there aren't too many ways to NOT get hung up. If you need a safe way to do it, use a slip bobber and some bait below (clams/mussels/sandshrimp/etc). Another way is with a whole herring below a bobber. Basically, since rocks are on the bottom., fish from the top. At least that's the way I've gone about keeping it out of the rocks.. Or just jig and reel at the same time high-sticking keeping it bouncing UP the rocks rather than in them.

just some ideas... :twocents:

 

Use hollow pencil lead on the bottom line about 3' below the swivel, crimp just tight enough to hold, & loose enough so It'll slip thru the line when snaged, or solid pencil lead with a rubber tube, working like a breakaway weight, old spark plugs, old Nut's, & Bolts, or any weight you don't care if you loose(I've used rocks before) can be attached to a line lighter than your main/hook line to breakaway will also work, won't do any good if the hooks snag, but will save some gear.

 

FIshing for rockfish at night with a lantern propped up 10 feet or so on a stick,pole,or piece of driftwood can be very,very fun. Floating Rapalas or other plugs work great at night. The Rebel Deep Wee-R in crawfish is also a good plug. The gold-colored "G-Finish" Rapala is my favorite for night fishing for rockfish off the jetty.

Rattling, lipless crankbaits like the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap or the Rapala Rattlin' Rap (both are football-profiled, flat-sided shad-imitating rattling plugs) are also good at night...I think the rattles help the rockfish home in on the plug in the dark.

Be careful unhooking sea bass at night...mishaps are painful!!!

 

Thanks for the tips...:applause:

 

:applause::meme:

yeah good tips keep em comming! and yes im writing a book.

 

I'm heading out to the South jetty at Newport, I will try these tips. I'm also taking my heavy pole with a few crab snares just to see what happens! Gotta love days off in the middle of the week!

 

Has anyone attempted to fling out a sandshrimp with no weight and let it drift? I would think this could be deadly for seabass. I know bottom fish may not be caught but there has to plenty of seabass at all depths or at least I would think so....

 

Has anyone attempted to fling out a sandshrimp with no weight and let it drift? I would think this could be deadly for seabass. I know bottom fish may not be caught but there has to plenty of seabass at all depths or at least I would think so....

Actually i do it all the time. it works pretty well for sea bass at nighttime, but not really that well in the middle of the day. also, it helps to put a glowing bead right above the hook. i was actually thinking about using my fly rod for doing just that later tonight!

 

20 years ago we used to fish off the dock at the embarcadero at night. The dock had underwater lights which was a real score for night fishing. Anyone know if you can still do this?

 

i fish barview all the time and alot of the time i can leave with the same setup that i came with.

here is my setup for jetty fishing.

9' gator tail rated for 12-30# line and a medium action spinning reel
i would definately go with a spinning setup for smaller rockfish.
it is spooled with 20# big game.

3 way swivel
6" leader to a 2 ounce pyramid weight
1 1/2-2' leader to a size 1 hook (i use gamakatsu)
and sandshrimp.

i will cast it out anywhere from 30-50' and let it drop all the way to the bottom (count to about 30)
the longest i will let it sit in the water is about 5 minutes you can see your line slowly drift one way or another depending on the tide and sooner or later it drifts it right into the rocks.
what i will do is cast it out and let it hit the bottom (very important) and then i will count to 300 usually there is a bite before then but if there is not i will reel it back in, if the water is calmer i will let it sit a little longer down there.
when you are reeling in to check your bait or whatever make sure to reel in as FAST as possible and give a good yank on the pole now and then to keep it off the bottom.
that is very important reel in as fast as possible if not then right when you come to the rocks your hung up.

another is keep the drag tight and when you get a bite dont give the little bugger time to play. set the hook then torque that thing in as fast as humanly possible.
they will grab your bait and head towards the rocks as to avoid being eaten by bigger fish.

this is my best method but when i use jigs or try to throw a live greenling on for bait i still end up getting hung up alot.

also keep a net right next to you.
i went out yesterday and last saturday and i got a little bite and it stopped for a minute so i went to check my bait i yanked once to get it off the bottom and it felt like a log and my pole was bent in half, i was constantly gaining line so i knew i wasnt snagged.
when i got it up it was a lingcod that had grabbed my fish right after it grabbed the bait. but ofcourse right when you lift them a little bit out of the water or get them to close for to long they will let go.
the first time this happened to me i forgot my net and yesterday when it happened the net was to far away to reach :doh:

also it is best to go get your own sandshrimp as you will use alot of them
they are about 4.50 a dozen anywhere on the beach and yesterday i got about 120 of them in 2 hours

as for rigging them i will put the hook through the second plate on its tailrun the hook and line all the way through then do this again right through his back (the soft part) running the hook and line through and then i will stick the hook through its head.

just remember
let it hit the bottom before locking the spool
dont leave it in the water for to long
whether you have a fish on or not reel in as fast as possible
bring enough bait as you would for like 3 or 4 days of normal fishing

hope this helps

 

i forgot to say make sure to wash off your rod and reel with fresh water when you get home. i do this before i even clean my fish mainly the reels.
salt water will deteriorate your reel very quikly no matter the quality.

 

Those tips are very useful. The hook sets are the type "Bass Masters" pros do and you've got to reel them in quick because those rock fish will dart to the nearest cave.

 

Thanks Lord,,,

That is some good stuff. One question, as far as the south jetty goes, does it really matter where at you are on it? My guess would be its all the same..

 

Thanks Lord,,,

That is some good stuff. One question, as far as the south jetty goes, does it really matter where at you are on it? My guess would be its all the same..

If your talking about Tillamook S. Jetty, which is a 3 1/2 mile bike or hike on the gravel road just to get to the Jetty, or a boat ride from the Garibaldi side, for Lingcod, Cabezone & Bigger Bass, start at the Buldge aprox 1/2 way out, work you way out til you find fish, channel side is best with incomming tide, & from 1/2 up to high tide, surf side same, but can be better if too much tide change on channel side, & or too much N. wind, right at or near the end of the Jetty has some of the best fishing, but can be wet & slippery, & more likely to get sneaker waves so be carefull, for Perch, Seatrout, further in can be productive, sometimes at low slack, or a light outgoing tide, but incomming to high is more common also, Flounder can be caught from the surf side in closer, as well as Perch which come into the shalows to give live birth this time of year.

 

I am referring to the south jetty in Newport.... Sorry for not being clear.

 

yeah i couldnt tell you there, never really fished it.
i know at barview i am about in the middle of the jetty.
i am guessing anywhere would be a good spot though, its just finding the spots that have a few less snags.