sabiki questions

[Ggiannig89]

Where does everybody buy there sabikis? What brands? Or do you guys make your own? Arw they worth the time to make your own? Lets hear some sabiki info and suggestions

[Dannowar]

Buy one. Trim it. I use 3 hooks. Had the same one since summer.

[Cbad Mike]

I buy whatever one is cheap, use it one day and toss it because of tangles.

[jorluivil]

Sabiki's are like toilet paper, use it once and toss it.:D



I usually do what Danno does, I've never had a Sabiki come up with more than 2-3 dines or macs so I don't think there is a need for six hooks. I believe 3 is plenty enough, it also prevents tangles and decreases the chance of other hooks getting caught on you. I usually buy whatever is cheapest.

[GregAndrew]

Fred Hall show. Get em for a buck.

[MrM]

I use a 5 hook sabiki. 3 or 4 is probably better, though. If you ever pull a full string by the time you get to the 5th fish it's been out of the water a bit, and chances are you've tangled up somewhere.

Walmart has some cheap ones. I only use a sabiki for 2 or 3 trips then throw I it away- It's usually thrashed by then.

I bought a sabiki rod on either Amazon or eBay, I forget. 50 bucks (ish) and it works pretty good. You can do without a rod, but that's all personal preference.

[yaker81]

I have my wifes mom send me a bunch of the these packs from japan a couple times per year. They are only $1 and you get 2 sabikis in 1 pack.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5565/1002577nl5.jpg

[dmrides]

Owners.....

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dC_L0xOVAHU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdC_L0xOVAHU

You never know what's going to hit your sabiki

[Drake]

Charbait has the best price on Sabiki's at about $1.19 or so a piece. WM/Dana/Anglers Choice all charge in the 3-4 range. I buy in bulk, cut in half and discard

[Raskal311]

Swamp meet $1 each I believe, its been awhile. I generally buy 10 and it last me a awhile.

[taggermike]

Same here. The cheapest I can fish and usually cut down the number of hooks. A full string of big macks is a PITA on a yak. And if you have 1 to 3 baits on the sibiki the other damn hooks will find a way in to you or about any thing else on the kayak. when they're beat upI roll themup tight and trash em. I use sibiki rods when I fish from a skiff but on the kayak I don't want a pole holder taken up all day. Mike.

[Dirty Curti]

See, sometimes the most obvious thing eludes me. No shit, just cut it down to 3 or 4 hooks for better handling. Why didn't I think of that???:doh::farmer::iamwithstupid:

[PE.rider]

They all generally work well. I prefer Lucky Luras since they are cheaper and have less hooks.

The higher-priced Japanese-made rigs from Hayabashi and others are fine for when fish are finicky and you need some extra edge like having fluorocarbon line or a greater assortment of shrimp/holographic patterns.

The worst ones in my opinion are the larger rubber jigs that are supposed to look like squid.

Also, it doesn't hurt to have an s-shaped hook tool to hold the line taught while removing baitfish.

For storage, I have cut sections of pool-noodle segments that I re-wrap sabiki rigs with so that I can re-use them for no more than 4 or 5 outings. The trick is to make sure you rinse everything after use with freshwater.

Lastly, stay away from the Basspro shops off-shore angler brand.... the hooks are of such inferior quality that they break often.

[Ggiannig89]

A lot of help here. Thanks cant wait to make bait now haha

[jorluivil]

One of the things that I do to ALL of my Sabiki hooks is bend the barb back against the hook, it makes removal of the bait much and I mean much easier. I usually flop the Sabiki with the bait attached right over the kayak and the bait will usually jiggle right off. Doing this also gives me a chance to drop the Sabiki back into the water without skipping a beat. I will usually leave the bait in the well until the bite slows down, at that point I grab them and throw them in the bait tank. Bending the hooks back also helps whenever they get hooked on something, they will slide right out.

[Dannowar]

One of the things that I do to ALL of my Sabiki hooks is bend the barb back against the hook, it makes removal of the bait much and I mean much easier. I usually flop the Sabiki with the bait attached right over the kayak and the bait will usually jiggle right off. Doing this also gives me a chance to drop the Sabiki back into the water without skipping a beat. I will usually leave the bait in the well until the bite slows down, at that point I grab them and throw them in the bait tank. Bending the hooks back also helps whenever they get hooks on something, they will slide right out.

This exactly. You'll lose a few here and there but the annoyance factor is depleted completely

[GregAndrew]

I leave all the hooks on my sabiki. For fast moving bait schools, I want to get as many as I can when I find them. I also use a tool like this to quickly remove them.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/FVyyQaRhdH99eb4fAo5p1jWM0-dULo-ZI_C6tjFZEsJEl7zALSK5N39_dO32fU5dSbLRisF7FQ_P6IL_7 eNRY7qZztS0HG2nq-_hv57ZKTu36YO4fJ5y4Z6Q4-D4FIHs8rSfS3Sq9G41VKx2sFiUbIf8lp5QnKODaeBOQz73YBwy-ihgnPUoPlx50A=s220-c
Hold the tool upside down from how it appears, then pull your line down through the slot until the bait/hook catches the loop then a quick pop with both hands releases the bait. Essentially it holds your hook upside down.

