Halibut Trap

[oneyedeer]

Originally Posted by blitzburgh

He's probably referring to the Coronado Bridge. From there to the bay entrance area is like 2 miles. There are a lot of pollutants concentrated in the back bay area (Shipyards, manufacturing, runoff). Various reasons for this but the big one is because it is tucked away so far, it has very poor water exchange with new, fresh saltwater.

Why can't we redirect mlpa gunners to those factories which is the real danger not only to fishery but our own health?

[Jimmyz123]

I haven't ever had trouble with the trap hooks. The size of baits I prefer trap hooks work very well, but that's if I'm using live bait. Plastics I don't use trap hooks at all.

[kobra]

Originally Posted by oneyedeer

Why can't we redirect mlpa gunners to those factories which is the real danger not only to fishery but our own health?

Because, unfortunately, the mlpas have nothing to do with common sense.

[lowprofile]

fish move. that hali by the bridge could have been out at sea a week earlier. and the one you catch by the mouth could have spent 2 months chillin in the back bay.

eat what you want. i wouldnt worry about where it came from.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by lowprofile

fish move. that hali by the bridge could have been out at sea a week earlier. and the one you catch by the mouth could have spent 2 months chillin in the back bay.

eat what you want. i wouldnt worry about where it came from.

DAMMIT!!!!

You beat me to it!

[lowprofile]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

DAMMIT!!!!

You beat me to it!

its only common sense...

[taggermike]

I used trap hooks for a while but after landing only more shorts halibut and gut hooking some sand bass I stopped using them. I also feel that the bait, any bait, will swim better and live longer with out that second hook in the tail. Now I use a light wire circle matched to size the bait. When I worked for the Hubbs institute we taggedsome halibut with acustic tags and released them in to Mission Bay. We had several automated listening probes on the bottom to tell us where the halis went in the bay. We had one fish that started in the back bay near Vacation Village. It barely moved for a few days and then on one out going night tide it completely left the bay and out the mouth. They do move. Mike

[grey zone]

It's difficult to trap hook a live fin bait. The trap hook usually comes out of the bait or your bait dies. Here's some tips. Use a treble hook rather than a single and nose hook your bait as you normally would. Mustad 3X strong in sizes 4 and 2 work for most sardines. I like Mustads because they have good barbs! Fish with your reel in gear, my rod holder out fishes me hands down. Someone mentioned using a Palomar knot and putting the trap hook on the tag end, that rig is deadly with live squid but doesn't work well with live fin bait.

[tunaseeker]

On another note I was listening to Lets Talk Hookup with gues Ron Baker. He had some great hali tips. He too is adamat against the trap as all you get are shorts and you may kill them. So I hit up San Diego Bay today, no trap and got some live bait. Got raked 8 times and then I hooked up. Seemed to have some pull so I tried to wear it out. On the way up snap goes the leader....Damm. I pull the rig up 8' or so and see a clean cut. The all of a sudden a freaking huge threasher shark comes up to the yak, he hits the boat and rolls over tail come out of the water and hits my arm. He goes under the yak and runs into the fins of the hobie drive. This gal was pissed. I thought about trying to gaff her but quickily realized I was in over my head and watched her swim away. Who knew threashers in SD Bay? No keepers but what a beautiful day!

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by grey zone

It's difficult to trap hook a live fin bait. The trap hook usually comes out of the bait or your bait dies.

This is true when you hook the bait in the belly, that's why I always hook it on the top right behind the dorsal fin. As far as bait life goes I don't leave my bait on long enough to see it die, I change my bait when I no longer see the tip of my rod moving/shaking. However, when it comes to anchovies and squid your response is true, their life span is extremely short but again.....change it often and you'll be OK.

Originally Posted by grey zone

Here's some tips. Use a treble hook rather than a single and nose hook your bait as you normally would. Mustad 3X strong in sizes 4 and 2 work for most sardines. I like Mustads because they have good barbs!

I tried this a few times and got the same results, the problem is that if the fish doesn't swallow the entire bait you end up with the same results: raked bait. If I'm going to use a single hook I would go with a single circle hook instead.