With Matt Servant's rod coming that is designed to throw baits upwards of 2 pounds, and just the trend of bigger is better...

I was thinking, what is the most extreme bigbait fishing you could possibly do?

I can't be the only guy to ever think about how you could make a bait that was a baby seal. Like a 2 foot long bait, with some inflatable bladder, that was a giant topwater bait. It would have to be castable, but you get the idea..a seal topwater bait. Take that bait and go fish the Farallon Islands or those S. African island where the Great White Sharks blast seal out of the water. You know what I'm talking about? I don't know if it would be realistic to think you could land a White shark on rod/reel that could cast a bait like the one I'm thinking about, but just to get the bite and hookup would be....well, pushing the envelope.

You would definitely want to tether yourself to the boat, so the bite wouldn't yank you in the water!!!!

What is the most extreme application of bigbait fishing you can think of?

You hit it right on the money! I had that idea before too after watching some show where the great whites were just blasting a dummy seal. They were just trolling it behind a boat and I thought, tie that thing to a rod and real! How awesome would that be to land a great white shark like that? Watching him explode on the seal and then fight that beast!

Here's a video I seen today of a guy fishing for marlin on a jet ski.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNAJw1IOtcM

I would want to get the bite with the shark, but I wouldn't be super in to reeling it in and unhooking it :9

From talking to Mark about Muskies, I'd have to say that sounds like pretty rad big bait fishing to me. Probably the coolest thing you can do in North America in terms of big, super knarly strikes.

Peacock bass come to mind. There's a fish called a barramundi in Australia that eats the swimbait too. Mike Kennedy went down there many years ago and sent me pics of some barramundi they got on Big Hammers. It sounded fun. These dudes in Europe catch those huge wels catfish on Hammers too, you can see it on swimbait.com in the gallery. Those fish look like they would eat a big lure.

Ocean obviously has some 'extreme' big bait fishing. But I don't have super strong respect for stuff like marlin. I mean, any fish that will come within 50 feet of a moving boat to eat a neon pink mop is maybe not the hardest fish to entice. And then you fight it all strapped in to a chair. That stuff is more glory fishing in my mind. Like if you are there on the right day, any tourist could be a superstar of marlin fishing.

I do think that trevally could be sick. They eat fast moving foot long pencil poppers in shallow water over coral reefs. Used to watch it on TV when I was a kid with Harry Hojima (sp) on "Let's go Fishing". Those fish would eat an Eagle or anything you cared to burn on top. You could get some good footage getting cornholed by those things in the rocks too :)

When you find the most extreme big bait fishing, call me so I can come.

Casting a live Mack to a swordfish and having it bite is my ultimate "big bait" goal :)

Marlin fishing is not always trolling Rob. Bait and switch is usefull and casting live bait at surface feeders is really cool too. It actually takes some skill to heave a 12-16" bait at a Marlin.

The other fish I would like to catch is the the Golden Dorado. Now that looks really fun!

I think a big tarpon on a swimbait would be pretty cool.
I also saw a fishing show where they were catching nile perch. These fish looked very similar to LMB ony 5x bigger. and they were catching them on big saltwater Rapalas. They even jumped just like LMB.

www.mattlures.com

Knowing my luck I think I'll just use it as is. This bait is actually my second one. The first one is at the bottom of San Pablo dam. Getting this second one cost me an arm and a leg so all that modding might depreciate the value of the bait even tho I'll never sell it}( thanks for the input fellas.

Petey Pete

extreme is subjective but I'd say your spot on with the seal wake bait off the farallons....you might need to toss that bad boy on some kevlar rope hooked to a 10,000lb winch though!

my dreams are of Niugini Bass,South American Golden Durado and Wolfies,African Nile Perch,and probably Tarpon...Dahlberg has set the curve!

Massive Cubera Snappers & Jacks in Panama on 12" poppers.
The only problem is you have to work the popper on spinning gear.

>Casting a live Mack to a swordfish and having it bite is my
>ultimate "big bait" goal :)
>
>Marlin fishing is not always trolling Rob. Bait and switch is
>usefull and casting live bait at surface feeders is really
>cool too. It actually takes some skill to heave a 12-16" bait
>at a Marlin.
>
>The other fish I would like to catch is the the Golden Dorado.
>Now that looks really fun!


I've thrown big mackerel on a few sunning swordies but have never found one that wanted to go. Even landed a mac right on top of one but still no interest. I've been told by local veteran anglers that in our local waters (socal/ North Baja) the ratio of sunning swordies that end up bitting is about 1 in 100. I've also been told that swordies have a much harder time resisting an offering of giant squid.

Marlin on the other hand are far more eager. Throw a mac on a marlin and chances are it will be instant. They seem to take the bait just about everytime. Even saw a guy hook one on a surface iron once. Luckly the it broke before it started jumping. It could have easily thrown that jig back at the guy at high velocity.

