What type of hook do you use for live bait?
For live-bait fishing, I recommend thin wire hooks. This style penetrates your bait more easily and damages it less, thus allowing it to move freely on the hook and stay alive longer than when using heavy-weight hooks. Most live-bait hooks for inshore salt waters range from size 1/0 to 8/0.
What size hooks for yellowtail snapper?
For hooks, you want a #4 bronze colored hook for just drifting the bait back in the current. But when there’s a lot of current or you need to get the bait down, everybody uses a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce Hook Up Jig head in red or chartreuse colors. They’ve got strong hooks that won’t straighten out on a big fish.
What kind of hook do you use for yellowtail?
A large hook such as 2/0 -4/0 is ideal as yellowtail will not be hook shy like they can be with fin bait. When fishing with live squid be prepared to fish both deep and shallow or close to the surface.
What is the best bait for yellowtail?
Known as “breezers,” these fish can be finicky, but they’re still susceptible to well-presented live bait and metal jigs. While red crabs have become their preferred forage, yellowtail also prey on smaller fish, including sardines and mackerel, two of the best baits for big California yellowtails.
What hooks to use with live worms?
A live bait hook, aberdeen hook or octopus hook have long shanks that are a great fit for live worms. Match the size of the hook to the size of the worm. A size 3/0 to 5/0 should do the trick.
What size and type of hooks are best for yellowtail fishing?
What line do you use for yellowtail?
We recommend using 20-30 Lb monofilament when targeting yellowtail. If you are using live bait using the “Fly lining” technique we recommend going on the lighter side of that range to let your bait swim more freely and naturally with less drag.
What size hooks for live minnows?
The size of hook you use depends on how large the minnows you’re fishing are. For minnows under 3 inches (7.5 cm), a size 4 or size 6 hook works best. For minnows 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12.5 cm) or larger, you can go as large as a size 2, 1/0, or even 2/0. .
What’s the best bait to catch Yellowtail in California?
No doubt, these are some of the best baits for California yellowtail. Use these rigs when trolling for yellowtail: I put two or three baits 100 to 150 feet behind the boat: one unweighted, one with a ¾- to 1-ounce egg sinker, and a third with a 2- to 3-ounce egg sinker.
What kind of jig to use for yellowtail?
Iron jigs made for surface fishing is the other type of iron available. Light iron jigs (locally called “lights”) are great for when Yellow’s are either metered by the fish finder or visual signs of working birds feed on surface bait fish are spotted or any conditions when fish are feeding on the surface.
Which is the best color for yellowtail fishing?
Two of the best colors for yellowtail are blue-and-white and mint green-and-white. Long casts are sometimes necessary to reach boiling fish (yellowtail feeding at the surface), so accomplished jig anglers use 8- to 10-foot rods and conventional casting reels for extra distance.
What’s the best way to fight a yellowtail?
Instead wind until the rod doubles over and you can no longer gain line, then raise the rod tip and begin the fight. When the yellowtail are scattered, the best strategy is to fast-troll lipped plugs, such as a Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30, Williamson Speed Pro Deep 180D or 7¼-inch Yo-Zuri Sashimi 3D Magnum.