Does Size Matter???

[ped579]

OK, now that I have your attention, I was wondering your opinions on bait, hook, plugs and other lures as far as sizes.

I know I have mentioned this today in an earlier post but lets see what you all think.  With the fuel situation the way it is would you ever think to down size your bait and tackle just to keeo on fishing and catching hoping to play on the numbers or go to larger bait and tackle to target just the larger keepers.

So far this year I have not put on any teasers only because there has not been small bait in the suds.  I have been hearing of a number of fish being caught on teasers this past week which leads me to believe the majority of the fish are going towards the smaller bait of choice.

This week I will be going to all teasers when throwing anything.  I have been hearing that the metals are working in the suds with a small teaser in front.  AVA's, and Deadly Dicks will probably work well as they can be cast out far enough to all ow the teaser to work its magic as it is brought onto the slough.

This year I really think the fish being caught are targeting the slightly smaller baits, even the Gulp baits in the 4" range are working.

Any thoughts?

Happy Catching

Paul

[Luna Sea 5]

good post.  Believe it or not, the smaller baits where catching the larger fish a few weeks ago.  Large baits will catch large fish, but the smaller ones will just bite the ends off, or pull the bait off.  Small bait doesn't mean ONLY small fish.

[ped579]

I have to agree Nick.  It seems like when I have the teasers on and the main plug or lure is out that the majority of the hook ups are on the teasers.

I know there are many theories on that but I still think it has to do with size and not the fact that the fish thinks that the lure is chasing the teasers.

Paul

[Luna Sea 5]

we can use the match the hatch theory.  A single killes catches 8 lbs Fluke.  I like using the average size bait.  Most of the time when I jig a spro with a teaser 3" above, most hook ups come on the teaser, larger fish come on the spro.  From the beach, you want action, so smaller bait will keep you busy.  Larger bait will attract the rays, sharks, skates, etc..

[IrishAyes]

I think the plug chasing the teaser theory is a valid one.

The plug being the preditor and the teaser being the prey. A bass will look at that and see the prey (teaser) as being the most vulnerable of the two and jump on that. That is, if the bass has a thought process. 

As far as size in general. If a big fish is hungry and only a small meal is around, the big fish will go for it. Better to eat several small meals than no meal at all. 

[salty pig]

The 6 lbr  had nothing but shrimp and a few crabs in his belly mostly shrimp and he was fat...  You guys need to  post a pic of how u do a teaser cause  I still have NO clue 

[Luna Sea 5]

very easy to do salty,... i can show you on the water one day..

[PeggyLee]

Good post Paul.
I can not say for sure that all the fluke caught in my experience have been on big baits only or small baits only,I can't even say for certain that one bait has out fished another bait OVER THE LONG PERIOD OF TIME.Yes, one bait over the other for the that particular tide,day or week.Teasers over bucktails, or visa versa. Its mostly been specific to the day and tide YES.I'm sure,and you guys will agree, we have seen NICE fish caught on the most unusal set ups and baits that one can imagine.Go figure. Good Luck out there.      AJ.   

[Luna Sea 5]

the only thing that really works, is just try, try, and try some more, different baits, rigs, etc.  If your fishing on a boat with other people, each guy should try something different until you find out what is working on that particular day, then switch over.

[ped579]

This week I am switching to smaller baits.  I have been throwing 8" and up size lures.  I will be tossing a 36" leader with a dropper anywhere from 10" to 18" below the swivel.  To this I will be attaching a teaser between 4 to 6" on a 6" leader and trying to match the hatch as far as bait.  At the ens I will be using AVA's, Deadly Dicks and maybe a Krocodile spoon in the 6" size.

I know I have caught a number of fluke and flounder off AVA 007's  these small Lures are deadly.

I guess there are a number of things to take into consideration, 1 being if the fish are feeding on the bottom, top or somewhere else in the water column.

