Bwana's Guide to the "Sosatie Stick Sardine" drift bait

[Bwana]

BWANA'S GUIDE TO RIGGING THE VERSATILE "SOSATIE STICK SARDINE" DRIFT BAIT
Well it’s  been a while since I’ve done a tutorial and with the start of what promises to  be a productive summer game fish season I thought I’d share a deadly drift bait  technique with you guys. This technique is useful for tuna, bonnies, dorado,  couta, sailies……………. actually no wait – everything eats the sosatie stick sard!  It is a deadly way to catch all types of gamefish and even billfish. The better  part is that it is very simple to do and while drifting you should always have  at least one of these baits out. What's interesting is that this South Coast staple technique doesn't seem to ever be used much anywhere else, I'm hoping it's because no-one has heard of it because it is deadly anywhere you choose to use it.


What you will  need:
This is so  simple, all you need is a good quality fresh sardine (Natal sards or fresh  red-eye sards),  a medium length sosatie  stick, a pair of strong sharp scissors and a drift trace (this is technique  works best with a short shank J-hook in the 6/0 to 8/0 size, rigged on 1m of 50lb-80lb fluorocarbon).

[Bwana]

Step 1
To start the  process make sure the sardine is defrosted and not damaged (especially the  stomach area which often blows out or tears). Choose the best sardine you can  find usually IQF are the right choice and you can use your old or damaged ones  for chum. Turn the sardine upside down in your left hand with the head facing  towards you.

[Bwana]

Step 2
Insert the sharp point of the sosatie stick through the bottom of the lower lip, down the throat of the bait and slowly work it backwards along the bait's spine to the tail. Make sure you hold the bait straight at all times it cannot be even slightly bent. Do not let the end of the sosatie stick protrude from the tail - keep it concealed inside the bait. Take the scissors and trim off the excess sosatie stick that protudes from the mouth.

[Bwana]

Step 3
Now it's time to place the hook. The whole basis of this technique is that the hook is set in the shoulders around 1/3 of the way up the body so that it creates an unequal pull-point to create an action in the water. Take the bait in your left hand and insert the point in the region of the lateral line about 1/3 of the way down the bait's body. Slowly slide the point of the hook into the bait making sure it goes under the sosatie stick and spine (this will secure the hook in the bait and prevent it from tearing loose). Work the hook through the other side and seat it neatly with the hook eye and shank pointing up towards the bait's head. When viewed from above the wide gape short-shank hook will allow the pull-point to lie in the middle of the bait.

[Bwana]

How to use it effectively :
Once you have settled onto a drift, deploy the bait between 25-40m away from the boat, leaving the reel set at around 1/3 of strike drag with the clicker on, and the rod standing upright in a rod holder. The combination of current, swell and the loop of line between the vertical rod and the water creates a gentle twitching motion causing the bait to lift and drop in the water which sends out amazing shine and attracts gamefish from all around. If used in conjunction with chum this technique is deadly for Yellowfin Tuna. If there are couta around we usually add 30cm of number 6 single strand wire to the 50lb fluorocarbon with an albright knot.


Here's how the action works:

[jaenswart]

what a great tut.

I have personally used this presentation style to great success.

cred

[Bwana]

What makes this style of fishing so great is that you can quickly and easily deploy this bait while drifting and throwing popper or jigging. If you are drifting with livebaits makes sure you have a sosatie stick bait out as well - many times we get a pull on the dead bait before the livebait. It literally catches all types of gamefish, even the monster 35kg Couta caught recently by my buddy Clint Nortje at Vidal was caught on this very bait while trying to catch species for a compo they were fishing. Go out there and give it a bash, you will be very surprised at the results!


Here are some fish taken on this versatile rig:

[peterblace]

awesome tut
one question
what's the difference between having and not having the sosatie stick on the sardine action?

[Seventenths]

mmmmmm.... I like this and will be trying it out!!! add to tackle box - 1 bag sosatie sticks......Thank Bwana

[Bwana]

awesome tut
one question
what's the difference between having and not having the sosatie stick on the sardine action?

Pedro the sosatie stick serves 3 purposes:


1) It keeps the bait stiff and straight
2) It allows the hook to have something to keep it in place and not rip out of the sardines flesh
3) It keeps the bait's mouth closed as it pushes the bottom lip closed against the top lip, this stops the mouth from opening up and flaring the gill plates (which looks unnatural)

[peterblace]

so it will apply only to bait like sardine (that fells apart with time in the water)

great...will definitely give it a try when I have my bait stock back....all bait binned after a power cut at the club 

[Bwana]

so it will apply only to bait like sardine (that fells apart with time in the water)

great...will definitely give it a try when I have my bait stock back....all bait binned after a power cut at the club 

Eish, that sucks! Ja it will work on any baitfish but it's best on sardines and mackerel 

[SAfish]

Great tut, thanks Bwana.  This will also work from a deep water point when doing R&S angling.

[Bwana]

Great tut, thanks Bwana.  This will also work from a deep water point when doing R&S angling.

  Absolutely! Great idea

[Poenie]

With the hook seated UNDER the sosatie, how would that ensure a decent hook-set?

[Bwana]

Poenie it doesn't seem to affect it much hey, especially with tuna we've found that with the fish striking the bait most of the time the sardine is obliterated and point of the hook finds it's place either in the corner of the mouth or roof of the mouth. The normal procedure when the fish strikes is to let it eat for a 3 count before tightening up, once the drag is increased the hook pulls out of what's left of the bait and finds place to hook up. Most of the time the strikes are aggressive and the fish takes the whole bait in one mouthful. We do sometimes have issues with smaller bonnies biting short and you get back a sosatie stick with half your bait still attached. In this case we quickly delpoy a chum piece on a single hook.

[Shaun17]

Magic stuff Mark, was really impressed when I first saw you use this.

  bud

P.S. Due to minimal time between arrival and fishing, the Scouse Skipper would appreciate multiple ready made sosatie and Bwana chum rigs upon arrival 

[Poenie]

Poenie it doesn't seem to affect it much hey, especially with tuna we've found that with the fish striking the bait most of the time the sardine is obliterated and point of the hook finds it's place either in the corner of the mouth or roof of the mouth. The normal procedure when the fish strikes is to let it eat for a 3 count before tightening up, once the drag is increased the hook pulls out of what's left of the bait and finds place to hook up. Most of the time the strikes are aggressive and the fish takes the whole bait in one mouthful. We do sometimes have issues with smaller bonnies biting short and you get back a sosatie stick with half your bait still attached. In this case we quickly delpoy a chum piece on a single hook.

Shot, that was my ONLY concern... might just give it a bash tomorrow on the Cape yellows!

[Bwana]

@Poenie you will slay the Cape YFT on this rig, surprised the guys don't use it there! It works a treat while you are chumming on the drift.


@Shaun - no problem skipper will make a plan 

[isivuba]

Absolute MACHINE Mark and awesome tut bud......giving this a try off the shoal tommorrow  .