[623856]

when using live bait, begals, blowfish,snappers etc., i have found on numerous occasions, that after i hook into a striper, net him, bring him on board, my bait is gone. we all know how hard it is sometimes to even hook a blow fish through the lips, if it's a shorty, i can't really check his stomach, but if its a keeper, i get him home and check it out, no bait. ant answers. thanks

 

[617110]

What type of set up?

JoeyDepp,

What type of rig are you using? This will probably help anyone here to answer your question.
somo

 

[623856]

rig

my rigs are: fish finder, barrel swivel, 3 feet of leader 50lb. test, to a snelled #7 gamagutso octopuss

 

[617110]

Joey,

Are you drifting with fishfinder rigs or are you anchored? Are the bass hitting the bait strongly? Are you hooking all the baits through the lips? Both of the lips or just one of them? Is there any other way you put the bait on the hook?
You said you used octopuss..circles or regular. Maybe when you are setting the hook your doing so with such a force you actually rip it out of the baits mouth and into the bass...leaving the bait to swim away free. If you use circles there is no hook set so the above statement does not apply

Sorry for all the questions, but you brought up an interesting subject with so many angles to consider.
I'm sure Tog, EC, or someone else will have a better answer than I.

 

[619627]

Many times while fighting a fish hooked on live bait, the bait itself is only in the mouth or gill area, and gets 'upchucked' or spit out during the battle. You have to remember the fish is exerting itself greatly during a hookup, and just like we see bluefish spitting up their stomach contents, other fish will do a similar thing when hooked.

EC NEWELL MAN*