Jacksmelt
Atherinopsis californiensis
Jacksmelt move through bay piers in loose, fast schools, feeding on tiny invertebrates drifting in the current rather than holding on the bottom. A multi-hook leader under a float covers several fish from one school at once, and best fishing is typically spring. Some piers limit how many hooks you can run on a smelt leader, check posted rules where you're fishing.
Typical size: 8-15in · Peak season: spring. Always check current CDFW regulations for size and bag limits before keeping fish.
Float Rig
A float suspends bait at a fixed depth instead of dragging it on the bottom, letting current or light wave action carry it naturally past holding fish. This is the standard technique for salmon and steelhead in rivers, fished with roe or beads under a pencil float, and for light-tackle pier species like jacksmelt, where a small float and a multi-hook leader with tiny bait covers a school as it drifts through. Use it whenever fish are holding off bottom rather than on it, or when you want a natural drift through a current seam without snagging.
- Main line8-15 lb monofilament running through the float
- Leader15-25 lb fluorocarbon
- Leader length18-24in from the float to the hook, shorten in clear water, lengthen in off-color water
- Hooks#8 - #6 small hooks, 3 to 6 spaced along the leader depending on local pier rules
- WeightNone to a tiny split shot, just enough to cock the float upright
- Line to sinkerShot placed 8-12in above the hook, or spaced 2in apart in a cluster halfway down the leader for salmon
- BaitA tiny piece of pile worm, bloodworm, or shrimp on each hook