Live Bait Rig with Stinger Treble Hook with Anchovies?

Hi All -

I'm new to live bait fishing. I'm taking my fam on a trip on a motor boat in SF Bay / North Bar area (don't worry, Kayak fishing is my true love), and we're going to get Anchovies from JP, which are like 3" to 6". I believe most people use a single hook through the nose. I've been watching lots of videos of people getting hit on the tail and missing the fish.

So...is there a way to put a treble hook towards the back of such a small anchovy without it killing the anchovy relatively quickly? Or is it effective to use a standard trap rig and just let the treble hook hang loose? Or should one just feed the fish and let it take all of the bait before setting the hook?

Bonus points - for a 3" to 6" Anchovy, do you think a 2/0 octopus hook is a good set up?

Any thoughts are appreciated, good ones even more so!

Best,
Stewart

I adjust the stinger treble to be just about at the tail and just let it dangle there.

I adjust the stinger treble to be just about at the tail and just let it dangle there.

Yep, that's also what I do with small baits.

I adjust the stinger treble to be just about at the tail and just let it dangle there.

Yep!

I'm liking a 1/0 Lite Mutu Circle Hook, at least that's the size my last fatty came in on.

For those that let the treble hook just dangle near the tail of the anchovy, do you actually hook the halibut with the treble? So is it effective in reality?

I was thinking about using a small rubberband to to help keep the treble in the "strike zone" (like the standard way to do it with frozen bait), but I'm not sure if it would stay in place given all of the movement the live bait will make. But I imagine it would keep it closer to the strike zone than if I didn't do it. Has anyone tried this ?

Anchovies can be strong but truly are a bit delicate.  You’ll kill it just trying to put a rubber band around it and it wants to slip off so easily.  Also, its swimming will be impaired. I prefer a dangling single hook vs. a treble.  Anchovies are usually inhaled in one bite.  If your chovy gets scratched it was likely a smaller halibut.  My opinion…

Anchovies can be strong but truly are a bit delicate.  You’ll kill it just trying to put a rubber band around it and it wants to slip off so easily.  Also, its swimming will be impaired. I prefer a dangling single hook vs. a treble.  Anchovies are usually inhaled in one bite.  If your chovy gets scratched it was likely a smaller halibut.  My opinion…

+1 played with the rubber bands and treble hooks(some OG slay with them), but have found simple/light weight setup single to be less hassle and effective. 2/0 may be overkill. I used to nostril or lip hook but my blessed friend from back in the day Marv introduced me to collar hook and it's my go-to for most o the time particularly for smaller to mid size anchovy. 

Agree that two hooks is a lot for an anchovy to be impaled with and still do the sexy wiggle. Caught some lings last time out on baby rockfish that were more robust than any anchovy with the stinger hook dangling. A lot of those short strikes are shorts or just rockfish or kingfish.