How to Catch Bait?

try mikes bait n tackle in oakland for mudsuckers , sometimes they come in with the bulheads and they work great for halis

Went bank fishing the past couple of weeks and Mikes has a sale on bullheads right now. 

Buy a sabiki rod!

Best $50 you'll ever spend.

http://kayakfishinggear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=108

This way you can fish your main rod and have the sabiki close at hand. No tangles and no mess. Seriously, if you want to catch live bait, this is the ticket.

 
   I just started using a 3/4" gray (floats) pvc tube for my sabiki storage,when not in use on the water.. Works like a charm. $2.00.  Wish had started using it years ago when I first read about it in a fishing mag.
    Just use duct tape to attach a swivel eye etc.
 

I'm new to the Sabiki thing but it's great fun.  I have used one at Tomales and at Paradise.  Last week at Paradise, I caught shiners and Mackerel.  At Tomales, I caught Mackerel and Sardines.  I use a light weight spinning reel and a rod suitable for trout in the local lakes.  The great thing about making bait with a Sabiki is; even when you don't catch Halibut or whatever you're targeting, the bait catching is lots of fun.  With a Sabiki and a bait tube, you're ready for whatever is biting in the Bay.  Catching your bait makes the whole fishing experience more complete.  It's also nice not to pay the high prices the bait shops are getting for shiners these days.

Martin

I'm new to the Sabiki thing but it's great fun.  I have used one at Tomales and at Paradise.  Last week at Paradise, I caught shiners and Mackerel.  At Tomales, I caught Mackerel and Sardines.  I use a light weight spinning reel and a rod suitable for trout in the local lakes.  The great thing about making bait with a Sabiki is; even when you don't catch Halibut or whatever you're targeting, the bait catching is lots of fun.  With a Sabiki and a bait tube, you're ready for whatever is biting in the Bay.  Catching your bait makes the whole fishing experience more complete.  It's also nice not to pay the high prices the bait shops are getting for shiners these days.

Martin

I could not agree more about the complete expierience. I got to do some shore fishing in Hawaii, Kona and we started by taking crustaceans off of rocks, smashing the shells, collect the meat and now it's time to poke pole with little cane poles. We would catch Wrasses, Damsels etc. and then we moved up to the bigger gear in search of something big. Lots of good memories....Don

I use the trout pole and spinning reel with the sabiki. Dang those little hooks are sticky sharp. They catch everything - LOL. I'll try crimping them - good tip.

I didn't get Casy's deal with the gray tube - I guess I'm dense.

On catching bait, years ago on the Chesapeake we'd catch carp in a logoon, then throw chunks out on hooks for big blues. One day we caught two bait carp, and no blues. So we cooked one of the carps. Big mistake. Dang that was nastier than nasty.   

Val: Ft Baker can have some decent bait schools.

When bait won't bite on the sabiki but you know they're there (which does happen sometimes), put a small bit of squid on the hooks and usually that will work. If it still doesn't, chum up the water a bit with more squid and keep your sabiki in the water right where you're chumming, and jig jig jig. If you don't have any squid or other chum but you manage to catch 1 bait, slice it up and use it for chum. those little bastards are cannibalistic.

A sabiki tipped with squid has always worked for me, unless the bait wasn't around.

When bait won't bite on the sabiki but you know they're there (which does happen sometimes), put a small bit of squid on the hooks and usually that will work.

Or, try a different sabiki color. Even baitfish can be picky sometimes.

Use a Sibiki Rig with a small weight to catch ocean baitfish.

Try usings the Sibiki at different at different depths and if you don't catch bait quickly, move to a different spot.

Watch for pelicans, seals or dolphins to see where bait may be.

I've had luck dropping the Sibiki inside openings of the kelp bed.