The first one is always be ready. When fishing open water you never know when you will find that one spot of fish that wants to bite. Many times these stops are for only a handful of fish (5-10 fish). So if you are down in your stateroom you are not going to catch any fish. The more time you spend ready to go at the bait tank the better your odds are to catch fish.

    So you are waiting at the bait tank for someone to yell "HOOK-UP", when they yell, nose hook that sardine or anchovy and get it into the water. Do not pre-hook your bait and leave it in the bait wells. The bait will swim in a circle and impart a twist on your line. After a few minutes your bait will be dead and your line has weakened. Besides you will do better with lively fresh bait. So find the bait you want to use and put it in the bait well next to you and are ready to hook it up on the next stop. During the first few moment of a stop the fish are usually not too picky when it comes to taking bait. So pick a one and get it into the water quickly.

    Once the boat stops moving (called the "SLIDE")  the real fun starts. Trying to get the fish that have come to the boat to eat your bait. The best way to improve your odds is choosing the perfect bait. How do you find that perfect bait? If you have trouble catching it with your hands, that might be the one. If it has all its scales, no blood shot eyes, tore fins with "classic" coloration and you are having trouble catching it that is the one.    Once you have found the "one", do not waste time.  Get it into the water quickly.  If you can not cast, do not worry just get it into the water quickly.  The current will take the bait eventually away from the boat.  If, you can cast, without killing the bait all the better

    One thing about picking your bait is make sure that it is the right size or species that the fish are eating. On our 5-day trip last year, we were able to take a couple of boxes of cure anchovies to go along with our sardines. This was the first time in many years that we had 4 to 5 inch anchovies on board. The first half of our trip we chased albacore and did very well limits for all hands. We could have gotten our limits by the end of the first day if many of the anglers switched to anchovies. The albacore we encountered wanted anchovies more than they wanted sardines and showed their preference when you tossed your bait in the water. Anchovies were eaten in seconds while sardines at times would be ignored. So be sure to match the hatch, as fly fishermen would say.

    Another tip to help you get hooked-up more often, use light line. If the fish are in the 10 to 25 lb. range and you are using live bait try dropping down one line size. Most boats recommend that you the heaviest line you can and still get bit. I go the other way; I use the lightest line that I can still land the fish. The only draw back is, if you are worried about landing every fish you hook. When using light line you can also drop down in hook size. Smaller hooks will penetrate easier that large hooks. The only drawback is that smaller hooks will not grab as much of the fish’s jaw. So when using light line and small hooks take your time and finesse your fish to the boat.

    The final tip I have is to put your bait in the best position for the fish to see it. Sometimes this involves casting the bait 30 to 40 feet off the stern. So take time to practice your casting before your trip. Take your live bait combo, tie on small soft bait like a shad body and cast it. Remember to use only the shad body, leave the leadhead in the tackle box. If you can get 30 to 40 feet on your cast you will improve your chances of getting hooked up. To also help the fish see your bait, drop it in at the end of the line. Dropping in the center of a group of other anglers not only will get them mad at you, but also is not a productive to hook up.

    While on the subject of dropping bait in non-productive areas, stay away from the down wind side of the boat. Dropping in on the down wind side causes the boat to drift over your line. Your bait will end up tangled with the props or rudder of the boat. Leave the down wind side for the jig tossers.