By Bait N’ Wait

January 10. 2013

CATCHING BAIT WITH SABIKI RIGS MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH SABIKIS IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEAL TO EXPLAIN THEM. A SABIKI RIG IS BASICALLY A LEADER WITH SEVERAL HOOKS ATTACHED THAT CAN HAVE A COMBINATION OF FEATHERS, BEADS, PLASTIC SHRIMP OR FISH SKIN ON THE HOOKS TO ATTRACT BAIT FISH TO STRIKE THE HOOKS RATHER THAN ADDING BAIT LIKE SQUID OR SHRIMP, ALTHOUGH ON OCCASION I DO SWEETEN THE HOOKS IF NECESSARY. WHEN THE BAITFISH GET HOOKED, AN ANGLER CAN CATCH FROM ONE TO 5 OR SO DEPENDING ON HOW MANY HOOKS THE SABIKI HAS ON IT. MOST OF MY CUSTOMERS ENJOY CATCHING BAIT IN THIS MANOR. USUALLY THE FIRST STOP ON THE WAY TO FISHING OFFSHORE IS TO GET SOME QUALITY BAIT AS YOUR SUCCESS USUALLY HINGES ON THE BAIT & THE AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE. BAIT FISH THAT WORK VERY WELL FOR BOTTOM FISHING FOR GROUPER OR SNAPPER ARE PIN FISH, SARDINES, SQUIRREL FISH, THREADFINS & VARIOUS GRUNTS. BLUE RUNNERS WHICH ARE MUCH LARGER THAN THE OTHER BAIT I REFERRED TO, WORK ESPECIALLY WELL FOR KINGFISH AND SHARKS. SABIKI RIGS ARE MARKETED BY VARIOUS MANUFACTURES AND COME IN DIFFERENT SIZE HOOKS TO CATCH DIFFERENT SIZE BAIT FISH. (SEE PHOTO) GAMAKATSU HAS A RIG THAT THEY CALL A JIGGING RIG THAT I LIKE. A SABIKI RIG CAN BE USED ON ALMOST ANY ROD & REEL, BUT I PREFER A CUSTOM SABIKI ROD & REEL BAIT CATCHER THAT BAIT N WAIT TACKLE IN FT MYERS BEACH MANUFACTURES. IT IS A HOLLOW ROD ABOUT 6′ WHEN EXTENDED THAT ALLOWS THE RIG TO GO THROUGH THE INSIDE, THEREFORE PROTECTING THE ANGLER FROM ALL THE SMALL VERY SHARP HOOKS WHEN BEING USED OR WHEN STORING THE ROD. IT ALSO IS TELESCOPIC DOWN TO ABOUT 3′, SO THAT IT CAN BE STORED WITH EASE WITH THE HOOKS ALL UNEXPOSED. THE UNIT UTILIZES A ALVEY REEL WHICH IS SOMETHING LIKE A FLY REEL WITH A 1 TO 1 RETRIEVE SPEED & A SIMPLE TO SET DRAG SYSTEM, A VERY SIMPLE REEL SYSTEM. ALSO A BRAID LINE IS UTILIZED AS IT IS MUCH EASIER TO DETECT STRIKES DUE TO THE NON STRETCH OF THE LINE. A LEAD SINKER USED TO GET THE RIG TO THE BOTTOM ALSO DOUBLES AS A STOP AT THE END OF THE ROD WHEN RETRIEVING IT.

THE SABIKI IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF SUCCESSFUL ANGLING RESULTS AND I HOPE THAT THIS REPORT WILL BE HELPFUL TO YOUR SUCCESS.