Belly strikes on whole baits

[kaotay]

Hi
This happened a few times while fishing whole fish as baits (pillies, live and dead mullet)

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365636569.425182.jpg (109.08 KiB) Viewed 1095 times

It would always be a single hit - no nibbles before, no bites after. A "hit and run". Always in the belly area of the fish, missing the hooks at the dorsal and caudal area of the bait.

It's happened to at least one other fisho I spoke to, fishing the lower Yarra.

Appreciate if anyone could shed some light on what did this and why?

Look forward to your responses.

[Fish-cador]

No idea what fish will take a bite only on the belly area. Crabs usually munch on the belly area but no way they will register a "hit" on your gear. Cala and cuttle fish normally take a bite on the back of the head but I don't think that kind of damage is from a cala or cuttle fish. :dontknow

i guess you should know by now that you should put a stinger hook on the belly area. :lol:

[ducky]

If I could like that last paragraph I would.

Throw a hook there and find out. Lol

[raco09]

Mysterious creature of the deep......

[kaotay]

FC agree, I have a mullet in the water right now with the main hook under the pectoral fin. Did you notice the bite mark just missed the point of the hook? [CONFOUNDED FACE]

Does anyone else place a hook in the belly? I would've thought it would kill a livie.

[bradp]

SNAPPER!

To combat this try this rig. The rig works better when suspended baits straight down from the pier (not cast)

[ducky]

Snappers are head crunchers?

[Fish-Hunter]

It happens , pickers are just eating the belly as its softer .

[Fish-Hunter]

It also maybe the TOXIC MUTANT fish that lives in the Yarra , it glows blue & green . :whoh:

[Fish-cador]

FC agree, I have a mullet in the water right now with the main hook under the pectoral fin. Did you notice the bite mark just missed the point of the hook? [CONFOUNDED FACE]

Does anyone else place a hook in the belly? I would've thought it would kill a livie.

LOL, you are fishing and browsing the forum? It must be a quiet day out there. Good luck.

Do not use your main hook in the belly. Add a stinger hook in the belly area. It is a small sharp hook that is attacked to your main hook using a short length of line. I usually add a stinger hook on the tail area of my live bait.

I know a few who put hooks (aka studs) on their belly (button). :icon_lolz: :icon_lolz: