Any non target reef species can be used as fresh cube baits - just fillet leaving the tough skin on to hold the hook. Whole pilchard baits, gang hooked through the sides using No 6 hooks, with the last hook passing through the eye socket, is also a preferred method for coral trout , red emperor , tricky snapper and spanish mackerel . Use the freshest quality pillie available, easily detected by their shiny clear sides. Any old crumbly bait will break up too easily and entice only the small pickers leaving nothing left for the quality fish. Large mullet slab baits are also popular for our tropical reef species.
Big fish require big baits.
You don't catch a 1,000lb marlin on a sardine. Expert rigging is required to enable these baits to either swim naturally through the surface layers or skip across the water and it is the deckies job to prepare these offerings. Smaller fish baits such as skipping or swimming mullet and garfish are used for the light tackle targets such as mahi mahi , mackerel and sailfish . The backbone of these baits is often skillfully removed to allow a more flexible and natural swimming action with a small sinker added to help the bait track upright. These baits are usually bridled and attached to the suitable razor sharp hook using cord and a bait needle.