Pilchards are Sardines

[RookieFisherPerson]

http://www.gamakatsu.com/catalog/jig_rig.htm

Friends have used the two listed at the bottom of the web page...don't know the size of the hook - but they were quite small.

 

[Sharphooks]

hey RFP

Thanks for that. I tried the last jig pictured on the list (the one with "fish skin" in the smallest size used for smelt/herring) They are killer on herring, but I ever got a bite with Pilchards--- I had more luck snagging them with a halibut jig! (go figure)

hey CohoChinook--I was at the Boston Seafood Show last week and met a guy from California who operates a cannery down south. He offered me a few thousand pounds of IQF Pilchards (individually quick frozen) . IQF is not something you usually see on the market.

They are approx. 125 grams which would be a good sportfish bait size, put up in 20 lb cartons. As soon as I got back on the West Coast I called a guy I know locally who puts up tray packs and asked him if he'd consider putting up a few thousand pounds of pilchards for me (us). Unfortunately, he declined, saying he was way too busy putting up herring and octopus and was running his guys on night shifts to cover his own bait requirements (he supplies lots of retail stores around here).

I could probably get those IQF pilchards up to Seattle or Vancouver for about $ 1.50/lb. Not a bad price in the grand scheme of things. And maybe some of you already know this but bait will be very tight this year. Blue Label is almost non-existent in any quantity. Lots of herring packers came up short on that size.

 

[Derby]

Still working on the really nice starved VP teaser head size 5-7in Sardines & should know towards the end of April.

Do have some last year Sardine 8-11 6x22 per case in you are interested -no problem in if you want med/blue herring

 

[dragnbait]

Different colors and sizes

I have had no problem jigging pilchards with a herring jig... Usually leave a spinning rod set up with a herring jig set up while trolling and cast into schooling pilchards. It can be interesting catching 4-5 at a time. I keep a variety of colors and sizes of herring jigs tucked away, some work better than others. Have tried to set them up in brine and freeze them as well with little luck. They are just super oily fish. They make for an awesome hali bait!!

 

[Sharphooks]

Hey, thanks for that dragnbait. I appreciate the tip.

hey Derby-- it sound like you're the bait guy. Do you have any volume of blue label? And if yes, are they vacs?
Please PM me if you can help. Thanks

thanks