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For me it is the Smelt. Why?
Many of our local coastal fish grow up in the nurseries which are our back bays, estuaries and harbors. The main live bait food source is the Smelt.
Smelt also live near coastal kelp beds, there are Surf Smelt, Smelt at every Island we fish and I have even seen Smelt on large kelp paddies offshore.
So the list of fish I have caught on Smelt include, Sand Bass, Calico Bass, Surf Perch, Sculpin, Sharks, White Sea Bass, Yellowtail, Halibut and even an Albacore.
The Smelt is a very versatile hearty bait and fairly easy to catch if you know where and how.
Now I LOVE Squid, but it is not a bait you would choose to fish in a Tuna bite.
There is nothing better than a Big Northern Anchovy either except availability.
The Sardine is one of my favorites, but size varies and quality fluctuates.
And don't forget the brown bait! The Herring, AKA Queen Fish.
Oh what I wouldnâ??t so for some of those at times!
An please don't forget our friends the Mackeral. Oh what a choice!
Even the Tomcod and Lizzardfish have some valuable bait qualities.
But If I had a choice of a full bait tank to travel with anywhere to fish for anything, my money would be on the Smelt!
What's your opinion?
Al "FIT TO BE BIT" Schneider
You don't judge a fisherman by his gear, but by how much time he spends in his
Many of our local coastal fish grow up in the nurseries which are our back bays, estuaries and harbors. The main live bait food source is the Smelt.
Smelt also live near coastal kelp beds, there are Surf Smelt, Smelt at every Island we fish and I have even seen Smelt on large kelp paddies offshore.
So the list of fish I have caught on Smelt include, Sand Bass, Calico Bass, Surf Perch, Sculpin, Sharks, White Sea Bass, Yellowtail, Halibut and even an Albacore.
The Smelt is a very versatile hearty bait and fairly easy to catch if you know where and how.
Now I LOVE Squid, but it is not a bait you would choose to fish in a Tuna bite.
There is nothing better than a Big Northern Anchovy either except availability.
The Sardine is one of my favorites, but size varies and quality fluctuates.
And don't forget the brown bait! The Herring, AKA Queen Fish.
Oh what I wouldnâ??t so for some of those at times!
An please don't forget our friends the Mackeral. Oh what a choice!
Even the Tomcod and Lizzardfish have some valuable bait qualities.
But If I had a choice of a full bait tank to travel with anywhere to fish for anything, my money would be on the Smelt!
What's your opinion?
Al "FIT TO BE BIT" Schneider
You don't judge a fisherman by his gear, but by how much time he spends in his