brines and herring enhancers

[bait boy]

I have been hearing that some of the guides that are fishing bouy 10 and the ocean are consistently boating good sized kings.
The last few weeks I have been out in the ocean and last thursday we managed to boat 3 kings out of our total of 8 legals but none have had any real size to them I think the largest was 15 or so. I keep hearing that Kings and salmon in general like the scent enhanced bait.

We had non stop action on all of the days that we have gone out to the ocean on just fresh plug cut herring. Is adding a bite enhancer going to give those bigger kings anymore reason to bite or is it a location thing ie depth.

If you make it out to the ocean you should have no problem boating your limit at least silvers on divers and straight fresh herring plug cut. bring plenty of bait because you dont want to run out there are jack out there and those ever present "nates" so watch your fish closely and remember the size limit...
good luck
Rick

[Mr. Fisherman]

Good info, Don't know about bait enhancers.
I did read a good post on Tuna Balls. Check that one out.

By the way, What is a "nate"?

Tight lines...

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Live to Fish
Fish to Live

[Pirate]

RKB
I just bought some Brine n' Bite. Do you have any experience or tips with it.

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B

Mr. Fish... nate is an abreviation for native/wild fish. Hats or brats are often used for hatchery fish. - Rick, location during fishing is more important than in real estate! Watch for signs of fish such as tide rips, circling seabirds, and fish on in nearby boats. Then use your FF and try different depths until you start getting bites. Some herring pointers: Read the "rigging plug cut herring" post thread to learn to achieve a good action on your bait. Fresh herring is best, but not by much if it's a quality brand vacuum packed. Poke and release pressure before carefully removing them to save the scales for better flash. Plug cuts are the most popular bait (large purple pack for Kings, smaller green pack for silvers, and med. blue pack is good fishing for both). Use a good plug cutter such as the Gilly Cutter and a very sharp knife. Try some with the entrils left in, but check it often for proper action. Also remember that small and medium whole herring rigged for a nice roll are very close to as effective (occasionally even more on Kings). These baits are great using them just plain. Sometimes they are better with some enhancement. The night before fishing soak several of them whole in rocksalt & water brine (3/4 to 1 cup per gallon) to toughen up the scales and add a little sodium scent. Some fishers like to enhance the brine further. Try some with blue food coloring. For a gallon of rocksalt brine add 1/4 cup each of sodium sulfite and MSG (commonly found in egg cures- a little less sodium sulfite than for egg brines because of the rocksalt ). Also, try a little WD40 spray, anise oil drops, garlic oil drops, even vanilla extract drop, &/or injecting them with a good baitoil (sardine, anchovie, or squid). - RT

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 08-08-2000).]

[RKB]

Pro-cure makes a brine'n bite bait curethat you could use.

[This message has been edited by RKB (edited 08-08-2000).]

[stalmonator]

I have had much better luck with just rock salt and water.

[TheRogue]

Something I have noticed, and it took me a while.....

Try to NOT use tapwater, especially if it's city water. My water at my house smells pretty chlorine-y...and if it bugs me, I suspect the fish don't like it either. I now either use the cheap bottled water, or filter my home stuff. For me, it has definitely made a difference!!

I use rock salt and Mrs. Stewart's blueing, available at many stores in the laundry section. Also normally add a couple of squirts of herring oil, and a liberal spraying of WD-40. I do this the night before I go fishin'. All of this goes in a small lunch cooler (with a good lid ), and into the refigerator.

Generally, when I plug-cut, I leave the heads and guts right in the brine with the rest of the fish. I personally have never been much on attractor scents, however, I think all of the oil and WD covers up MY scent.

TR

Glad to see your comments about the water Rogue. In past posts I've recommended distilled water for egg and herring brines. And to have it almost frozen for cleaning dark/bloody eggs prior to curing; the eggs won't milk out much in 35 deg. water because it closes the tiny pores in the egg sacks. Anyway, yours is the first post other than mine that remarks about avoiding tap water for chlorine concerns. It's not a huge differnece, but like so many factors they all add up. Thanks for some colaboration, I was beginning to wonder about it being worth it. - RT