looking for MACs

[pargo lsb]

gents,
my bud just picked up a boat and want to try hooping. we've hooped before from kayak and it was too lots of work for few bugs.

taking the boat out for a test run in the harbor tomorrow, thought maybe at the same time try to catch some macs for bait.

anyone knows where macs are biting?

thanks in advance
richard

[smokehound]

Any pier should do.


Except for the shorter piers like seal beach, belmont shores pier.. While those piers do have macks, they are tiny, and difficult to hook.

I was at newport pier, and there are still mackerel boiling.




Just buy some frozen squid and use a single hook, with light weight so the bait sinks slowly. That often gets me ten macks within 10 minutes... You COULD use a sabiki, but those get mangled easily, arent worth the money and time, if you ask me..

OR. you can go to the beach, gather some sandcrabs, and catch a bunch of surfperch for Bug bait. Whatever the case, dont freeze the mackerel, that ruins the bait..


I like to take a few large freezer bags, and fill them with very salty water. This takes a while to freeze, but it melts very slowly, keeping your bait super fresh.

[Wildhorse1966]

99 ranch market..

[YakN'Surf]

I dont know if you are near to the point hueneme pier, but that place is always on fire for macs.

[kwest10]

99 ranch market..
yea but kinda pricey. 2-3 dolla a pound.
There is some bait shop in Dana that sells it by the box for cheap. Forget the price.
Korean markets sometimes have salmon heads for 49 cents EACH.
I was at 99 Ranch on Sat in Irvine. They had whole "baby salmon" for 1.99/lb. Used some various "fish heads" at 99 cent per pound. Looked like tuna, hali and some sort of cod.

[smokehound]

Any fish will work, provided its oily.


You need to absolutely ensure that the bait is fresh, though.


Even scavengers prefer a fresh meal when possible....

Thats why my earlier comment placed so much emphasis on freshness.

[pargo lsb]

valuable info... thanks guys
will report back on result of first trip
Thank again
richard