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Post by jeremiahisbrown on Jun 8, 2016 21:51:00 GMT -5
This will be a review for a product i never fish saltwater without in my bag. There are two things i never even think to leave home without really. Berkley GULP baits, and FISHBITES. Not sure if very many on the forum have tried it, or if you've just been passing it by leaving it on the shelves questioning the effectiveness of this product, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that fishbites WORK. Can't get any live shrimp? No problem. Have a weak stomach? No problem. Don't have much cash to spend? Still not a problem. Fish bites is an alternative to actual bait that I can personally vouch for. They come in strips and pre cut sections. They have NO smell, leave NO mess, and are darn effective on pretty much any bottom fish and add scent to most presentations. They have a mesh netting in the center that keeps them on the hook no matter how much the pinfish peck away or puffers nibble at them. It comes in many scents. Shrimp, crab, and clam just to name my 3 favorites. I've caught black drum, redfish, speckled trout, whiting, pompano, flounder, and even a shark using them on my bottom rigs. You never have to check to see if it's still there either, only checking to see if it's melted away. The only cons are that they are not reusable once wet, and you need scissors when using them. Other than that, they've been pretty good to me! If ever you can't get bait or don't have the time or money or equipment, I seriously urge you guys to try a pack! This stuff kills for me from piers and in the surf, and lasts like a year after its been opened, so you have bait ready pretty much anytime, whether you can make it to the bait shop or not. It's also cheap, at about $5-$6 depending on where you buy from. That's a little more than the price of about a dozen shrimp right there.
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Post by jeremiahisbrown on Jun 8, 2016 21:58:52 GMT -5
Stuff is deadly effective on bottom fish |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2016 4:53:04 GMT -5
Oh no...Mackerelman's favorite subject (beside dolphins).
I use Fishbites primarily surf fishing. The wave action constantly dissolves the scent ito the area. It is effective but I usually use it in tandem with some kind of natural bait. I haven't had success with it on the piers but honestly haven't used it much. I did try FB targeting Sheepies one time but they were lockjawed that day.
I've paid $7-8 a pack. And depending on the type, they do get gooey on your hook. The ribbon ones are rather messy, the precut pieces not so much.
D
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Post by seabird on Jun 9, 2016 7:35:39 GMT -5
JB: Yes, your post will get a rise out of mackerelman. I have used fishbites sparingly also and I have a few of the scents. I have used them on a sabiki but have caught nothing of note. Will have to try them seriously. They do last quite awhile which is good.
Speaking of bait, I have to give two thumbs up to the squid the north pier sells. I have not seen bait more durable than those thick pieces in the bags they sell. I got some back in February and I still have half of it left. The squid they sell is not your typical squid sold in other places.
Yet another bait comment, Do not get the brined shrimp and squid sold at Wally World! Shadowxmas and I have tried those products. They do not have any smell and they do not work. I threw most of it out.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2016 9:11:39 GMT -5
JB: Yes, your post will get a rise out of mackerelman. I have used fishbites sparingly also and I have a few of the scents. I have used them on a sabiki but have caught nothing of note. Will have to try them seriously. They do last quite awhile which is good. Speaking of bait, I have to give two thumbs up to the squid the north pier sells. I have not seen bait more durable than those thick pieces in the bags they sell. I got some back in February and I still have half of it left. The squid they sell is not your typical squid sold in other places. Yet another bait comment, Do not get the brined shrimp and squid sold at Wally World! Shadowxmas and I have tried those products. They do not have any smell and they do not work. I threw most of it out. That brined shrimp has the texture of a cooked potato. Total crap! I don't know about scent since most of it landed on the pavement as I tried to put it on a hook. Used it as chum. |
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 9, 2016 9:49:52 GMT -5
I take a Small Mackerel & cut it up making Small Squares or Strips instead of Using the Fishbites. Many Species of Fish will Eat the "MackerelBites". Just don't take off the Skin. I believe it is the Oil in the Mackerel that draws the Other Fish to them. Plus I don't have to spend any Money but Just Time cutting them up.
Put some "Mackbites" on a Straw Lure & watch the Fish Attack it. Try it & Save Yourself some Money.
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Post by seabird on Jun 9, 2016 14:16:05 GMT -5
MM: I have tried 'mackbites' and 'bluerunnerbites' and they do work. As you said, the skin left on makes them very tough for fish to pull off.
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Vmock
Rod Polisher
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Post by Vmock on Jun 9, 2016 15:10:55 GMT -5
Never tried the fish bites, but I live by Gulp.
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Post by YodaFisherman on Jun 9, 2016 15:32:21 GMT -5
I have used both Fishbites and Gulp and have caught fish on both. However I have not caught any quality fish on either. The closest I've come to quality fish is using Gulp Shrimp for Snapper, Sea Trout and Flounder. The only time I use the Gulp shrimp over natural bait is when fishing for flounder in the surf on a bucktail / jig tandem rig. I have caught flounder up to about 24" that way, but the larger ones I catch using a live shrimp or minnow. The Fishbites is a great bait for the kids to use messing around for whiting, croaker, spot and other small stuff. Give them a smaller rod and a bottom rig with FishBites and they can catch enough to get board with it and you don't spend tons of time baiting hooks.
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Post by jeremiahisbrown on Jun 9, 2016 16:34:06 GMT -5
That's strange. I've caught quality fish on both gulp and fish bites. Biggest flounder of my life at 24", and a 21" trout both came on gulp. Many flounder on gulp fished on a jig head and many more trout under a popping cork. The stuff just works. Anything I've ever caught on fish bites has been on the bottom. I've heard of tipping Docs jigs and crappie jigs with mackerel belly strips though.
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Post by jeremiahisbrown on Jun 9, 2016 16:40:45 GMT -5
Gulp is Absolutely deadly on the GA coast for me! Attachments:
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Post by YodaFisherman on Jun 9, 2016 17:13:49 GMT -5
That's strange. I've caught quality fish on both gulp and fish bites. Biggest flounder of my life at 24", and a 21" trout both came on gulp. Many flounder on gulp fished on a jig head and many more trout under a popping cork. The stuff just works. Anything I've ever caught on fish bites has been on the bottom. I've heard of tipping Docs jigs and crappie jigs with mackerel belly strips though. Maybe the difference is in the definition of quality fish. If a flounder isn't at least 18" to 20" I throw it back. A 24" is average. My biggest was over 7 lbs and about 30" in 2010 or 2011. I caught that one on Pea Island National Seashore on the OBX. It hit right at the waters edge in the surf. As for Sea Trout, again if it's not over 18" it goes back. I've caught many in the 24" to 27" range. Never considered adding it to my pompano jigs. I'll give that a try. |
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Post by seabird on Jun 9, 2016 17:42:18 GMT -5
Quality fish is a pretty arbitrary term....it is comparable to artistic taste. For some a given painting can be a quality work and not so for others. I guess my definition of quality fish is by the type: mackerel, grouper, snapper, trout, flounder, etc. are what I call quality fish and of course they have be at least legal size. Other smaller fish can be decent such as grunts, silver trout etc. but they are lesser in quality. Other people certainly have their standards and can strongly disagree with what I stated.
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