Topic: Rockfish lures (Read 2448 times)

September 20, 2015, 09:46:32 PM

Hello all,

I apologize for the basics questions but I am quite new to rockfishing. I grew up off the Columbia river in oregon and have focused on salmon, sturgeon and steelhead in the past. Rockfish are completely new to me. I went to bass pro shop and was blown away by all the lures and different weights available. I got she'll shocked and walked out with nothing. I decided to do some research and ask fellow ncka for help. So here I am. I am wanting to target rockfish and lingcod. what are some of your go to rigs for rockfish? For Sabiki, what size hook would you recommend(for baitfish and Sandabs)? I have heard of a shrimp fly above a swimbait, do you remove a shrimp from a Sabiki and tie it above? What weight is good for a highway, I know this is based on current but what ranges would you recomend?

Sorry for all the questions, I would love to be successful and have a report to share. Thanks for all your help!

September 21, 2015, 08:03:59 AM #1

You can go as fancy as you want with metal jigs but my staple ones are a diamond jig in 4oz generally and the PLine Laser Minnows in 2-4oz. I get the pline jigs at my local CVS Pharmacy for less that $3 each. Some bright color & a black/purple if I had 2 to choose.

I think my sabiki are a size 6? I like the 15-25# line weight since they aren't shy. As far as a shrimp fly jig goes, they have those ready made & labeled as rock cod jig (2 hooks with some feathers or yarn).

Other choice is a Brandon Bait or Big Hammer artificial swim hair. I Dont fish them too often so I am not an authority on color. Have a few variety of head weights available. As for general lead weight, I carry 2-6oz & sometimes an 8oz. 8-10oz on party boats.

Bill

September 21, 2015, 11:15:10 AM #2

As another newb, I'm eagerly watching this thread.

September 21, 2015, 11:29:24 AM #3

Not that I'm an expert, or proficient even, but lure selection can/will also depend on location, tides, wind, drift and even line type ... yup. A mono will create more drag thru the water & require a heavier lure to keep the presentation vertical as compared to a braid. I fish a bit more on a boat (with my boss) than a kayak and my boss demands that we all fish the same line when on his boat; mono

So, I'm left to fish slightly heavier lures or beg for forgiveness later when he sees I'm flipping braid with 2oz lures.

Rocks & Lings (especially) aren't terribly smart fish that require delicate presentations like some freshwater fish. With that in mind, keep it simple until you find out what works best for you & your style of fishing. I've found that keeping it simple & work on presentation & confidence in a small selection of lures is far more productive than constantly changing lures to the point that you can't develop a pattern/presentation style. IMHO. Again, I don't fish as much lately as I have other years but I doubt they have changed all that much in the last year

September 21, 2015, 11:40:57 AM #4

I'm a boring fisherman.

2-5oz leadheads with either a swimbait or scampi on bottom. tipped with squid most of the time.
18"-24" up on a dropper loop, shrimp fly (they come in 5 packs) sold at fisherman's warehouse. Blue or orange, doesn't matter that much. tipped with squid, most of the time. I remove the shrimp fly when I want to stop catching small rockfish.

alternatively to the leadhead, I use p-line laser minnows in 3-4oz weights, or an assortment of random metal jigs i've picked up over the years, some made from knife handles, others whatever random stuff i've bought on sale.

They all work. More important is finding the fish, getting your lure down on the fish, and positioning yourself properly on the drift. I'm a big fan of electronics, high quality fishfinders, etc. But that's just my own fishing style. Rockfish aren't that difficult to catch, the most important thing is making sure you are familiar with the dangers and regulations of the area you're fishing.

September 21, 2015, 01:16:25 PM #5

If you want to get really cheap you can make your own knife handle jigs. There is a thread on here to do this. People have caught rockfish with Barbie dolls, minions, and hell I don't what else.

September 21, 2015, 01:17:57 PM #6

Proof that RF aren't REALLY all that picky. Get something that moves & it maybe a little colorful or flashy in front of their face & they will bite, if they are in the mood to do so.

September 21, 2015, 04:19:44 PM #7

Quote from: Squidder K on September 21, 2015, 01:16:25 PM

If you want to get really cheap you can make your own knife handle jigs. There is a thread on here to do this. People have caught rockfish with Barbie dolls, minions, and hell I don't what else.

I'm gonna get me a Brady bobble head and put a treble hook on it. If I catch a canary I'm sure I can use it some how to deflate it enough to send it back down safely

November 25, 2015, 05:31:07 PM #8

I use diamond bar jigs in 4 to 8 oz. The size depends on the speed of the drift. The faster the drift the heavier the jig. To rig the jig, I take the bottom treble hook off and replace it with a single 7/0 octpus style hook. The hook is attached at the top with a swivel and double split ring (same point you tie in your line). At the bottom of the jig I use the split ring and swivel the attach to a spinner blade. You can control the descent of the jig by the size of the spinner blade. On the small jigs just use a split ring to tie in the hook. The lure set up is almost snag free and produces fish when the bite is slow. I highly recommend this lure in your box.

November 25, 2015, 06:03:25 PM #9

An easy way is to use squid. Tie a 4 oz weight on the bottom and two hooks above it one ft apart from each other like drop shot or a little line like for surf perch. You will usually find a school if you find one

November 28, 2015, 07:09:04 PM #10

This might make it easier.

November 29, 2015, 08:08:12 PM #11

I use a diamond jig or big swim bait to get my down with one shrimp fly above it. Tip both with squid if ya want

November 29, 2015, 09:17:06 PM #12

This was my first season on the salt and found out that rock fish hit just about anything. I caught a nice vermillion on a 7 in mackerel I was dragging around. I have come to prefer diamond bars if the fish are deep or if I need to get through a school of suspended fish to target deeper dwellers. And I will throw lighter swim baits if I am fishing mid column. A bit of squid for scent helps out. I just think of RF as largemouth bass. Put it in front of them and they will probably hit it.
Be safe, dress for immersion take a radio and a buddy, communicate your plan. All things I disregarded earlier this season but have seen the light.
Good luck, yak fishing is more addictive than heroin.

January 01, 2016, 12:09:06 PM #13

As another Noob in the forum, thank you all for the info and sage advice! Can't wait to get on the water with you all soon!

January 01, 2016, 12:57:00 PM #14

C'mon Alshobie. Show the rock or ling caught on the wrench !

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Topic: Rockfish lures (Read 2448 times)

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