Alright, let’s talk about the best bait for rockfish, you know, those fish that like to hang around the rocks. I ain’t no fancy fisherman, but I’ve caught my fair share, so listen up.
First off, them little fish, like anchovies and sardines, they work real good. If you can get ’em alive, that’s the best, but even dead ones will do. Rockfish ain’t too picky, you know? Just like us, sometimes we eat fresh, sometimes we eat leftovers, ain’t no big difference. Just make sure you get them on a hook good, you don’t want them falling off when you toss it down.
Now, some folks use squid, and that works too. Cut ’em up in strips, rockfish seem to like that. Especially them little rockfish, they go crazy for squid. And them big ol’ cabezon, they love squid too, I tell you what. I saw my neighbor caught a big ol’ cabezon last week, must have been this big! He used a big chunk of squid. So yeah, squid is a good choice, for sure.
Shrimp is another good one, especially for the bigger rockfish. You know, the ones that put up a good fight. Those are fun, the bigger the better I always say! Those shrimp, they smell strong and that gets the fishes’ attention. Just hook ’em on good and send ’em down. You gotta make sure they don’t get stolen by them little pesky fish before the big ones get a chance.
I heard some folks use herring too, especially when they’re fishing in deeper water, like less than 200 feet deep, they say. They call it “mooching,” I think. Sounds fancy, but it’s just fishing, far as I can tell. You use a special rig for that, with the weight at the bottom and the hooks above, I heard. They use some fancy stuff, some colored things on the hooks, I don’t know what for, seems like extra work to me, but then again, if it works it works.
And speaking of rigs, the high-low rig, that’s what most folks use. Like I said, weight on the bottom, two hooks up top. You want to put some attractant on there, something shiny or bright, it catches their eye. I ain’t saying you gotta get fancy, even a little piece of bright ribbon will do. You want something that those fishes will see in the dark water you know.
- Best Baits:
- Anchovies and Sardines (Live is best, but dead works too)
- Squid (Cut into strips)
- Shrimp (Good for bigger rockfish)
- Herring (For deeper water)
- Best Rigs:
- High-Low Rig (Weight on bottom, two hooks above)
- Mooching Rig (For herring in deeper water)
Now, some folks use lures too. I ain’t much of a lure person myself, but I seen folks catch rockfish on them. They say white is the best color, and then chartreuse. And you want something about 2 or 3 inches long, they say. I figure the fishes can’t tell how fancy your lure is so if you want to use some, just find some on them selling websites like ebay, they got all sorts of colors in big packs, those are good for the young people, always buying stuff online. Me, I stick to bait, it’s just more natural, you know? Like offering them a snack instead of some weird toy.
Anyways, the best way to catch rockfish is to find a good spot, you know, rocky areas in deep water. Get yourself a boat or a kayak, drop your bait down to the bottom, and wait. You might lose a few, that’s the fishing life for you, but you’ll get some if you keep at it. Rockfish like to hang out near the bottom, so that’s where you gotta put your bait. And be patient, sometimes they bite right away, sometimes you gotta wait a while. That’s just how it goes.
So, there you have it. That’s what I know about the best bait for rockfish. It ain’t rocket science, just good ol’ fishing. Get yourself some bait, get yourself a rig, and get yourself out there. And remember, the most important thing is to have fun. Even if you don’t catch anything, you’re still out there enjoying nature, right? And that’s better than sitting at home watching them crazy shows on the TV if you ask me.
Don’t forget to check your local regulations, you know, make sure you’re allowed to fish where you’re fishing and you’re not catching too many or the wrong kind. We don’t want the fish police coming after us now, do we? And it’s important we keep the oceans full for our grandchildren too! Always respect the sea and the fishes, that’s what I say.
Good luck, and happy fishing! Maybe I’ll see you out there sometime. Just look for the old lady with the bucket full of fish, that’ll be me. Just kidding…mostly.
Tags: [rockfish, bait, fishing, saltwater fishing, lures, squid, shrimp, anchovies, sardines, herring, mooching, high-low rig, fishing tips, best bait]