One time when I was on a long range trip and we had some smaller (2-3lbs) pelagic squid float under the lights one night. We put some in on of the tanks and the next day we used them catch yellowfin. The yellowfin were 75 lbs at best but they would still take down a 2lbs squid. You couldn't cast the squid it was just too heavy. We were pinning them on 9/0 hook and dropping over the side. Once your squid drifted about 50 yards from the boat it would get picked up and you really had to let the tuna eat it. Those were the biggest baits I have ever fished. Not a lure but still a lot of fun none the less.

Jerryg

lol wrong thread

Petey Pete

I was watching the Great Whie thing about South Africa and thinking the same friggin thing! That would just be incredible. I like marlin fishing. The troll is boring, but the fight is well worth, IMO. We got about a 130lb blue off Kauai this July during vacation. I fougt him a bit in the chair, but I spent a large chunk of the fight doing stand up just for the heck of it. It was pretty friggn awesome doing standup marlin.

Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!

I was on a 3/4 day boat out of Helgren's in Oceanside and the deck hand caught a sunning swordfish. it was crazy here is a link to the pictures.

http://sdfish.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=77&func=view&id=30441&catid=11

2lbs?
Why so small? (lol)
Gregg Silks made me a couple of good size Z-plugs.
They actually swim really well.

As some of you know, I have a 100 ton masters license, and used to run sportfishing boats (Freedom, El Dorado, etc. out of SoCal) and smaller six pac charter boats.
I have captained and caught over 300 marlin and sailfish, with many of the larger marlin caught on big live baits. When I say big, I mean bridled 10 to 16 lb. (16 lbs. being the largest I have personally used) yellowfin tuna as bait. Giant black marlin have been taken on baits as large as 75 lb. yellowfin tuna by other captains.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7058-DSC06485.JPG


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7059-DSC06487.JPG


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7060-DSC06495.JPG
:P

"Known as the person who introduced swimbait fishing to Japan"

Attachment #1, (.JPG file)
Attachment #2, (.JPG file)
Attachment #3, (.JPG file)

I was thinking about Orcas...Killer whales. I've seen documentary on them eating blue and grey whales. A pack of killer whales gangs up on a whale, holds it down so it literally suffocates, etc. Pretty gnarly those orcas.

You would have really hard time making a bigbait shaped like blue whale, and certainly couldn't cast it. However, I think it is feasible to hook a Killer Whale on a big giant lure made to look like a blue or gray whale or even a giant squid?

I'm no science/biologist type, but seems to me like there are some mind blowing applications of the bigbaits, if someone really wanted to get crazy.

How about fishing for giant crocodiles with antelope/water buffalo/african game baits?

How about fishing for bass using baby crocodile/gator baits?

Anyway, this subject fascinates me for some reason. The bigbaits open a lot of doors on doing things that have never been done.

Question: What is the absolute heaviest lure/rig you know people cast and retrieve and regularly catch fish? I mean, do guys throw 2 lb iron jigs for big tuna? What is the heaviest bait you know that guys are actually fishing and catching, salt or freshwater of course? Not live bait. Capt G, you're input on fishing with a 75 pound tuna for big marlin is sick. I'm honestly interested to know who throws the biggest of the big lures? Muskie guys? Tuna guys? Grouper? Halibut? Marlin guys?

MP

southernswimbait.com
BigBait Fishing in the South

A lot of muskie guys including myself regularly cast and throw lures that range from a pound to two pounds. My favorite bait is a big rubber bulldawg lure that is nicknamed the pounder because it weighs almost a pound. I also throw a big swimbait that weighs a little over a pound. I do know some guys that throw the largest bulldawg lure made and that weighs two pounds, but that is more punishment than I care to endure frankly. As for trolling, two foot long crankbaits work well, and for live bait fishing for muskies, I never use baitfish under 20 inches long and even the small fish swallow it right down pretty easily and are certainly not shy about eating big bait. You could not imagine the tiny bass that regularly hit large muskie lures, so in my oppinion size should only be a deterrent if it is to hard to cast or work the lure. When I was marlin fishing I wondered why I hadn't seen anyone with really large lures ever fishing for them that way, but I guess now I have after seeing those babies. Those would be great muskie lures or lake trout lures for trolling. There is always a time and a place for all sizes and styles of baits, but I personally really like the big baits, because it doesn't guarantee big fish all of the time, but it sure can help. Here is one I got a few weeks ago on a giant bait. It was the biggest of seven fish that we caught in two days, all of which were caught on baits over 20 inches in length. Doesn't seem to tiring to throw them when they are working.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g154/Muskie_Toad/DSCI0020edited-1.jpg

Matt - Why is it that I'm picturing you with your swimbait rod tied to the trailer hitch of the Suburban yelling at Jeremyfisher to gun it so you can test your tackle :)

Rob, I saw Matt 2 weeks ago and he still looked normal LOL. But lots can happen in two weeks with Peters.

MIke

I am Jeremy fisher BTW. Just in case you thought swimbait was crazy.

I think im gonna change my handle to Jeremy Fisher. Everybody calls me that. I wouldn't put it past Peters though. Imitating whales to catch Orcas.....Now thats pushing the envelope. lol.

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/bigreenjobass/