get out nearly as much as I use to so the time I have lines in water, its ultra fresh bunker. I dont think Ive purchased a clam yet this year and I know I havent fished one. Clam will catch more but bunker will catch bigger. Most of the time anyway. So I play the percentages.
July and the rest of the summer is reserved for fluke & kings and wading the upper delaware for smallmouth.
Oct-Nov is back to bunker and back on the night time striper hunt. Dec & Jan worms and clam for whatever smaller bass are left hanging around.
Obviously weather and recent reports can modify trips. I still love eeling rock piles when the weather & fish are cooperating. I"ll run north and plug, snag/drop, etc. when its on also.
Clams from Capemay to AC than Bunker from Brig all the way up to the Hook
Early was sandworms, but most of the fish were small, a couple at 30", but most of them were 24" - 26".
Clams seemed to produce more keepers once we hit the middle of May. Sands will still work, but the clams seemed to work better.
June I like to toss 1 rod with clams, 1 with bunker. I get more fish on the clam rod, but when the bunker is hit.......its almost always a fish over 13lbs.
Mullet in the fall works better than bunker for me! This is only my experience, not saying its the best way.
I haven't been back to check these threads in a while, sorry I missed that.Originally Posted by circlehook
didn't you get the winning bass recently in the Berkeley Spring Tournament?
Bunker head?
Yes and yes. Head half of a bunker.Cut it big when the doggies are bad and they"ll struggle to get it in their mouth. Will bounce the bait around but not take it. When you go a few mins without them messing with it, be ready, cuz that's right when the bass seem to pick it up.
Which way do you cut the bunker head in half?
I like to use clam because I know for sure that theyre fresh....
Id like to go out an snag some bunker in the schools, but without a boat thats hard and that forces me to examine the fish at the stores.
Most People Just Don't Understand Why We Fish....
Above I was talking about cutting a bunker in half and then using the head section. Not actually cutting the head in half. Sorry. Big big piece of bait. Need a set up (rod/reel) that can chuck at least 10oz and preferably 14-16oz. I have two lami gsb 180-1m blanks chopped down to 12.5ft. A few inches off the top to get it around 15-16mm and the rest off the butt. Can do the same with the gsb1621m blanks. Makes a great chunking stick.
Now in situations where distance is a must, and this gets done frequently down OBX, I cut the head off just behind the fins. Then open the mouth and cut the bottom jaw off. More aerodynamic. Throws farther. Works great with bull reds that have smaller mouths, etc. And bass will absolutely eat them as well. Fish that small a bait when doggies are around though and the bass won't have a chance to get it. You"ll be hooking up and catching sharks all night.
Fresh bunker is a must. Since I mainly fish nights conditions aren't as important as fresh bait, IMO. So I"ll wait and fish the one or two nights I can get out a week when I know there is good bait. A lot of times the bait shops I frequent text me when the supplier is on way with a fresh batch.
you wrap them spinning or conventional? and what reel you throw on it?Above I was talking about cutting a bunker in half and then using the head section. Not actually cutting the head in half. Sorry. Big big piece of bait. Need a set up (rod/reel) that can chuck at least 10oz and preferably 14-16oz. I have two lami gsb 180-1m blanks chopped down to 12.5ft. A few inches off the top to get it around 15-16mm and the rest off the butt. Can do the same with the gsb1621m blanks. Makes a great chunking stick.
Now in situations where distance is a must, and this gets done frequently down OBX, I cut the head off just behind the fins. Then open the mouth and cut the bottom jaw off. More aerodynamic. Throws farther. Works great with bull reds that have smaller mouths, etc. And bass will absolutely eat them as well. Fish that small a bait when doggies are around though and the bass won't have a chance to get it. You"ll be hooking up and catching sharks all night.
Fresh bunker is a must. Since I mainly fish nights conditions aren't as important as fresh bait, IMO. So I"ll wait and fish the one or two nights I can get out a week when I know there is good bait. A lot of times the bait shops I frequent text me when the supplier is on way with a fresh batch.
thanx. Nick
One of each. 250 vs on the spinning and an abu7500c3ct on the conv.
Throwing that kinda is load is a lot easier with the conv. Use waterproof medical tape on my finger when throwing the spinning.
Haha i couldnt get my head around how to cut the bunker head in half...makes a lot more sense now.
Thanks for the insight though CH.
Bunker in the shops...
WHAT TO LOOK FOR??
- Red Gills
- Finger shouldnt be able to push through skin
what else? eyes?
1- ask. Most reputable shops will tell you. Caught same day is best. 2nd day is still pretty good. 3rd day = I"ll wait for the next batch to come in.
2- clear, non blood shot, eyes
3- solid to the touch, silvery body, preferably with a good slime coat still in tact. I prefer shops that ice (chip sea ice is best) v. Those that keep their bait in brine tubs. Slime coat keeps better.
4- no reddish bleed thru on body
5- and the heads gotta be in good shape. No gill plates missing, bottom jar in tact, etc
Guess I'm kinda a PITA with bait!
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