If they are feeding on the bottom the diamond type jig would be good to bring the teaser down.  If they are feeding on top a top water floating plug would be the lure of choice and if they are feeding somewhere in the middle well I guess a swimmer would take the teaser mid way down.

2) what types of baits are they consuming.  If you guys fillet your oun try to find out what the fish are eating.  This will give the rest of us an idea what type of lures to use.  Or id you can physically see the bait in the wash try to mimic that.  Sometimes the bait is a real problem to distinguish in the surf especially when you are fishing in the dark or pre dawn when you know the bait is there but you can't make out what it is and the birds are not being friendly.

This is getting interesting.

Now I want to get out there and try a few things this week I hope the weather cooperates.  And the bugs...

Paul

[Pfishingruven]

Paul,

Very interesting topic!!  I almost always have a teaser tied on in front of my lure!  It has been successful at times and I have skunked out with it at other times.  Sometimes I got really luck and hooked up on my teaser and my lure!  I used to have 100's of teasers in every size, hook type and color.  Tying teasers was a hobby I did when I was a teenager.

As for why the teasers work...I think it might be successful for all of the reasons you listed with a little bit of luck mixed in.  There were times I have hooked up on the teaser because the fish I caught went after the smaller bait.  Other times I think it was because they saw it first or thought it was being chased by other larger fish?

I know I have heard you say that if bigger isn't working try going smaller and I think that truly works...also in the opposite.  I always like to keep a good variety of lures in different weights and sizes available.  As much as I move plugging in the surf I also do a fair to more amount of lure changes.  Keeps it interesting and less monotonous for me.  How well it works...you win some and you lose some!! 

It is interesting to read what others opinions are and how they fish.  ALWAYS learning something new EVERY day...on this list sometimes every minute!!  It is GREAT!

Thanks

  

[ped579]

Hi Pfishingruven,

This is the first year I do not have teasers on for most of it, why 

But this week I will be returning to that tactic.  I usually tie mine over the winter as I have a number of them boxed and ready to go as well.  For the most part I tie all my own leaders to, as do a lot of guys on here.

Some of my patterns are here:

http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=3855.0

If you have any new patterns please post some pictures as we all would love to see them.  It is a great way to get to try new things as well.  Maybe we could run a seminar of tying some day.  That would be cool.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Pfishingruven]

Thanks Paul!  I just checked out that thread.  VERY nice.  I haven't tied in many years and most of my equipment is here and there.  I am going to get back into tying again and I also like making my own jigs, spinners, rigs, etc...

However, it will have to be a late night and kid nap time hobby because my son thinks fishing lures are "toys!"

 

[ped579]

Ouch, that could be a painful lesson to learn.  I can remember when I had to hide a lot of my things as well especially all the big implements of destruction like my shot guns, rifles, pistols and fishing stuff.

Glad those days are over, now I have to hide my money.  She hates to spend hers, go figure.

Paul

[surfrocket]

you crack me up paul.   this is a great topic, i think you guys cover it pretty good. i am known for fishing smaller baits most of the time. i like my big plugs,dont get me wrong. for me though, smaller baits seem to produce more fish.i often throw a 4 or 6 inch storm shad, following a fin s fish. i try to keep them color cordinated as much as possible. i cant say though with or with out produces more fish. i guess it depends on the day. now when im bouncing spro's i always use a teaser. i'm not sure the way i set it up if it looks like one is chasing the other though. i tie my end line to a swivel, then i attatch a mono leader about 16 inches. before i tie on my spro i run my leader threw one end of another swivel, the other end of that swivel is what i attach the teaser leader to. then i use a gulp swimming mullet. they pretty much are one on top of the other. thats why i think teasers primerly get reaction bites.what i find to make a bigger difference is before each lure i always tie to a snap or snap ring. believe it or not it actually gives the lure a more realistic movement.it's less restrictive, and adds just a little more life to the lure. a captain friend, fletcher from the highlands told me that, it does make a difference.