Just found out my company is springing for a fishing trip on scat cat. Biggest fish gets 2 weeks pay. just trying to game plan. Live Piggys for AJ is what I was thinking.

you better get something larger than a piggy if you want the large fish... a live blue runner about 3 pounds should do...

i caught a big AJ on a 4lb chub... it looked crazy sending a bait down that i could fillet and serve two people from

You could have fed at least 5 people with that thing!

Shark fishing might generate the best bet for the biggest fish?

i agree with this, and a shark loves a BIG chunk of fresh (read this as bloody) dead bait

Sharks are usually excluded from the big fish pots. What time of year are you going? Overnight trip or just day?

Just 12 hour day trip mid-Nov. If it was a night trip I would definately go shark, but I'm not sure the chances of a keeper shark are that great mid-day.

Live blue runner might be hard to comeby at the ol baitshop, any tricks to pulling some in from one of the reefs. Would they be any better than a beeliner?

I've caught plenty of large AJ and Grouper on big piggie perch.

On a 12 hour, you may not go far enough to target the big aj. I would go bottom with larger cut bait or live piggy. If aj are there, you score, but you are not just targeting them.

OTOH, you might try for ling too if around rigs in shallowing water. I throw a 3oz bucktail with a sardine pinned thru the lower jaw, cast to the rig and let sink while doing very slow retrieve.

What colors are good for the bucktail? I can Tye my own if needed.

Doesn't matter IMO. I use white, or another color and white. But I really don't think anything matters but for having enough weight to cast and a strong enough hook in the jig to pull the ling from structure.

Might try this.......
Rig up a heavy duty circle hook rig. Tie a small circle to the shank of the big circle under the barb w/50# test line. Tie it tight to the shank so the knot can't work over the barb. Bait the small circle with a chunk of squid and drop down.
When bee-liner bites, you'll feel it, let it sit down there wiggling/squirming until an AJ or big grouper chomps it. Reel up big fish, win pot.
Seen others put a heavy split ring on the eye of the big circle hook and then put the small circle on the split ring and then do the same thing.
Just a suggestion.

Might try this.......
Rig up a heavy duty circle hook rig. Tie a small circle to the shank of the big circle under the barb w/50# test line. Tie it tight to the shank so the knot can't work over the barb. Bait the small circle with a chunk of squid and drop down.
When bee-liner bites, you'll feel it, let it sit down there wiggling/squirming until an AJ or big grouper chomps it. Reel up big fish, win pot.
Seen others put a heavy split ring on the eye of the big circle hook and then put the small circle on the split ring and then do the same thing.
Just a suggestion. [/quote]


that sir is an idea and a half

willie, that is a great idea. I have re-rigged my "beeliner rig" to small but heavy duty circle hooks, to catch a beeliner and then leave him down there for AJ. But yours would likely work better. Have to try it.

i like that idea... guess i will be building some rigs

Thanks,.........I'm not just another pretty face.

AMEN....lol

Pix of the suggestion presented. Knots were tied rather sloppy and hurriedly.
Ignore the blood on the #50 assist line tied to the big circle.
I think that's a 15/0 Mustad circle and a 5/0 Blackfin circle hook tied to the cheater line.
I'd suggest trying to get the smaller circle as close as possible to the shank of the AJ circle hook. (As short a cheater line length as possible. I like to tie the small circle to the AJ hook shank.
I'll dig out some AJ hooks made that way when I have time, the small hook is tied to the shank with one knot)
Knot strength is not a real concern if you use 50# line. You're dealing with 2-5 lb bee-liners.
'Course if the small circle does the hooking on the big AJ, then you might have a problem.
Usually the AJ sucks the small fish down far enough for the big circle to do the job.

It was a rough day for fishing yesterday. Hung a couple of nice kings but 8 ft swells put me out before I drop down for Aj or Grouper. Had a trip scheduled for today that was canceled. Oh well next time....