Thread: Bait Catchin' Question

We're coming down later this week and I need to catch bait for reds, kings, Spanish and blues. Will I be better off using a ribbon or sabiki rig from the pier? Or throwing a cast net in the surf or at the lagoon?

Thanks,
musket

I am some what of a newbie myself but from my experience if your fishing the pier I'd suggest catching your bait at the pier rather than in the surf or lagoon and hauling it out there. Ribbon rig and Sabiki both work well. I use both.ribbons have only gotten me LYs where Sabiki will get you an assortment of various baits. I have a rod set up with a snap swivel for bait. I switch back and forth as needed between ribbon and sabiki. Good luck and tight lines. Hope this helps!

bkwathen, thanks for the reply. I understand and agree with everything you said. I guess I wasn't specific enough in my question.
I should have prefaced the question by being more specific as to "this time of year." Some have said LYs are harder to come by in the fall or that they get smaller and there is a need for a ribbon rig with smaller mesh. Or, to go to the sabiki only and not even try a ribbon rig.
I also should have asked if there was a specific bait I should target that works better for the type fish I'm after. I just don't want to get out the the end of the pier, with all my gear, just to discover that I need to leave in search of live bait.

Thanks,
musket

This time of year, we've done well on big Spanish Macs on frozen Cigar minnows in the early morning at sunrise. Yes, LY's are becoming a challenge.

TNX!

Thx, tigershark. Does the pier sell cee-gar minners? What are you using for reds? Cut mullet?

Musket smaller mesh ribbons are hard to come by. Most folks that have them made them or bought them from someone who does. If you have issues small sabiki works best for me to get the smaller baits I prefer. If I'm needing advice or bait or tackle J&M on Canal Road is my go to spot. Great folks they strive to help you catch fish! They should have frozen Cigs and if anybody has smaller ribbons or knows where to get one it will be J&M. Also if there is bait available for the catching somebody will help you out if your having trouble. Good luck and enjoy. This is our fall break and I should be there this week man am I missing it! Keep those pics and reports coming.

The pier store can be hit and mis. J&M has quality cigs that won't fall apart when thawed. Funny you should ask about reds. Sunday, at sunrise, I caught a 4lbs Spanish and a 10lbs Red on a cig at the end of the octi.

TNX!

Funny how everyone on here praises J&M. I don't know if I smell bad or something, but I get snubbed every time I go in that place. It seems they won't talk to you unless you're a charter captain fixin' to drop a couple of Gs on them. I've found Top Gun to be way more helpful and friendlier.
But, back to the topic. I have both sizes of ribbon rigs and a sabiki, so, I'm covered there. Is that little bait shop (Frith's?) still there at the end of Canal Rd. where it makes the hard turn at East 24th?
For reds, are you free lining the cigs or putting them on the bottom?

Frith's is closed for the season. While no one is perfect, J&M can have a bad day but usually they let you look around in peace until you ask for help. Nothing is more annoying than having someone hover around like a gnat buzzing around your ear when you just want to look around.

Originally Posted by chillinfish

Frith's is closed for the season. While no one is perfect, J&M can have a bad day but usually they let you look around in peace until you ask for help. Nothing is more annoying than having someone hover around like a gnat buzzing around your ear when you just want to look around.

I've never been in J & M where somebody didn't speak to me. "Are you finding what you need?" is usually what they say to me, and "let me know if I can help you". All that a person would have to do is to ask one of the cashiers or another associate for assistance from a salesperson. If THAT person snubbed me, I would ask for the owner or manager-on-duty. I've been to J & M lots of times and ALWAYS for small-dollar purchases and I've always been greeted and had offers of assistance. Because everything is so well-organized, I never need help except for live bait and I've always gotten fast, friendly assistance with live bait, too.

My only take on it is that sometime people want more than professional courtesy/assistance. When I go into a tackle store, I'm there to buy what I need and be on my way. If a salesperson didn't want to get into an extended conversation with someone, that seems appropriate to me, especially if the salesman, clerk, business owner has other things to do and other customers to help. I'm a business owner and I know how valuable time is to the people who run a store.
I make no apologies for heaping praises on J & M. It's a great tackle store with friendly, helpful staff.