Octopus for bait?

corrirod · 05-04-2003, 08:03 PM

I just picked up some baby octopus to try on the hali's, anybody ever try it? We landed 2 lings last week that both coughed up octopus' on the deck. We used the octopus as bait and landed 2 more lings.

I bought them at Uwajima Asian Market in Beaverton. I also bought some mondo big squid, probably 12-15" long. Hehehehe.....look out Mr. Hali, I'm coming to get you! And your brother!

Capin' Dan · 05-04-2003, 09:52 PM

Yep used it last week and we hammered the big big lings on it. Even managed a hali or two.

Dan

Salmonator · 05-04-2003, 10:32 PM

the two times I made it out to the ranch last year we caught 6 or 7 hali's on octopus. I'm not so sure it would have been any different with any other fleshy substance on the hook though

Mello-Yello · 05-04-2003, 10:48 PM

We were using regergitated (sp) octopus' too Rod. Every time we did, we'd catch another nice ling. One ling coughed up a full squid! My buddy used that squid w/his jig for at least 4 more fish. We must have caught 20 lings Saturday, and close to ten of those were legal length. I even caught a sea bass on my upper shrimp fly and a smallish ling on the jig (double).

One has to believe a halibut would jump at the sight (or smell) of an octopus.

M-Y

Miss B Haven · 05-05-2003, 10:14 AM

I tried the baby Octopus from the stores (for Human Consumption - yechhhh!

) up North (Canada). They just didn't work! We ended up buying some real Octopus bait up there (sections of legs about an inch in diameter) and started catching the but's. The leg sections had a definate odor to them that was not there on the food grade baby ones. The leg sections were tough and rubbery and stayed on real good too! Dog sharks didn't bother them to much either (unlike and fish you put down).

Threemuch · 05-05-2003, 01:52 PM

I have used baby octozoids in combo with salmon bellys or herring. Gives you something sticky if you get hit and don't hook, you can keep fishing and know you still have some bait. It works. Lings and BFB.

Fishplay · 05-05-2003, 08:46 PM

Fished food grade baby octo from Fitz seafood last year and got no interest from flatty. The sardine however was killer.

jcarufo · 05-05-2003, 11:40 PM

Our experience on Vancouver island has been the same. The bigger and fresher the arm the more interest. We cut cucumber like slices and put one piece on the jigs we fish up there. It lasts for hours. We've tried market baby whole with little result. It's funny, if you get a regurged one they're dynamite. Go figure.
Something a friend told me last year they do up in Kodiak. About 3-4 feet above your spreader, tie a large dropper loop (8-12 inches). Thread on a large longshank hook and the largest size Glow Powerbait curly tail Grub. As you fish your bait, this thing flaps in the current. He said they got lots of Halibut on the grubs. They must taste good as the fish pick them up and don't let go. something else to try.
Jean

corrirod · 05-05-2003, 11:48 PM

Well it sounds like I'd better marinate them in something if I want to catch anything with them. Oh well, glad I asked! I hope my food grade squid will work! :depressed: I'll bring some others just in case.

Albacore Tuna Captain · 05-06-2003, 07:08 AM

I tried food grade octopus last year and didn't get a nibble. I had about 10 down at a time and not one worked. I think it has something to do with the way food grade octopi are processed. Anyway, I won't try that again.

Threemuch · 05-06-2003, 07:13 AM

Yeah, I don't know what "food grade" means. The ones I buy and have success on I get at the asian seafood shop in beaverton, and they are fresh, and they fish well. I have had equal success with that and large octopi, and the little guys are way cheaper. I always use them in combo with something else, like herring, salmon, shad, etc.

KB

Miss B Haven · 05-06-2003, 09:53 AM

Kurt- food grade just means they are sold for human consumption (note that I did NOT say "fit for human consumption" - no dang Octopus going in my mouth). Supposedly you know - not laid around in the sun rotting for 3 days, clean handling etc. :grin:
PS- If you want to use pickled herring (roll mop) for sturg- the stuff they sell in the supermarkets for the Scandahoovians to eat (yechhh!)is actually cheaper than the stuff they sell in the bait and tackle stores for fishing!