Live bait set-up for lingcod

[donnie d]

My boat biggest is a…43 on a swimbait. They’ll crush anything. I feel your odds improve of catching biggies using live bait. Dragged up lots of hitch hikers. I’ve eaten some 30’s myself and honestly, just wasn’t good. Too thick. I feel that 8-15 lb range of fish (ling or salmon) is perfect to cook and eat. I don’t catch big fish anyways so it works out perfect.

The bigger they are, the worse they taste.

brought home a couple upper 30’s one trip and I’ll never do that again. Super fun to catch though! Around 8-10 lbs is excellent eating.

 

[fishbadger]

More or less agree with the above. . .but don't use rockfish for bait, they don't do well to the up and down action that live bait fishing imparts, as they have a swim bladder. There is definitely a learning curve fishing live bait, the action and the rigging. It excels in some situations, and other times probably isn't necessary.
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[Rum Buddies]

IME it's not the perfect weapon you think it is... Really more hassle than it's worth and you'll spend more time ******* with it than fishing.

 

[kingspring]

IME it's not the perfect weapon you think it is... Really more hassle than it's worth and you'll spend more time ******* with it than fishing.

Dock perch, perfect size, get a bunch then use a big single . Let the ling take it slow and when it swims away then set it.
Location really is the key to hooking up , drop offs in 80 to 150 ft.

 

[Rain City]

Dock perch, perfect size, get a bunch then use a big single . Let the ling take it slow and when it swims away then set it.
Location really is the key to hooking up , drop offs in 80 to 150 ft.

How do you rig them?

 

[Fisher_dude]

Single through the back is how I used to do it.

 

[adanac]

You don't need live bait to haul up a monster. I caught one over 40lbs two weeks ago on a 4oz delta swim bait. But yeah I see the fun in using livies.

Gulf islands live bait out fishes anything 10 - 1. Those days where people are complaining it’s fished out , I quietly go home with my limit 9 /10 times . Sand dabs are best