24 replies to this topic

[RX3-BOi]

hey guys whats the best rig and best bait to use for garfish i've seen em in the water but cant seem to hook em

[Mr_Willy]

I use a simple pencil float rig. I have a swivel on my main line. To this i connect a size 10 chemically sharpened hook on a 10cm or so trace. ONLY USE ONE!! About a metre above the swivel i connect my float.........I only use one hook as they tangle if you hook 2, or have too much line hanging around......If there is a lot of water movement a small split shot can be implemented.
In SA there is only one bait - Gents (aka maggots) Also, they will eat cockle, their own flesh, and most fish flesh..........

[RX3-BOi]

hey mr willy

thanks for that i already got a pencil float. so when the floats drops u strike?

pat

[glen]

i would even use a smaller hook.

cheers, glen

[Mr_Willy]

Basically, yes - i use a heavier berley float, so i strike as it moves............

The float may spin, or stand upright...........but usually it will disappear.........

Could drop it to a size 12, but the gar we catch in SA are generally pretty decent size.....Gar make a good bait for squid, snapper and mulloway - if you can refrain from eating them!!!

[RX3-BOi]

thanks for all the help guys hoepfully i can get one of these things

everytime i go squidding i see em but cant hook em

[aok47]

A fine bread or ban burley will help keep them in your area for longer as well... increasing the chances of hooking up to a mini-marlin



AK

[Hunter_Killer]

If i catch a bunch of garfish theres no way theyre gonna make it to be bait. Last time I caught some we filetted them, coated in batter, fried them and ate them with salad. The flesh was beautifully white and what little bones remained became soft. yummy

[ilikesquid]

will they take sandworm?

hey guys whats the best rig and best bait to use for garfish i've seen em in the water but cant seem to hook em

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[new found]

hey guyz
i like to use bacon rind for garfish.

Edited by glen, 19 June 2005 - 07:49 PM.

[ilikesquid]

cool.

[glen]

hey guyz
              i like to use bacon rind for garfish.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi new found. That is a pretty interesting idea using bacon rind! Do they really go for it better than other baits? Or is it just good because it stays well on the hook?

Cheers, Glen

[Jazman]

The best bait for gars I've used is silverfish - they're like whitebait, but thinner, and a very pale white colour. You can get them at most fishing tackle shops, but not at service stations. Most of the times I fished with them last year you had to have them, or you'd go fishless.

If you want to catch a good bag, berley is essential. I make up a batch of the following, and freeze it in chinese food containers:
1 bag breadcrumbs
Approx 100mL tuna oil
2 cans home brand pilchard cat food (or any fishy cat food)
Mix well, then add 2 cans full of wet sand and mix.

The wet sand acts to 'grind' the berley mix into fine particles, as well as giving it some weight to sink down a bit. A friend of mine swears by adding paprika to the mix, but I'm still unconvinced. I throw out half a handful of this mix every 10-20 min. Fish small pieces of silverfish on #10-12 hooks 1m under a float in the berley trail. Strike at the slightest movement of your float, if you wait until the fish take the float down you'll miss a lot.

[new found]

hey glen
it works well and yes i does stay on the hook so u win both ways

[glen]

now if you could combine bacon rind and silverfish you might be onto a killer bait!

i never tried silverfish before...i must give them a go. i usually use smaller hooks..size 12 or 14 fly hooks usually

cheers, glen

[new found]

hey glen yer fly hook would work awsome ive never thought of that befor.

another good tip for people is dont use to much berley because garfish are very small and they will just munch on the yummy berley and ignore your bait.. i like to go during northly winds it works best for me.

Edited by new found, 22 June 2005 - 06:56 PM.

[ilikesquid]

ok, i was wondering if they'd take sandworm or beachworm?

[new found]

hey ilikesquid yer im pretty sure they would take sandworms

jaz that berley you said befor you could use thats as a bait couldnt you??you might have to mold it onto the hook though

[Jazman]

Yeah you could use that berley as a dough bait, you might need to add some flour to get the right consistency, and you would need to mould it onto the hook, but I reckon it would work.

[new found]

now that would be a killer bait..