Fresh herring

[unluckyjohn]

With Halibut just around the corner has anyone been able to find good large herring? All the black label I have seen looks old and nasty, the purple looks ok but I like the black. (no joke needed after that last part)

[wildmanoutdoors]

Good fresh herring is not really available yet. As the summer comes on the Herring rises and get easier for the nets to get. They still have to net at dark though. So really you wont see any of this years herring frozen until probably June. Best bet is to find good vacume packed from last years stock.

[jackmaster]

call down at day island marina, or the point, they might have some large live herring, you might be able to get a good deal on some octopuss or squid, atleast with those 2 baits you dont have to wonder if its still on your hook after you ship it down 200 + feet.. like you do when it comes to herring

[wildmanoutdoors]

Narrows and Pt D  both get Herring from the same boat. They wont have any until June. We can never get it for the Ling opener in May so we always have to jig our own. We did get about 5 pounds last week jigging Manchester area for Shrimp bait mix we make. but its way to deep still for the net's.

[groundhog]

Good fresh large herring is hard to beat, but salmon can be very,very effective ! If you don't have a salmon carcass a trip to the super market for some farm raised Alantic Salmon might be in order. Bait is all that stuff is good for. I know I wouldn't go out without some salmon on board.

[BigD]

Just curious if any one has tried shad for halibut bait? I was thinking about trying it.

[shoot-em-dead]

Halibut are bottom feeders so just about any type of bait mentioned will work. The trick is getting it in their face so they bite.

[Rick]

Just curious if any one has tried shad for halibut bait? I was thinking about trying it.

Very popular in Oregon.

[7mmfan]

When I guided in AK we lived and breathed salmon bellies. That pearl color of the belly scales mixed with all the oil in the belly meat was real hard to beat! plus its tough and stays on the hook well. Try splitting the lower part of it in half to give it more action and disperse more scent. A big black label herring super salted does work real well though I have to admit!

[7mmfan]

Here was my favorite big halibut bait in AK. Not really feasible here this time of year but cool anyway!

[jackmaster]

Halibut are bottom feeders so just about any type of bait mentioned will work. The trick is getting it in their face so they bite.

:yeah:halibut dont give a damn what they eat as long as you put it in there face and the bite is on... hell you could hook a damn beer can on and they would eat, oh and its hard to beat a copper pipe jig for ling or butts

[unluckyjohn]

Thanks for the great replies. talked with swains in PA tonight and it looks like bait wont be an issue. 

[jackmaster]

Thanks for the great replies. talked with swains in PA tonight and it looks like bait wont be an issue. 

dang unlucky i forgot all about swains and you might grab extra gear there also its definatly alot cheaper than sekiu or neah bay, if you like copper pipe jigs i have a bunch of pre cut copper tubing you could have i even have some old tubes already built yo can have them, i dont really fish the salt much anymore, when i do i am all about the sea bass and greenling which happens to be the best ling bait you can get, well if you want the stuff just pm me and we can get it figured out how to get it to you

[Sneaky]

I usually get my herring frozen from the asian market. They are "food grade", so they usually stay on the hook pretty darn well 

[MADMAX]

I heard about a guy who used cut plug rainbows with good success