Favorite Jetty/Bank Rig For Ling Cod?

Fish_N_Russ · 03-18-2008, 08:36 PM

Do you guys who jetty fish like to pitch big jigs or use bait? Ive always been a jig guy but I keep hearing the 'big' lings are always caught using bait off the jetties (ie greenling fillets or other baits). What do u think? What have u had most luck with?
thanks

motoxaaron03 · 03-19-2008, 06:45 AM

I've heard the same thing (that you'll catch larger lings with bait), but it seems like everytime I use bait, I get hung up in the rocks and get frustrated. If you are going rock fishing I know that you have to accept the fact that you will loose some gear, but personally I prefer to fish with jigs. I don't catch as big of lings as I probably would with bait, but I catch some. I also catch quite a few rock bass with jigs. Jigs also make it easier to cover more water.

Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my

Weather or Knot · 03-19-2008, 07:30 PM

Ive done the best off of our jetties with big white grubs with smelly jelly on them.(for lings) sometimes the root beer color work well too but white always seems to work!

Brandon

KeyWest · 03-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Light jigs - less than 2 oz. Try to keep the gear as cheap as possible as your going to loose LOTS. I pour my own lead jigs, and then buy the rubber tails - but try to keep the whole thing under $0.50

Fishmstr · 03-20-2008, 10:45 AM

For big lings...nothing beat a blackrock fish fillet. I use a 3-4 oz. rootbeer or white scampi then catch some small black rockfish. I fillet each side, careful to leave the tails on. Leave to skin on, it makes it last for a long time. attach fillet to scampi with tail part hanging down. Really let the lings chew on it before giving them the old "jimmy houston" hook-set. I am a firm believer in this rig..big bait + smell of what they normally eat equals big fish. Try it, you will like it!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish_N_Russ

Do you guys who jetty fish like to pitch big jigs or use bait? Ive always been a jig guy but I keep hearing the 'big' lings are always caught using bait off the jetties (ie greenling fillets or other baits). What do u think? What have u had most luck with?
thanks

Salty Walty · 03-20-2008, 02:48 PM

Live shiner or whole dead herring under a bobber works well. I have also seen some fellows do really well with 9" swimbaits with a 3/4-1 oz. head. The lings seem to like this slow falling almost drifted presentation too.

Weather or Knot · 03-20-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Walty

Live shiner or whole dead herring under a bobber works well. I have also seen some fellows do really well with 9" swimbaits with a 3/4-1 oz. head. The lings seem to like this slow falling almost drifted presentation too.

A bobber huh. Do you know the crap I would get if I broke out a bobber when were bottom fishing.

Looks like Im going to have to go on a trip by myself to try it! A bobber, thats awesome!

Brandon

Maddie'sDaddy · 03-20-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weather or Knot

A bobber huh. Do you know the crap I would get if I broke out a bobber when were bottom fishing.

Looks like Im going to have to go on a trip by myself to try it! A bobber, thats awesome!

Brandon

They can say what they want, I always fish with a sliding bobber setup from the jetty, you can fish shallow to real deep and almost allways go home with the rig you came with

MD

Salty Walty · 03-20-2008, 03:18 PM

The fellow who used to run the Arcata Fly Shop showed me this technique +15 years ago fishing off the Jetties in Humboldt Bay. We would fish the incoming tide, walk down the jetty with the drift for a bit and walk back up or fish it like you would do if you were jig-fishing for steelhead. It saved me a lot of $ in lost tackle.

AyeFish · 03-20-2008, 03:21 PM

Good discussion.

How heavy do you go? Sturgeon bank type rod? What test line?

And how the heck do you land the fish on those rocks with the surf crashing in?

Salty Walty · 03-20-2008, 03:46 PM

8 1/2' - 9' med- med heavy spinning or conventional #30 mono and #50 leader back then worked for me. I have #50 or #65 spectra on the same rods these days. Be sure and check the spectra for nicks. Tying on a couple feet of the heavy mono will help prevent nicking your spectra. A gaff will help you get the fish in. The landing rate on really big lings is pretty low. It is best to fish inside the jetties, the waves are usually not crashing into the rocks. If you have felt soled wading shoes w/cleats or even better the tie/buckle on korkers with some rubber boots. These are great for helping you not slip on the rocks too much. Most important of all is to be careful and make sure the conditions are safe.

