Livebait - Steentjies

Whenever watching a fishing tv show they always seem to catch live bait like maasbunker or mackeral with ease before venturing to the deeper reefs in search of cob or trawling for gamefish.

I have tried catching these smaller baitfish, but all I ever seem to catch on a sabiki is Steentjies, Steentjies for africa. I have used steentjie fillet before and have caught some nice reds, but I was wondering if a live steentjie rigged with a circle left on the bottom would work?

I am specifically targetting the bigger bottomfish like Cob or geelbek.

Are you refering to sand soldiers?

Get yourself some Zuri's. Long peace of line with about 6 small hooks with feathers and glitter.
They work very well with catching live bait offshore.
If you can get a few small shad on it use that for live bait for cob. Hook one and drop to the bottom and give 4 turns just to pick it up off the bottom.
Have caught many cob like that. Maasbanker also works for live bait.

Most of the geelbek I've caught, I got while dropping bait to the bottom. They pick me up before I get the bait halfway down. We've caught them 4m below the boat a few times as well.

a 'Zuri' IS a sabiki... 'Zuri' is short for Yozuri, a Japanese tackle manufacturer. Sabiki is the correct term.

MichaelK no he is referring to the cape Steentjie. Similar shape and size to a sand soldier, albeit slightly more compressed

Jannus, mackerel and redeyes are preferred for their shiny silver colour, strong vibration and blood capacity when they die. Also usually very abundant when you find them. If you are only getting steentjies go a bit deeper or just try one

van kant af van rotse kan jy nie strepie beat nie.elf kob poenskop yellowbelly roman rooisteenbras beste aas wat jy kan kry.

diepsee weer jou steentjies dodelike aas.

my maat onlangs gou op plaas hier in oos kaap van kant af gelaunch deur sloep diepsee toe.steentjies gevang.paar mooi vis geland.