Ocean Fishing Setups for Bait Fishing

Whether ocean fishermen troll from boats and target reef-living fish, or whether they fish from a pier or the shoreline, using live bait is one of the most productive ways to catch fish. There are a variety of rigs that anglers can use to present their bait. Some rigs keep their bait on or near the bottom, while others suspend it at various points in the water column.

  1. Plain Jig

    • A plain, lead-headed jig tipped with a piece of live bait is perhaps the most versatile rig that anglers can use. You can cast the jig and retrieve it, or drop it over the side of the boat. It can be used at any point in the water column, and dropped into water at any depth. Use a Palomar knot to connect the jig to the end of the fishing line.

    Slip-Lead Rig

    • Cut a two-to-three-foot piece of fishing line, which you will use as a leader. Slide an egg-shaped weight onto the end of the main fishing line. The weight must be heavy enough to keep the rig on the bottom. For ocean fishing, that ranges from an ounce or two to more than 10 ounces. Use a Palomar knot to connect the main line to one end of a barrel swivel, the end of the leader line to the other. Tie a hook to the end of the leader line.

    Modified Bottom Finder

    • Cut two pieces of fishing line ranging in size from 12 to 24 inches. Connect a three-way swivel to the end of the main fishing line using a Palomar knot. Connect one of the lengths of fishing line to one of the openings on the swivel, the other length of line to the other opening. Attach a fishing hook to one of the lengths of fishing line, a sinker to the other.

    Balloon Rig

    • Cut a 36-ince piece of fishing line. This is the leader. Slide an egg sinker onto the end of the main fishing line. This sinker should be sufficiently heavy to hold the bait beneath the surface. Use a Palomar knot to tie the main line to one end of a barrel swivel. Tie the 36-inch piece of fishing line to the other opening of the swivel. Attach a hook to the end of the leader line. Inflate a balloon halfway and tie a knot at the bottom so it remains inflated. Determine how far below the surface you want your bait to hang. If you want it three feet below the surface, for example, tie a second knot in the balloon to connect it to the fishing line three feet above the hook.