Live Bait
Whole Baitfish (Mackerel/Sardine)
Scaled up from anchovy-sized bait for larger predatory species. What separates a good day targeting big fish from a slow one is often just bait quality here.
How to rig it
Put it on the hook correctly
Live: hook through the nose or shoulder to keep it swimming. Dead, trolled or drifted: hook through both lips.
Storage
Keep it usable
Live bait needs a bait tank, dead bait keeps on ice, the same fish works either way depending on your target.
Matched species
Fish that commonly match this bait
Common Questions
How do you rig Whole Baitfish (Mackerel/Sardine)?
Live: hook through the nose or shoulder to keep it swimming. Dead, trolled or drifted: hook through both lips.
How do you store Whole Baitfish (Mackerel/Sardine)?
Live bait needs a bait tank, dead bait keeps on ice, the same fish works either way depending on your target.
What fish does Whole Baitfish (Mackerel/Sardine) catch?
Whole Baitfish (Mackerel/Sardine) works well for Thresher Shark, Striped Bass, Pacific Bonito.