Live baiting can be a difficult task, especially for beginners, during inshore and offshore fishing. Read this article to learn how I cracked the dead baiting game.
Why Dead Fishing Is Better Than Live Fishing
Though live baiting is an adventure for offshore and inshore anglers, it can be tricky at times. Fishes can easily run out of target zones or get entangled with other fishing lines.
Plus, their storage is problematic because of sudden death from shock or shortage of carbon dioxide.
Dead baiting keeps the fishes stacked in a bag in peace until they’re ready to be released at the bottom of the ocean.
Targeting Tarpon, Pike & Red Fish With Dead Fishing
Deadbait makes it easier to catch bigger and slow-moving fish. Below are some techniques for luring the best species.
Tarpon
Having a tarpon rig is necessary to get big fish from the bottom of the sea. When fishing with tarpon, I use Atlantic menhaden, also known as pogies, in water depths of 9 to 25 feet. This way, I get around 3 to 4 rods full of tarpons at the end of the day.
When using pogies, I put them alive in ice a day before the fishing trip and use a circle hook to hang them. Typically, I prefer choosing larger hooks to see my bait clearly in sea water.
I recommend Penn International reels with an 80-pound braided line for optimal grip. This helps in catching large-sized fish. When targeting mid-water pogies, I add a quarter-ounce egg sinker to the monofilament leader and use 1½—to 2-ounce lead to catch fish from the sea bottom.
Pike
Big pike are lazy fish that prey after eating food. The easiest hack to catch a pike is to allow the dead bait’s scent in the water: Take a smaller pike and stab it until it looks attractive to predators.
For a small pike (14 or 15 inches), hook it from its eyes, and for a slightly bigger one, hook it from its lips. Cast it afar and turn the reel handle every thirty seconds to lure the pike into making a move. When covering a certain area, keep changing the directions to target more fish.
In winter, I’ve caught pikes in seconds, and that, too, the bigger ones. So, trust me when I say it’s all about patience and endurance.
Red Fish
You’ll likely catch more redfish in June, so keep your gear ready in the summer season. As for me, I begin my favorite sport at nearby lakes and seas.
My tackle includes a circular hook, Penn Carnage rods, and Penn Spinfisher 7500 reels. To prevent baits from getting eaten, I ensure that the 4 or 5-ounce pyramid sinker is rigged 4 inches above the hook.
I keep the bait in the water for as long as I can, and once the fish is caught, I take a double-over wrap and put the fish on my boat.
Other Fishes
Deadbaits can be used to catch other fish varieties as well. Trouts, Zandar, and Catfish are some examples.
Effective Ways To Preserve Dead Bait
Fly fishing can’t succeed if you don’t preserve the deadbait properly. How to do it?
Let’s find out.
Using Sodium Chloride or Borax
A mixture of salt and borax can be a natural way to preserve baitfish. Add 2 pounds of non-iodized salt to half a cup of borax to prepare a mix. Apply a thin layer to a plastic container with small holes and place the fish on it.
Repeat the steps with other baitfish and store them for 14 days without a cover or lid. Place the container in a well-ventilated area, and your bait will be ready in due time.
Preservatives
Another preservative can be prepared by mixing isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (70% solution or higher), ethyl or drinking alcohol (70% solution or higher), and mineral oil.
Put the dead fish in a sealed container, preferably in a plastic bag, jar, or glass. Add preservatives and rub thoroughly. Store it for 14 days or more to eliminate any risks of VHS virus persisting before using.
Warm Temperature
Expose your bait to 140° F for 10-20 minutes to inactivate the VHS virus.
5 Pro Tips For Dead Fishing
If you want to survive deadbaiting like I did, follow these tips:
Choose the location that best suits the species you’re looking for.
Use high-quality fresh bait with strong scents.
To catch bigger fish, leave the bait in water for long periods.
Casting the clip will help you maintain the grip of your bait and prevent it from getting eaten.
Buoyancy into deadbaits increases their visibility and attracts more fish.
Wrap Up
Wasn’t it a more detailed guide on dead fishing than you were expecting? Implement these methods and catch those bad boys faster!
