Using Skirts?

[Tsa]

Hey Guys and Gals

I would like to know what your feelings are regarding using skirts on your baits? Any specific experiences with higher success rates? Using it on slide as well as throw baits?

Also I get the feeling the guys up north use it more than they guys in CPT?

Basically..... Does it make a difference?

 

[Dorado75]

Nothing works better than a skirt and a dolly for snoek!!

When we fish for yellowtail we usually use a small skirt on our bait hooks, it works really well, especially when you miss the fish and it takes the bait off, then they come back for the skirt when you pulling it in!!

 

[Tsa]

Heya Dorado

Yeah I can believe that and sure it works well with fish like snoek and the rest who are hunters and hunt on sight, but was wondering about the guys building these big baits, or whole bonnies with a skirt for sharks?

 

[Whaler]

I use a pink skirt! won't leave home without it! my 2c

*check the pink skirt next to the bronzie on my avatar*

 

[Volcom]

Concerning Skirts being used more up North its cuz of the water being alot more cleaner. More visible and Id think the movement will be be effective.

Yashamita Pink and Dayglow Blue.

Whaler dons a skirt once he lands a bronzie!

*WALKS n hides from Whaler* >> No need to run, ol timer needs a chance after all

 

[badballie]

I have been playing around with skirts, more to make my line more visible when fishing with the family in small bays and around the rocks, than in the traditional sense, like when we trolling for couta. We go fish regularly at Karridene river with the kayaks as a family outing and normally target small tigers and glasies. This past Sunday, I still had the small pink squid on a karanteen rig and was catching the most tigers ( yes I think they chase the colour as well ), but then for the first time ever hooked into something massive. Felt the knibble, striked and it was on, but 1 sec later my line was "stuck" solid - I first reckoned I must have snagged on a rock, but every now and again there would some head shake and then stuck again, paddled closer and felt around with the paddle, but there was only sand - about 1,7 metre deep. Then my line was burned off just above where the skirt was - sure I hooked a skate - only thing that I can think of that will go straight down and not move.

Was only using my 6'6" dropshot rig with about 6 lbs line so did not stand a chance.

 

[Tsa]

Thanks for the info guys! Yip Volcom agree with your point of visibility, just wondering if the sharks actually go after the movement or the bait smell. Ah well cant do anywrong in having it on there : )

 

[Colin G]

Personal preference.

I know guys that I know use them on all their baits, some are good anglers and some not so good.

I do not use them as a rule but if the fish are not biting I will use them and have caught fish using them. i do not think that they are a disadvantage.

 

[Dynamite]

It's the same as using bait additives. Some will swear by it, others will never worry about using it. Personally i have never and will never bother using a skirt as i have enough confidence in my baits, but then you will get other anglers that will never leave home without it.

My advise is to go on a fishing trip and try it with then without the skirt and decide for yourself. If you believe in it don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you don't then don't give it another thought. Until the day i get outfished due to the skirt i won't bother

My 2 zim dolls worth

 

[killy]

nice colours there volcon.   killy

 

[BigBass]

I think a pink or chartreuse skirt makes a difference ...

I have had positive experiences when throwing it with a whole drift sardine - the Shad love it! And also got a nice Shark (Blackfin) on light spinning gear using the drift sard & skirt!

Especially seems to help when the fishing is slow ...

 

[markj]

We use green skirts in the harbour over a mullet fillet to catch sharks at night.They work well,as i tried without a skirt and waited much longer between sharks.

 

[DWB]

@ Mark

Where in da harbour do you okes catch sharks?

How big?

When you joining us for a RBAY trip?
Mana to you

 

[deon77]

Hi team just wanted to know what do you guys mean by using skirts as bait and how does it work.Do not know much about fishing but this site rocks and every day there is a new idea or a leaning experience and that is what makes this site appreciating

Thanks for everyones imput to make this site worth logging into daily

 

[badballie]

Hi Deon ..this is the skirts we talking about :

 

And they are normally rigged like this for couta or however else you want to use them:

 

 

 

[deon77]

Thanks mate.I really appreciate the speedy response as well as the pictures.WILL definately try them.

 

[tuna]

For me there's no difference when using skirts in Western Cape water and Namibian waters, maybe along KZN where the water's really clean

I personally think ESA used it right when they started off and now everyone else are using it

 

I would rather spend that few extra bucks on sliding sinkers

 

[royboy]

We observed amazing results of pink skirts on whole halfbeak trolled behind the boat at Baza in May. After using chartruese etc. we worked out that the skirt choice was pink, pink or pink. On Halfbeaks or Karpau. (Similar to a Maasbanker - if not the same)

Thing that got me was that these skirts were a gaudy "chick pink"..... and I don't know of any natural (travelling at 5-6kts behind the boat) in that colour that would consistently induce takes from a wide species variety of gamefish.....defies logic I know, but worked a treat. Bazaruto Lodge Skippers swear by it ......... and the consistant results speak for themselves. And you could replicate the takes - spread of 5 identical baits behind the boat, 2 with pink skirts and the others unadorned and 99% of the time the skirted baits would have a fish on. We even went as far as to alternate the position of the skirted baits, and the fish would eat accordingly. In 9 days, there were only 2 takes on the unskirted baits.

This is the sort of stuff that makes it hard for us mere mortals to understand WHAT it is that makes fish bite in one scenario and not another. Considering that there are no baitfish that I am aware of, that are FUGLY pink, and chase noisy ski-boats around the Indian Ocean.

Again - personal experience from this trip - Ugly Pink

 

[Volcom]

[color=#006600]tuna[/color] wrote:

For me there's no difference when using skirts in Western Cape water and Namibian waters, maybe along KZN where the water's really clean

I personally think ESA used it right when they started off and now everyone else are using it

 

I would rather spend that few extra bucks on sliding sinkers

FYI


Some methods and "additional info" has been around way before ESA.....

 

 

[Gold_Shark]

Volcom's correct! and when ESA fished in our waters they didn't use the pink Yamashits skirts and to their own admission said that it made a difference as their guide used it and got most of the fish