Bait, and keeping it alive overnight

DIY Bait Bucket looks great

DIY Bait Bucket looks great

Thanks! Gonna give it a go this weekend.

So, I got the bait bucket all ready, and I've got it figured out where and how to get shiners and smelt ..

The question now is how to rig it all up for halibut?
Do y'all pin it at the nose, at the tail, in the middle? Single hook, trap rig? Sliding sinker or three way?

I've fished frozen baits for a bit now, and am comfortable rigging those with a trap rig on a three way, but haven't fished live bait much.  Always just pinned through the nose, but feel there might be a better way.

What's the consensus on the forum?

Thanks everyone!

So, I got the bait bucket all ready, and I've got it figured out where and how to get shiners and smelt ..

The question now is how to rig it all up for halibut?
Do y'all pin it at the nose, at the tail, in the middle? Single hook, trap rig? Sliding sinker or three way?

I've fished frozen baits for a bit now, and am comfortable rigging those with a trap rig on a three way, but haven't fished live bait much.  Always just pinned through the nose, but feel there might be a better way.

What's the consensus on the forum?

Thanks everyone!

Through both nostrils perpendicular to the mouth.  For shiners or chovies, 1-2/0 light wire hooks, for a stinger sometimes a suspended trailer hook about 2/3 down the body or one can attach it.  I tend to lean towards a single trailer not a treble unless it's a bigger smelt.  For bigger smelt through the nose and a treble stinger.  Just make sure when you use a stinger, that the towing hook is fully extended before you attach the stinger or you'll bend your live bait to death...not sure that makes sense.  For choves and smaller smelt I come up through the nose from directly under the jaw trying not to pierce the brain thus killing the bait but having enough skull or nose not to split the mouth or nose and lose the bait.  Check it every now and then and tell him good job and send him back down, they love the encouragement...Baron gives a name to each livee.  I think it's more relational and kind of a team effort...

Thanks Eddie - have to say, you are always super helpful!  I owe you a beer when we meet in real life - one of these days gonna bump into each other for sure!

I love that you encourage your bait to do a good job!

How'd the trip turn out? I assume TI is probably pretty good for striper these days, and I'm curious how the launch and trek over there worked out. Hope you killed it!

How'd the trip turn out? I assume TI is probably pretty good for striper these days, and I'm curious how the launch and trek over there worked out. Hope you killed it!

Unfortunately, I missed that day, but launched there just a couple days ago.  I didn't throw anything for stripers while I was there - just caught a big smelt for bait and dragged that around for a bit.  No halibut hits, I think I focus on other targets til next spring. 

I've fished from shore there plenty of times, never encountered a striper there.  Maybe I just didn't throw the right stuff?  I've really only ever connected with stripers up in the delta too - different tactics probably.  If you have intel for stripers from TI, I would definitely give it a go!

The launch/landing at TI was pretty easy.  There wasn't really anyone there when I got there, so parking was close to the ramp.  There is a gate between the parking area and the ramp - wheels are a must here unless you can carry your boat on your shoulder.  The ramp is old and somewhat fractured, but it is nestled in a little man made cove and protected from the wind and current.  Outside of the cove though, there was a pretty big current - definitely want to time your departure and arrival with the tide. 

Thanks for sharing the update. I've caught striper from the pier that runs under the bay bridge, also has a lot of current, so I'm just making an educated guess that striper would be hanging around TI. I've hear rumors that stripers are out in numbers in the bay, and a couple of youtubers I follow have both commented on it (Nick Fish and Hao2Fish). I think striper might bite a little higher in the water column, but I've certainly caught them on halibut rigs in the past.

Let me know if you're headed back out to the bay for some fishing and want another boat along for the trip, and I'll let you know if I come across a good striper bite this fall in the bay.

Thanks for sharing the update. I've caught striper from the pier that runs under the bay bridge, also has a lot of current, so I'm just making an educated guess that striper would be hanging around TI. I've hear rumors that stripers are out in numbers in the bay, and a couple of youtubers I follow have both commented on it (Nick Fish and Hao2Fish). I think striper might bite a little higher in the water column, but I've certainly caught them on halibut rigs in the past.

Let me know if you're headed back out to the bay for some fishing and want another boat along for the trip, and I'll let you know if I come across a good striper bite this fall in the bay.

For sure!  I'd be down for a striper mission in the bay from TI - interesting place to launch.  I've never targeted striper in the bay, and haven't caught any incidentally when halibut fishing either.  I've only ever caught them in shallow water up in the delta, haha. 

Are you talking the pier on the TI side by the CG base, or the pier by the bike path on the Oakland side?  I haven't fished either of those spots yet, but have fished TI from a few other shore spots.  I will have to stop after work and throw a bait out in some of the shallower spots to see if I get hit...

I checked out Nick Fish's video; he caught a lot of good size stripers!  He must be pretty far south though - pretty sure that is the San Mateo Bridge in the background.  I've had similar hook up rates recently up in Benecia, but much fewer keeper size fish.  Last time out there I caught 10 fish, but all were slightly under 18".  Would love to get into a bigger class of fish for sure!

The pier I was talking about is fairly new, and is the one on the bike path on the oakland side under the bay bridge.

I think you're right that NickFish was in the southbay. I'm also hearing planes taking off a lot in the background, but I can't tell if he's on the SF or Oakland side of the bay.

These were the reports I read from Hao2Fish:

Halibut Report:
The halibut fishing has been hit or miss, they aren't in great numbers on the ocean side. The bay may be a better bet. There were reports of halibut at Tomales bay, up to 30inches.

Striper Report:
Striper season is in full force inside the bay, poppers, swimbaits, crankbaits are all working.

I'm looking to Fish Saturday if you're interested.

The pier I was talking about is fairly new, and is the one on the bike path on the oakland side under the bay bridge.

I think you're right that NickFish was in the southbay. I'm also hearing planes taking off a lot in the background, but I can't tell if he's on the SF or Oakland side of the bay.

These were the reports I read from Hao2Fish:

Halibut Report:
The halibut fishing has been hit or miss, they aren't in great numbers on the ocean side. The bay may be a better bet. There were reports of halibut at Tomales bay, up to 30inches.

Striper Report:
Striper season is in full force inside the bay, poppers, swimbaits, crankbaits are all working.

I'm looking to Fish Saturday if you're interested.

Gotcha, yeah, I've been meaning to fish that pier sometime, it looks like it might be a little hidden gem.  Do you park at the bike path parking lot?

I think Nickfish is on the city side, just given the aspect on the bridge.  Probably launched at 3rd st in Redwood City or Oyster Point.

Tomales Bay seems to hold halibuts later in the season, from what I've seen and heard.  But, in years past, there are plenty of late hali reports from SF Bay too, so I dunno.  I'm still pretty new to halibut in the bay. 

Can confirm that crankbaits and swimbaits work for striper right now, but haven't fished in the Bay for those.  Will find some shallow water soon and throw some to check though, haha!

I am in Fort Bragg this weekend - otherwise I would totally fish with you.  Another time for sure - post up hookups on the site here, and often others will jump in.  Good luck, hope you find em!