[jorluivil]

If you're catching small grade butts and by-catch chances are you're fishing with smaller sized bait like anchovies, sardines or smaller grade macs. I prefer to use macs that are in the 9 - 12 inch range, these tend to keep the by-catch away(unless its a monster bass) and will result in hooking less short butts. Another reason you may be catching short butts is for one simple reason, you're fishing an area that is holding a ton of short butts.