live bait TUNA fishing questions

[fishindude]

where do I get sabaki Jigs. Is there a certain color that is best?? How big of a hook to use on the live bait chovies. Do you use more than one hook? What pound test line works best. Any particular type of line best, like flouricarbon?
What about the live bait tank. Will adding fresh salt water from a bucket keep the fish in tank alive or does it need a constant fresh supply??
I know, tons of questions.
thanks in advance for any help with this.

[CATCH AND EAT]

where do I get sabaki Jigs. Is there a certain color that is best?? How big of a hook to use on the live bait chovies. Do you use more than one hook? What pound test line works best. Any particular type of line best, like flouricarbon?
What about the live bait tank. Will adding fresh salt water from a bucket keep the fish in tank alive or does it need a constant fresh supply??
I know, tons of questions.
thanks in advance for any help with this.

Not and expert here but I will try to help if I can.

Sabiki rigs can be purchased at Fishermans marine, Englund Marine and I am not sure about Joes. White mylar wings, red thread head and green glo-bead.

Live bait hooks come in many sizes. I have used #1's #2's and #4's with success this season. The later in the season the smaller the hook. Also depends on the size of the bait. One hook is all it takes and I put it through the very tip of the nose from the side. If you want the fish to dive then hook it in the back near the dorsal fin.

I use 20 to 30 # P-line flourocarbon in 4 to 6 foot sections nail knotted to 25 to 35# topshot.

Bait tank: Fish thrive better with a constant change of fresh saltwater from a continous pump. MAny folks have prescriptions for homemade units that work just fine. Do a search on ifish and you will find this discussed in detail from last season.

Not sure how helpful this is from a rookie live bait fisherman but it has worked for me.

[KeyWest]

Will adding fresh salt water from a bucket keep the fish in tank alive or does it need a constant fresh supply??

Get a pump. For $100 bucks you can get a good pump system. Don't even think you can keep bait alive without a constant flow of water. Your thinking of spending $300+ in gas every time you run. Don't find yourself out there without fresh, frisky live bait.

[tady]

Here is quick 101 on live bait fishing for Albacore and Tuna in General:

Setup:
Rod: 6 ½- 7 foot rod that is rated for 20-40 LB test with a medium taper. This style of rod gives you enough length to cast out light bait without any lead (also known as Fly lining bait). While still having enough backbone to put the wood on a big tuna. My favorite rod is a Calstar Graphiter or Seeker.

Reel: Daiwa Penn or Shimano reel with 4:1 or 5:1 gear ratio that can holed 200yards of 30 LB test mono. If you get much above 5:1 gear ratio, the reel limits your power to reel the fish in especially if you are short stroking the fish in.

Line: Andi, Maxima, P-line, Izorline any of these brands work well.

Hook size: match you hook size to your bait size a 4 inch long Anchovy needs to have a #2-#4 hook put in it.

Fluorocarbon: Only needed if the fish are on a picky bite.

Sinkers: I put a torpedo sinker 3 feet ahead of my hook sometimes to get the bait down deeper. When using a 2 oz sinker make sure you nose hook the bait.

Collar hooking the bait: This is the best way to hook a live bait when fly line fishing albacore. Right behind the gill plate of an anchovy is a tough part of skin/ bone. This area of tough skin is narrow enough to thread a hook around it. This method of hooking bait conceals the hook and provides a reliable holding point for the hook, not to mention that the bait swims more naturally with the hook in this position.

Tady

[backlash442]

Depending upon how much bait you have in the tank you won't be able to pour enough water in to keep them alive. Especially while you are running. It takes a pretty high turn over to keep them alive. Also if your bait is fresh caught there is a good change it will roll if over crowded or rough or both.

You need to match the hook to the size of bait as mentioned above. You could say the same about line too but usually match that to the size of fish being caught. If the fish are only running 15-20lbs I'm not going to be using 40lb string. It's also hard to fly line a small chovy with that kind of line too. If you have a full foamer bite going the size hook and line won't matter. Don't use flourocarbon leaders much just straight tie the hook.

I prefer to hook the fish through the boney part of the nose. Sometimes I'll hook back by the b...hole if I want them to swim down. Will also use a rubbercore sinker to get it down deeper.

[fishindude]

Very good info, thank you. I hope to get a chance this weekend to try it out. Weather permitting.