Sabiki Rig?

I'm headed out to Tomales Saturday (on a boat unfortunately) and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this whole sabiki rig deal? This will be my second time fishing salt, first time was at Tomales on my kayak catching leopards and rays on squid, and we didn't have much use for live bait back in Kentucky on the lake. Any who want to try my luck at halibut fishing, so I rigged up a couple drift set ups (which I've also never tried) and picked up some sabiki rigs based on what I've read on here. Now, the question is, do you bait your sabiki's, or just drop them down on a bait ball? I've heard and read conflicting stories and was hoping to get some local knowledge.

Also, I've been thinking I'll use my little ugly stick spinning reel with 4lb. test for the tiny sabiki's I have, is that too light? I do just want to catch small bait fish after all (in theory).

Thanks for any insight!

The size of the rod all depends on how much weight you're using to get the sabiki down. I wouldn't go more than 1 oz on a light 4 lb setup. You're probably best off tipping your sabiki with bait. It's possible to catch bait fish with no bait but it can only help to tip your sabiki hooks. For me the best technique is to cast and let the your sabiki rig pendulum down. I've only fished tomales once and had trouble making bait so bring a lb or two of fresh frozen squid. Good luck and post a report when you catch the halibut of a lifetime

Thanks for the advice! Best thing I've read for sabiki bait is shrimp. So I'll give that a whirl. I was wondering about the weight situation, I'll try out the little setup with a 1 Oz and your technique and see where that gets me.

I'll make sure to bring some bait just in case, and I'll post up a fishing report if it's worthy! Thanks again!

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If your catching bigger baits they will tend to foul your line and make it difficult to untangle and release the bait.  A good tip is to cut off every other hook on your sabiki, or even cut it in half to use it as two different ones.  I like to use something flashy for my weight, so I picked up some 1oz lazer minnows and 1oz nickle kastmaster to use.

tipping the Sabik with small cuts of squid tentacles  works for me and it is durable

Thanks for that advice! I have exactly no idea what (if anything) I'll catch on these rigs, but I grabbed a few of them I'll modify a couple the way you describe and try it out. Good plan on the lure weights too, wouldn't have thought of that!

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All good advice above ^, but I'll add a few things.

- If the cast and pendulum thing isn't working, mix it up. Sometimes casting and ripping the sabiki in as quick as you can will get you bit. Sometimes just letting it down and dead sticking it (motionless) works. Sometime dropping down and slowly reeling up works.

- I very rarely bait my sabiki, but I'm sure it can't hurt.

- I definitely recommend cutting the sabiki in half. A full-length sabiki loaded with bait is a clusterF in the making when you're on a kayak.

-Have your bait bucket/bait tube ready. When it happens, it happens quick.

Good luck!

You catch mackerels, sardines, smelts, anchovies with them.  Don't reel it in on the first bite. Allow the feeding frenzy to go on to  have fish on all hooks.  It's fun but can get messy. 

If you find you like making Bait with a sabiki rig. I'd suggest buying the Sabiki rod where the rig winds up inside the rod. Keeps the rig from hooking on everything you encounter. If not, less hooks equals less mess.

Jeff

Sweet thanks guys! I feel like I'm in pretty good shape for my first live bait experience. Everyone says it's a whole different ball game after that, we shall see!

Thanks again for all the information!

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keeping a chunk of pool noodle on each hook unless it is in the water will help all day long .

If you find you like making Bait with a sabiki rig. I'd suggest buying the Sabiki rod where the rig winds up inside the rod. Keeps the rig from hooking on everything you encounter. If not, less hooks equals less mess.

Jeff

Agree. Get a sabiki rod. Without it, sabiki rigs are pretty much a one time use deal.

Even though I have a sabiki rod, I'd much rather use a normal rod that I can still fish with rather than bring the sabiki rod out with me. 

I've had fairly good luck luck avoiding tangles by using four or five small trout flies on dropper loops. If the line is wound tight enough to arc the pole six inches the flies mostly dangle free while the rod is stored on back of the yak deck. Bait seems to bite as well on nymph and woolly worm patterns as store brought sabiki rigs.

Depending on what you want to catch for bait, and what bait is in the water, use bigger or smaller sabikis. For Macks and Jack smelt, I use #6. Smaller for the smaller fish. I never tip mine and do just fine. I troll mine in route to the fishing spot. Put a 1 oz kastmaster on the bottom, cast out, and start paddling. Fun as heck. Often I cut mine in half and just use three hooks, it get knotted up fast with a few 20" jack smelt or a bunch of mackerel on it. Everybody has their way of doing it, they all work, it just boils down to what you like to do.