So that just leaves playing with ticking time-bombs and plugs with multiple treble hooks. Trust me, forget the multiple treble-hooked baits. Reguardless of what species you're after. If you're releasing just about any fish, especially Bonita, those plugs do some major damage. Not to mention, spending way too much time while Knothead is probably close by, watching closely.
I think they suck for catching WSB (even though they do draw strikes), since those other hooks get stuck in the kelp and your prize will just shake off.
They suck for Thresher Sharks (even though they do draw strikes), because they'll almost always end up tail-hooked. Tail hooked Threshers will often die, especially when the average kayaker isn't using heavy enough gear to plane up the dead weight of a fish over 100 lbs. Not only does it suck for the fish, but besides getting killed by a Mako Shark or drunk powerboater...getting slapped by the tail of a Thresher Shark with a Rapala
. Can you say free trip to the abyss? Imagine taking your last breath while being dragged to the bottom. The lobsters would probably be stoked, though
.
And they suck for Yellowtail (even though they might sometimes draw a strike), especially if fishing anywhere near structure. More often than not, compounded by the fact that most guys aren't fishing all that heavy of gear with those baits, a Yellowtail will end up swimming off with a mouth welded shut by two or three treble hooks, a.k.a. dead Yellowtail. If I left a plug with three trebles in every Yellowtail I've lost, I would quit fishing from the guilt. In closing, I understand it's tough to make bait sometimes, but there are just too many other options that are not only more effective, but less dangerous to you and the fish.