Sardine cut bait

[jigstick]

I can not source herring strips locally here in Pittsburgh. But I can find fresh whole 6-8in sardines. Could I brine these and use them in meat rigs?

 

the slippery sinker isn’t open when I leave the harbor for the day. So I need an option for meat. 

 

Any help?

[Sk8man]

A lot of what goes on with meat rigs may be relatively independent of the species of the bait itself. Much of the effectiveness comes from (and depends on) the action of the bait in the water. Whatever is used should be fairy stiff so it can twirl or spin properly behind the attractor. Just a suggestion to try would be to use prepared shad that comes in a package and is sold in a number of stores besides baitshops (e.g. Walmart or Runnings). These prepared baits have the required stiffness although you may have to make adjustments to fit them in the meat head (e.g. take the head of the bait off etc.) but they do work and are much less expensive than the brined herring.  My hunch is that the sardines may be too soft ( as they are a relatively soft fish anyway) to hold up in the meat heads but I'm not sure of that. Live sardines are used as bait in salt water.

Edited June 4, 2019 by Sk8man

[Decoy Hound]

Go to the Boat Doctor, they open early and stay late.

[jigstick]

What time do they open?  Says 5am on their website. I have lines in the water by then usually

[Decoy Hound]

Yes by 5:00 am but you can stop afterwards, they are open fairly late sometimes. I’ve seen them open till 7:00 pm if they are working on something. 

[jigstick]

Yeah that won’t work. I’m only fishing the one day and I need meat to use while I’m out there. 

[Decoy Hound]

It’s frustrating not being able find it, sold out, place not open, etc. I started buying it by the case beginning of each season so I don’t run into those problems.

[orangediablo]

Have a case of whole bait shipped to your house.  Before each trip, thaw out a tray, filet and brine.  You'll get more than double the strips for the same cost and about 15 minutes of your time.

[benfish909]

1 hour ago, orangediablo said:

Have a case of whole bait shipped to your house.  Before each trip, thaw out a tray, filet and brine.  You'll get more than double the strips for the same cost and about 15 minutes of your time.

 

Where do you order your bait?

[orangediablo]

https://cart.gltsupplies.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=166

[benfish909]

Thank you. I dont think I make enough trips up to Lake O from Ohio to make it worth buying that much. 

[orangediablo]

sounds like a good excuse to go fishing more

[Decoy Hound]

Some bait companies cannot ship to Ohio direct, Ohio laws will not allow it. 

[jigstick]

I have 4lbs of fresh Atlantic sardine in some brine. I’ll let you know how it turns out

[horsehunter]

MC Rockets work at times better than bait. I'm not convinced the tongue out of your sneakers wouldn't work and stand up better than bait. Freedom Lures makes a plastic cutbait in many colours and some friends did well with them last season( and loaded up on this year) something I will definitely try but really wish they had put a rattle in them

Edited June 6, 2019 by horsehunter

[Dirtyhooker]

Try Brads cut bait plugs I have had good luck with them and meat will last several fish I know of some guys that just dip sponge in tuna juice from a can and done good no tuning the roll is there


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[marckulak]

I’ve used Sardines many times with good results.. you will be fine!


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[ilv2bfishing2]

I second MC Rockets. No fuss mess. They work. Just a some fish scent.

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[Silver Fox]

Nothing nothing nothing out produces cut bait. Trust me, my friends will yell you I've tried every type of fake stuff on the market so I don't have to pay for cut bait. In a pinch it will work, but you cannot replace a fresh fillet in the ole head.

Silverfoxcharters.net

[jigstick]

My buddy is swearing that Familiar Bite and Dreamweaver herring strips will outproduce my home brined fresh Atlantic sardine cut bait. Says I shouldn’t even use it. I’ll be interested to see who hooks up more

Edited June 6, 2019 by jigstick

[HB2]

22 hours ago, Silver Fox said:

Nothing nothing nothing out produces cut bait. Trust me, my friends will yell you I've tried every type of fake stuff on the market so I don't have to pay for cut bait. In a pinch it will work, but you cannot replace a fresh fillet in the ole head.

Silverfoxcharters.net
 

You are probably right  about that 

 

But I think I have something that is pretty close .

[Silver Fox]

Your all set then!

Silverfoxcharters.net

[Fat Trout]

My buddy is swearing that Familiar Bite and Dreamweaver herring strips will outproduce my home brined fresh Atlantic sardine cut bait. Says I shouldn’t even use it. I’ll be interested to see who hooks up more

Since a lot of it is about the look....id go with the shiny scale intact bait any day vs the freezer burned, left out in the sun looking stuff. Aka familar bite /Dreamweaver.

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[jigstick]

I think it turned out fair. Still a little soft. I have to toughen it up. Maybe I’ll throw them in a bag with some salt and borax. See if that toughens them up some. 

 

Is this how its it’s supposed to look?  That’s an Atomik King head

[garrymny]

Well, I tried sardines two years ago. Boraxed them. Brined them. They were soft. But I started with the frozen ones so that's probably why.

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