Sardines vs. Anchovies
 

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

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.

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

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.

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?

Caught many legals on the trap hook....

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.