There are perch around this time of year and a chunk of sand shrimp, clam neck or best yet kelp worm will do a number on them.

fyshndad · 03-20-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Walty

8 1/2' - 9' med- med heavy spinning or conventional #30 mono and #50 leader back then worked for me. I have #50 or #65 spectra on the same rods these days. Be sure and check the spectra for nicks. Tying on a couple feet of the heavy mono will help prevent nicking your spectra. A gaff will help you get the fish in. The landing rate on really big lings is pretty low. It is best to fish inside the jetties, the waves are usually not crashing into the rocks. If you have felt soled wading shoes w/cleats or even better the tie/buckle on korkers with some rubber boots. These are great for helping you not slip on the rocks too much. Most important of all is to be careful and make sure the conditions are safe.

And wear your PFD at all times

Weather or Knot · 03-20-2008, 05:39 PM

Thats it, Im going to have to try the bobber. If you dont loose as much gear, it will be an easier walk on the rocks without #45 of lead and other gear

. Bobbers are light!

Brandon

Fish_N_Russ · 03-20-2008, 05:41 PM

these are all good ideas
I have heard the bobber/bait method before, but havent tried it yet. How deep do you have to set the bobber? ie on the bottom or ? I have plenty of anchovies and herring from last year to try this with, so anxious to do it.

Maddie'sDaddy · 03-20-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish_N_Russ

these are all good ideas
I have heard the bobber/bait method before, but havent tried it yet. How deep do you have to set the bobber? ie on the bottom or ? I have plenty of anchovies and herring from last year to try this with, so anxious to do it.

The wonderfull thing about the bobber method is you start shallow and fish it for a while and if you get no hits adjust down a foot at a time , soon you will be where the fishies are , I use about a 3 oz setup so when fishing deep it will get your bait down quicker , Not many fish you will catch out there are leader shy so go heavy and catch big. Naturally if you are going to target perch on the beach side fish the bottom.

MD

AyeFish · 03-20-2008, 09:46 PM

Do you only gaff the fish if it is really obvious that it's keeper size?

I'm not a critic, I'm just trying to get a handle on technique. I definitely intend to try this.

Salty Walty · 03-20-2008, 10:46 PM

Yes, only gaff one that you are sure that is legal. The smaller, barely legal and undersized are not that hard to handle. You will know which ones need to be gaffed when you see them.

Mr Presentation · 03-20-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weather or Knot

Thats it, Im going to have to try the bobber. If you dont loose as much gear, it will be an easier walk on the rocks without #45 of lead and other gear

. Bobbers are light!

Brandon

I think you will be ok with the bobber as long as there's no powerbait on the end of the hook!

Weather or Knot · 03-21-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Presentation

I think you will be ok with the bobber as long as there's no powerbait on the end of the hook!

What about powerbait sandworms? are they OK?

Brandon

Drifter2007 · 03-23-2008, 08:03 PM

I have had good luck with an 8 1/2 foot med hvy rod, with 50 lbs braided mainline and 25 lbs leader. I carry a net as well as a folding gaf. My net is smaller than your typical salmon net, but does have an extendable handle that just so happens to be 24 inches from the joint to the butt. I will net most all of the fish, but if it is a ling that I need to measure, I just gently slide the gaf in through the gil area, being careful not to hurt the fish I can now hold it up to the net to measure. Set the drag tight as you have to horse a ling in fast before he can get in the rocks.

