Thread: Best baits.

What do you find the best baits for your chosen species at different times of year?

Since going full ocd on the salt water fishing I have noted a few definite feeding preference patterns in the species I target how about you?

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Rabbit as bait for gurnard


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saturday north of auckland the snapper were hooking right away on squid. pilchards slightly less interest and then very sluggish on fresh kahawai (after i caught one). moved back to squid and back on the bite again right away

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Rabbit as bait for gurnard


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Really, much luck with other fish?

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Rabbit as bait for gurnard


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Tested side by side with other baits?

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Tested side by side with other baits?

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Yes it was the clear winner on the weekend

fresh scaled Kahawai

Originally Posted by Gapped axe

fresh scaled Kahawai

Skin it too bro, the flesh is firm enough to stay on the hook without skin.

Those squid you get in flat packets that are all brown and black are fucking rubbish, the boxes of calamari you could get are the go (blue and white box).

Trevally would be my favourite bait for big snapper about this time of year in shallow, cant beat a good skippy too (great for schooling terakihi and snapper in winter and live for marlin in summer autumn also).

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Yes it was the clear winner on the weekend

Interesting!

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Interesting!

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Are Gurnard crab eaters ?

Male Rabbit is a strong smelling meat at times so might simulate crab meat flavour strength ?????

I'm only guessing

Pilchards are my all time favorite best bait for rod fishing but.

I have found the snapper down here and other species as well to a lesser degree like squid pre spawn when they turn up and pilchards post spawn at the end of the season.
Makeral is awesome on gurnard and will stay on a longline.
Cuda fillets are Exelent bait also.
I have tried kahawai many times and never caught bugger all on it.

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Are Gurnard crab eaters ?

Male Rabbit is a strong smelling meat at times so might simulate crab meat flavour strength ?????

I'm only guessing

Crabs and worms etc bottom feeders.

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Speargun solves most of the bait issues

Originally Posted by longrange308

Speargun solves most of the bait issues

Do I just tie it on the leader with a uni knot?

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I like an oily bait, tuna, pilchards, herrings, mackerel, etc, but when snapper are on the feed, pretty much anything works,
Must put more effort, into using shell fish baits, as Opens up for crew other spieces of fish, rig etc
Kahawiai, ore one of my last choices, but it's ok when fresh, don't have much luck when it's frozen or salted, same can be said for squid, but I have had good luck on fresh squid,