Sardines vs. Anchovies

[Cadillyak]

What does everyone prefer when fishing live bait in the local bays. Last time I went out, caught a few short butts on anchovies but nothing on the dines, although the dines did get raked up pretty good. I'm definitely gonna use a trap hook next time. Just wondering everyone's thoughts when targeting butts with live bait in the bays. I know they both will work, but wanted to know others preferences.

Tight Lines,

Cadillyak

[vincentek9]

trap rig dines. they last longer than chovies IMHO.

but i'd much rather choose smelt over the 2 when it comes to drifting for halis in the bay.

[Ojos_raros]

both are fine. chovies will get you lots of shorts. sardines will get you legals! dont need a trap hook on the legals. they inhale both chovies and dines no problem

[makobob]

Agree with Ojos, butts are eat what they catch, chovie, smelt, surf perch, baby bass, lizard fish, and this time of year grunion. Good luck.

[Cadillyak]

Thanks for the input. The bait barge says that dines and chovies don't do too well together in a kayak sized bait tank. Any feelings on this?

[Dannowar]

Caught many legals on the trap hook....

[beef78]

I am kinda new to halibut fishing, but I have caught quite a few this year. I find that the majority of the larger fish, 20+ inches, are on sardines. They stay on the hook longer and have more life in them after they have been in the water a while. the anchovies tend to live longer in the bait tank, but die faster on the hook and I end up catching a lot of smaller fish. A couple times, I tried sardines and didn't get a bite and when I ran out of dines and used the anchovies that were scooped up with the dines, I started getting into the fish.
Also, 3 out of 4 of the larger fish I have caught were on the trap hook. If I am getting into the lizard fish, I cut it off, but I am pretty committed to the trap hook.