Reasons behind skinning ocy bait?
Submitted by Alan James on Wed, 2009-07-29 12:03
On many occasions I have heard people say that when using ocy bait you should cut the skin or tentacles off for the best results particularly when targetting dhuies or pinks. The skipper (who I considered to be a gun fisho) on one of the charter boats I used to frequent many years ago would always get the deckie to do the same (to his bait). Since observing that I've never been game enough not to remove the skin / tentacles. Does seem a little odd though. Any thoughts? Recently someone posted that when using seargent baker strips or fillets as bait they should be scaled. Same question?
Cheers
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Nealez
Posts: 1220
Date Joined: 08/05/06
Occy gets waterlogged if you
Occy gets waterlogged if you dont skin it
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
Alan, I always scale Sgy
Alan,
I always scale Sgy Bakers, or any other fish strip baits, just to get way from the large scales sticking to the hook point. Might only be a minor thing but thats what I am comfortable with.
Like Nealz says the occy turns to a gluggy lump if not skinned.
Steve
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Never used to skin
But recent results using skinned occy have been almost unbelievable. I deliberately baited one set of hooks on four rods being used with unskinned, results, no bites at all, those with skinned received constant attention and frequent hookups ........it still needs to be quality occy not crap that has got that real pink tinge to it. As for SB fillets as bait - oddly I have NEVER caught a thing or even got a bite on SB but western king wrasse used on the same day has been dynamite. Go figure !??
And yes scales can be a real problem on hook tips so scale it to ensure good hook penetration.
Alan James
Posts: 2237
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Wrasse
The consensus of opinion seems to confirm that wrasse are a great dhuie bait filleted or live. What's the best way to catch these - sabiki style bait jig?
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
The best way the catch
The best way the catch Wrasse ............... is to be on my boat
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Steves right, I caught a few
Steves right, I caught a few on jigs on his boat :p. Wrasse and more so sargeant bakers like jigs. I would say best way to catch wrasse is to stop on the three mile and use either a paternoster or single hook and running ball sinker. Use a smallish hook and a bit of squid or a mulie chunk. Shouldnt have much trouble catching them (even out deep). Most people cant seem to get away from them :p. I'd use reasonably strong hooks, even if they're small, as you can take them off without destroying the hook, and if a dhuie takes your bait (or wrasse) then you have a reasonable chance of stopping it. Use long shanks if possible for easier releasing. Sabiki hooks are smaller than you need IMO.
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
From memory Matt they were
From memory Matt they were all over your side of the boat.LOL.........Steve
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Yeah, and the dhuie that was
Yeah, and the dhuie that was over my side of the boat decided he prefered staying under the boat, lol.
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
We will never know
We will never know
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
i know the feeling steve
i know the feeling steve
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
seems like matt
has that effect on more than one boat.....ha ha
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Probably not the boat then
Probably not the boat then :p. Running upgraded leader now, so i'll have to wait til the next big one to see how it goes.
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
To be fair to Matt
We got two when he came out on my boat and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him madly waste energy jigging up SB's