[DockRat]

Got into some nice 6" Spanish Macs at a San Pedro 'secret spot' Nose hooked one on a drift rig 'just for the halibut' at the dock. Clicker on, in rodholder then about 30 minutes later .zzzzzzzzzz Picked up the rod, clicker off, bink bink bink WHAM. Swing and a miss @( Wish I had a trap hook. After a few minutes reeled in to find 5 rake lines, 1/2" apart. Old fisherman said 'looks like a 15 - 20 lb halibut hit it.' Had a giant school of these next to my slip. Besides great eating (so I hear) are they a great bait? :? Never used spanish for bait. DR

This post edited by DockRat 05/27/2008

 

[bitesomthing]

Got into some nice 6" Spanish Macs at a San Pedro 'secret spot'

SO.................

 

[Baja Dreamer]

Don't know about using spaniards for halibut specifically, but I've used a bunch of them for YT and big calicos. I don't see why they wouldn't be good for halibut too.


FISH HARD!

 

[Alan_Cole]

Besides great eating (so I hear) are they a great bait?

I think you've already had the question "answered". Or do you get strikes like that with everything else you use for bait?

This post edited by Alan_Cole 05/27/2008

 

[Fiskadoro]

Besides great eating (so I hear) are they a great bait? :?Never used spanish for bait. DR

Spanish mackerel are Jacks, Greenbacks are Tuna. Bait wise they are pretty comparable. I think greenbacks are more lively on the hook and get more strikes when fish are aggressive but Spanish live much longer on the hook. If your in a situation with a red hot bite greenbacks are better bait for halibut if your doing long drifts with fewer strikes "Spanish" or "Jack" Mackerel are better bait as they will live longer. It's about the closest thing to a Cabilito we ha local waters. I think Spanish are excellent bait for Halibut, Bass both calico's and Sandbass, Yellows and Seabass. Very good baits I'd personally rather fish them then dines, but I think greenbacks of the same size get bit faster. JMO.... Jim

This post edited by Jim Day 05/27/2008

 

[WJW]

Six inch spanish macks are one of my favorite halibut bait. They are frequently present in Chinese Harbor (santa cruz island) in good numbers and can be jigged up. I think they out-produce everything but live squid there.

Bill