catching live bait in monterey bay

so tomorrow im rolling out to monterey bay , bringin frozen bait but i wanna try these sabiki rigs so whats the trick to catching bait? are they near rock pilings , docks? any ideas will be apriciated**spelling

most often the bait is schooling so can be on open water.  If you got a FF, look for the big blob at mid depth.  Or the pops on the water, birds are great signs.  Worst case just troll around a bit.

small squid strips on the sabiki hooks get um (everytime, assuming they are there) I'd say use a size 12 or 14 sabiki. Drop 'er to the bottom an bring it up through the school. I've even tied my own rigs with small fly hooks. You only need a few. Live bait that is just caught lasts a long time.

Are there any regs regarding what kind of bait can be caught and used?

Double check the regs.  They have a search function, so won't be too difficult to find.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/oceanfish2009.pdf

Search criteria:
bait
no limit
throw net

27.05. Chumming. Chumming, including chumming with live bait, is permitted.
27.10. Live Bait Restrictions. Tilapia may not be used or possessed for use as bait in ocean
waters.

27.60. Limit.
(b) There is no limit on the following species: anchovy, grunion, jacksmelt, topsmelt, Pacific
butterfish (pompano), queenfish, sanddabs, skipjack, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, Pacific
staghorn sculpin, round herring, Pacific herring, Pacific sardine, petrale sole and starry
flounder.

If you don't see them on your FF, but see them feeding, just cast, wait a couple seconds, and retrieve.

Ben

thanks guys , figured it out , got a gang of sardines and macks easily , trolling for themworked the best cuz i didnt have a FF

big fish eat them with my hook next time!