[Drake]

I leave all the hooks on my sabiki. For fast moving bait schools, I want to get as many as I can when I find them. I also use a tool like this to quickly remove them.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/FVyyQaRhdH99eb4fAo5p1jWM0-dULo-ZI_C6tjFZEsJEl7zALSK5N39_dO32fU5dSbLRisF7FQ_P6IL_7 eNRY7qZztS0HG2nq-_hv57ZKTu36YO4fJ5y4Z6Q4-D4FIHs8rSfS3Sq9G41VKx2sFiUbIf8lp5QnKODaeBOQz73YBwy-ihgnPUoPlx50A=s220-c
Hold the tool upside down from how it appears, then pull your line down through the slot until the bait/hook catches the loop then a quick pop with both hands releases the bait. Essentially it holds your hook upside down.

I swear I thought that was a tampon before I read that post. :eek:

[Jimmyz123]

Where does everybody buy there sabikis? What brands? Or do you guys make your own? Arw they worth the time to make your own? Lets hear some sabiki info and suggestions

If you manage them well you can keep one for a long time. Problem is that all those hooks get stuck on rigging and stuff on the kayaks and have to be cut free at times. However, a well kept Sabikis should last a season or two. Last time at BPS they were selling them for .50 each so I bought 6 of them. I think I'm set for a while.

[Fishwhisperer619]

Good advice on the sabiki rigs. Ive seen sabiki rods out there but i wanna try and utilize what I already have if possible. What do you suggest I use? A light rod with a lil spinning reel?

[ful-rac]

I leave all the hooks on my sabiki. For fast moving bait schools, I want to get as many as I can when I find them. I also use a tool like this to quickly remove them.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/FVyyQaRhdH99eb4fAo5p1jWM0-dULo-ZI_C6tjFZEsJEl7zALSK5N39_dO32fU5dSbLRisF7FQ_P6IL_7 eNRY7qZztS0HG2nq-_hv57ZKTu36YO4fJ5y4Z6Q4-D4FIHs8rSfS3Sq9G41VKx2sFiUbIf8lp5QnKODaeBOQz73YBwy-ihgnPUoPlx50A=s220-c
Hold the tool upside down from how it appears, then pull your line down through the slot until the bait/hook catches the loop then a quick pop with both hands releases the bait. Essentially it holds your hook upside down.


Exactly, you want to get the maximum amount of bait when you can, especially when the bait is scarce. Hopefully you can deal with 5 or 6 sardines or macs at the same time otherwise you might be in trouble.... When unhooking I'll unhook from bottom to top.

[Jimmyz123]

Good advice on the sabiki rigs. Ive seen sabiki rods out there but i wanna try and utilize what I already have if possible. What do you suggest I use? A light rod with a lil spinning reel?

I have seen some use those rods and they keep the sabikis in order but I just use an old rod that I had with a jigmaster reel. Nothing major, very simple, and it does the job. A spinning rod would work for sure.

[Redeyejedi]

can wrap them around a wine/champagne cork...esp with the halved-biki's.
wrap stick hook, wrap. begin with line end finish with the terminal side, so when unwrapping, can use weight to assist unravel...i dunno, works for my, ymmv.

[dos ballenas]

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?p=111001 (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?p=111001)

You can search the forums for this kind of info.... it has all been discussed.
<O:p</O:p
google: bigwatersedge.com sabiki
<O:p</O:p
forget the sabiki rod.... cut you your sabikis in half.

There are numerous reasons why I prefer to cut sabikis in half (3 hooks)

1) It's much easier to remove 3 big macs in a timely manner and get them safely into the bait tank than 6 of them. This allows you to get your sabiki back into the water fast allowing you to catch 3 more baits before the school is gone.

2) 6 mackerel on a sabiki tangles OFTEN. If you're tangled you're not catching more bait. Tangles can be really bad and frustrating. The school will be long gone by the time you untangle the sabiki. Many times ONE tangle will RUIN your sabiki and you will have to throw it out.<O:p</O:p

3) If you catch 6 baits at a time the last fish you remove from hooks #5 are 6 not going to be in very good condition and will die faster than the rest.... so in the end you only get 3 or 4 good baits anyways!

4) depending on how much time there is between fishing trips your sabiki hooks might rust: the barbs (which are tiny) will disappear. <O:p</O:p

So not only do you avoid tangles, but you end up with better quality bait, and you get two sabikis for the price of one.

In reality sabiki rods just take up a spot that could be filled with another functional rod. It's NOT hard to cut off and retie a sabiki.

A 3 hook sabiki set up with a 1 oz war baits lead head is easy to store, won't tangle or foul your other rods, and can be cut off and tied back on in a pinch should you need another rod for something other than bait.

Plus: for the people really worried about not catching 6 baits at a time, the lead head you will often catch a forth mackerel.
<O:p</O:p
The best bait rod set up I have found is a fast action light weight conventional bass rod combined with a small bait caster FILLED with braided line.... when making bait )especially with squid) it is important to fish with braided line.... it is critical to feel the squid when they hit your jig. When I switched from mono to braid my squid catching increased significantly. <O:p</O:p

[GregAndrew]

Yes, if your main target is Macs then by all means limit the mess. However, some of us prefer to target other baits and/or fish areas where Macs are not so plentiful as La Jolla. Ask anybody that has fished San Onofre from a kayak more than a few times how scarce bait can be and how fast it can be gone. With the release tool and a basic skill level, you should have a full sabiki cleaned in less than 10 seconds. Besides, having 6 hooks is no guarantee that you will be hauling in 6 baits each time.