Fishing' the A Rig - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Saba Slayer · 05-01-2018, 07:31 AM

I went outside to fish for halibut yesterday but it turned into "Victory at Sea" in a very short time with limits of wind...!

...so I came back into the harbor and thought I'd try the Alabama Rig for the first time for some bass or maybe a halibut.

I dragged the A rig near the bottom while throwing the 3/8 Hookup Baits...What a fun day...there are a bunch of short Cuda in the harbor and they trashed their share of Hookups and tried to ruin the A rig...LOL... The bass were biting and I had a couple of double hookups on Sandies. Most of the fish were the smaller guys but I did manage one legal.

I'll be adding a couple of those Alabama rigs to my arsenal now...
I ended the day with about a dozen Bass and some Cuda....off the water by 11am and back to work on the Battle of the Bays tourneys...Al in all it was a fun day in the harbor.
See you all Saturday at the tournament...

A Rigs are legal to use in the tourney...

jlabs63 · 05-01-2018, 10:26 AM

That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

King Saba · 05-01-2018, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlabs63

That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

If I’m not mistaken, the issue is on yet number of books used. 3 Max in saltwater I believe.

alanw · 05-01-2018, 10:47 AM

Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays.

https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/

Baja_Traveler · 05-01-2018, 10:56 AM

I have the same exact rig - except I put two flashers in the top two spots instead of hooked softbaits. Caught a Barracuda almost that exact same size on it in last years tournament - too bad they are always short, catching a legal would surely win longest fish!

dpricenator · 05-01-2018, 11:13 AM

Right on! I have an A-rig in my box, but was always concerned it was not legal in CA. I know it has spots for 4 hooks, but the idea of adding a flasher instead would solve that. Thanks for the post, I've wanted to try it out for a while now.

Saba Slayer · 05-01-2018, 12:04 PM

Hey Alan...his link is for inland FRESH water not saltwater...I'll check around and see if I can find the saltwater regulation...

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays.

https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/

Hunters Pa · 05-01-2018, 12:23 PM

Also, once you have rockfish on board it is two hooks, one rod I believe.

Bruntoj · 05-03-2018, 09:55 PM

When you say you’re dragging it, what speed would you say? Do you worry about keeping it moving, or do you just let it drop to the bottom when occupied with other tasks?

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crashcrow · 05-04-2018, 09:57 AM

I am always worried about having too many hooks when kayak fishing, not for legalities more so I don't end up with a hook in my hand trying to grab a fish. I even usually pull the center hook off of my poppers and rapalas for the kayak. I'm going to bring the A rig next time and see what happens.

goldenglory18 · 05-04-2018, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

When you say you’re dragging it, what speed would you say? Do you worry about keeping it moving, or do you just let it drop to the bottom when occupied with other tasks?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It's a moving target for predatory fish. Slow rolling or erratic (pumps and small yo-yo'ing) retrieval works well. It basically acts as an isolated bait school. Think of what that would look like and emulate.

Harry Hill · 05-04-2018, 01:59 PM

I have used the A rig for stripers at Silverwood but hate the feel of it. Still, I like catching fish so I may give one a try in the bays

Fishin Phil · 05-06-2018, 05:00 PM

Use a torpedo weight to get it down to the bottom.

05-01-2018, 07:31 AM	#1
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	Fishing' the A Rig I went outside to fish for halibut yesterday but it turned into "Victory at Sea" in a very short time with limits of wind...!...so I came back into the harbor and thought I'd try the Alabama Rig for the first time for some bass or maybe a halibut. I dragged the A rig near the bottom while throwing the 3/8 Hookup Baits...What a fun day...there are a bunch of short Cuda in the harbor and they trashed their share of Hookups and tried to ruin the A rig...LOL... The bass were biting and I had a couple of double hookups on Sandies. Most of the fish were the smaller guys but I did manage one legal. I'll be adding a couple of those Alabama rigs to my arsenal now... I ended the day with about a dozen Bass and some Cuda....off the water by 11am and back to work on the Battle of the Bays tourneys...Al in all it was a fun day in the harbor. See you all Saturday at the tournament... A Rigs are legal to use in the tourney... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 05-01-2018 at 08:05 AM.

05-01-2018, 10:47 AM	#4
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays. https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/ __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe Last edited by alanw; 05-01-2018 at 11:03 AM.

05-04-2018, 01:59 PM	#12
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	I have used the A rig for stripers at Silverwood but hate the feel of it. Still, I like catching fish so I may give one a try in the bays __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

05-06-2018, 05:00 PM	#13
Fishin Phil Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 288	A Rig Use a torpedo weight to get it down to the bottom. __________________ God, Family, Your Health, You're Fishing.

05-01-2018, 10:26 AM	#2
jlabs63 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SD - Carmel Valley Posts: 78	That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

05-01-2018, 10:56 AM	#5
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	I have the same exact rig - except I put two flashers in the top two spots instead of hooked softbaits. Caught a Barracuda almost that exact same size on it in last years tournament - too bad they are always short, catching a legal would surely win longest fish!

05-01-2018, 11:13 AM	#6
dpricenator Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: South OC Posts: 120	Right on! I have an A-rig in my box, but was always concerned it was not legal in CA. I know it has spots for 4 hooks, but the idea of adding a flasher instead would solve that. Thanks for the post, I've wanted to try it out for a while now.

05-01-2018, 12:23 PM	#8
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Also, once you have rockfish on board it is two hooks, one rod I believe.

05-03-2018, 09:55 PM	#9
Bruntoj Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Diego County Posts: 168	When you say you’re dragging it, what speed would you say? Do you worry about keeping it moving, or do you just let it drop to the bottom when occupied with other tasks? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

05-04-2018, 09:57 AM	#10
crashcrow Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 122	I am always worried about having too many hooks when kayak fishing, not for legalities more so I don't end up with a hook in my hand trying to grab a fish. I even usually pull the center hook off of my poppers and rapalas for the kayak. I'm going to bring the A rig next time and see what happens.