MMM, I want some fresh fish and chips!!!

rosshatfield · 03-23-2008, 08:22 PM

I grew up in DB right on the rocks. I have tried everything and the fact is that when the lings move in close in the spring it doesn't matter what you use. If you put it close to them theyr'e gonna hit it! I like different stuff for different areas. Boiler Bay I like Bait, in the kelp I like bait, North point I like jigs, Jetty I like jigs. Thats my

steel_beaver · 03-24-2008, 11:49 PM

How do you cast the jigs? do you cast straight out as far as you can and retrieve until you get to the rocks, or do you cast parallel to the jetty and try to bounce it parallel? I have tried both and seem to lose more gear the second way (duh...) but I was wondering Which way is more effective>

Thanks

S_B

GraphiteZen · 03-25-2008, 12:14 AM

Referencing Newport, inside the jetty... I go out in a Fishcat and enjoy fishing the fingers on the south side. I have been hearing so much about these large Lings I went out for them today. Didn't get anything, and started wondering as I bounced off the rocks and onto what seemed like flat sand etc, where do they usually hang out?? Are they like a rockfish and back into holes to ambush prey or are they on the prowl? If they prowl, do they comb flats or move around the rocks? If they stay put do they hang around the sand or where the rock meets the sand or what? I'm new to jetty fishing... What about the pockets that are created when a finger meets the jetty? One more... When the tide is going out, would they hang around the east side waiting to ambush prey that are sucked into the rockface by the tide or do they tend to like the protection and still water that is offered by the west side? Any tips would be great.

rosshatfield · 03-25-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

How do you cast the jigs? do you cast straight out as far as you can and retrieve until you get to the rocks, or do you cast parallel to the jetty and try to bounce it parallel? I have tried both and seem to lose more gear the second way (duh...) but I was wondering Which way is more effective>

Thanks

S_B

Casting jigs is an art. It takes a delicate touch and lots of practice and you still loose a lot of gear. I try to keep the jig a little off the bottom. When I do get stuck I give slack and let the wave action free me up. Bare in mind I fish the rocks north of Cape Foulweather. If I am close to a jetty is because I'm headin out to sea

FishinOrBust · 05-30-2008, 02:06 AM

Favorite? I have a favorite. The best however, is a little more complicated and harder to fish. The most durable and cheapest would be the larger size, which is my favorite.

Simple, a swimbait heavy enough to drop to the bottom in 5 seconds..(ten feet per second) these will cost you around a little less than 1 dollar each .. depending on where you stand and fish.. it could be as expensive as a casino in a few minutes..

The idea is.. you get snagged up in the same area more than once.. hit it from a different angle and dont stand in the same place more than half an hour.. ...

The more complicated way of doing things and is far more less likely to snag up on anything would be what i call the squinko... it consists of a high density rubber bait no longer than 5 inches and about half the weight of what you would buy in a panther or storm swimbait...

simple rig.. get a hoochie.. a good color...put it up your line.. depends on what you do.. but.. then go for a thumbnail size or smaller sinker..and i would go for a 2-5 o/ hook...depending on the conditions.. and cast along side of the rocks no more than 4-15 feet out and work it easy/ left and right... rougher the conditions .. further you cast... easier the conditions.. the closer you finesse it...

longer the rod the better...heavier line the easier if you can cast ... its more or less about covering ground rather than being picky about anything.. ive been fishing all my life .. i hate braided.... i started off with 10lb mono on the jetty.. broke off a nice ling... went to 15 mono... broke off another fatty the next weekend.. next weekend used 25 and got broke off by probably more than likely the same fish..

I bit a bullet... I threw on some 50 tufline... and 30 maxima on both my castin reels..... i dont like braided cuz the way i set the hook on fish that bite.. i would always snap it.. im used to 6 lb ande for summer and winterun steelies.. but this 50 tuf and 3-4 ft of leader with something on the end is essential..

for the first time i horsed the first 6-7 lb ling to the gaff...
without gettin broke off.. the second one.. same day.. was around 10-12 twice the size... instead of him diving down he did a sideways run on me.. unlike any other.. around a rock and i saw his body and as soon as his head broke water the lure come out..

moral of the story...bring a file when fishing with 50 lb braid/30 lb mono leader... you will get most of it back with a flat hook...file it down... throw it back out...with big line like that your gonna bend hooks and stub out sharp tips.. this means packin out a fish or walkin back empty handed...

FishinOrBust · 05-30-2008, 02:13 AM

Favorite? I have a favorite. The best however, is a little more complicated and harder to fish. The most durable and cheapest would be the larger size, which is my favorite.

Simple, a swimbait heavy enough to drop to the bottom in 5 seconds..(ten feet per second) these will cost you around a little less than 1 dollar each .. depending on where you stand and fish.. it could be as expensive as a casino in a few minutes..

The idea is.. you get snagged up in the same area more than once.. hit it from a different angle and dont stand in the same place more than half an hour.. ...

The more complicated way of doing things and is far more less likely to snag up on anything would be what i call the squinko... it consists of a high density rubber bait no longer than 5 inches and about half the weight of what you would buy in a panther or storm swimbait...

simple rig.. get a hoochie.. a good color...put it up your line.. depends on what you do.. but.. then go for a thumbnail size or smaller sinker..and i would go for a 2-5 o/ hook...depending on the conditions.. and cast along side of the rocks no more than 4-15 feet out and work it easy/ left and right... rougher the conditions .. further you cast... easier the conditions.. the closer you finesse it...

longer the rod the better...heavier line the easier if you can cast ... its more or less about covering ground rather than being picky about anything.. ive been fishing all my life .. i hate braided.... i started off with 10lb mono on the jetty.. broke off a nice ling... went to 15 mono... broke off another fatty the next weekend.. next weekend used 25 and got broke off by probably more than likely the same fish..

I bit a bullet... I threw on some 50 tufline... and 30 maxima on both my castin reels..... i dont like braided cuz the way i set the hook on fish that bite.. i would always snap it.. im used to 6 lb ande for summer and winterun steelies.. but this 50 tuf and 3-4 ft of leader with something on the end is essential..

for the first time i horsed the first 6-7 lb ling to the gaff...
without gettin broke off.. the second one.. same day.. was around 10-12 twice the size... instead of him diving down he did a sideways run on me.. unlike any other.. around a rock and i saw his body and as soon as his head broke water the lure come out..

moral of the story...bring a file when fishing with 50 lb braid/30 lb mono leader... you will get most of it back with a flat hook...file it down... throw it back out...with big line like that your gonna bend hooks and stub out sharp tips.. this means packin out a fish or walkin back empty handed...

WishIWasRetired · 05-31-2008, 12:50 PM

Thanks for this good info! although I had to look up what a swimbait was and what a Hoochie is (got some interesting googles on that one!) - anyway, its really hard when you think you know how to fish and then you move to a new area and all of a sudden YOU DON'T KNOW NUTHIN! So thanks for the in-detail tips!

sschwab · 05-31-2008, 03:56 PM

A First Bite shrimp jig with a 4 inch tail of Big Gulp pink worm under a bobber at 9 feet got me into about a decent size ling off Barview Jetty last August. It broke me off around a barnacled rock after I got it near the surface.

I was fishing in a deep looking pocket about 5 feet out from the rocks at high slack. I was hooking into something about every other cast for a half hour, then it went dead for 15 minutes before I hooked the ling.

GraphiteZen · 05-31-2008, 07:49 PM

What pound test line do you any of you use?

FishinOrBust · 06-07-2008, 02:32 AM

50 lb tuf line, ball bearing swivel rocking a 3-4 foot. 30 lb maxima leader that is checked for frays at every hook up.. anyways update of last weekend.. went on sat or sunday.. dont remember.. the surf sucked for surfers.. i like fishing at low tide ..and on sundays.. sundays seem to be better for jetty fisherman/flyman low tide was around 6 am... we got on the jetty @ 8 inc tide is a horrible time if you ask me.. every ling cod ive ever broken off or caught on the jetty has been AT low tide outgoing or slack inc.. On sunday.. we had one for sure fish... one that followed my S/B to the top of the water and rolled like a bass would with a topwater lure...
9-13 lb ling broke water when i reeled her up.. made me shake and go.. yes! "the ones who dont feel the hook always bite again " half an hour later and plus one fisherman.. he didnt or she didnt bite or chase again...

This was the worst day on the jetty ever.. we always slap a tail or two on the way out..

some guy fishing and catching greenling with live sandshrimp said at least 30 lingcod was carried off the
south westport jetty the day before..

i doubt it..
however he told me a gaff is illegal on the south jetty of westport...
i told him to arrest me and i will continue to gaff any keeper ling cod, black sea bass, skate, shark, halibut

I will continue to bring my gaff to the south jetty @ westport no matter if its free fishing weekend or not this weekend