Flatties... your 2 cents - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

rossman · 08-29-2014, 12:46 PM

I actually had my baits bit clean in two twice in the last month. The difference was that I landed both fish. One was a 30 inch ling and the other was a 22 inch sand bass. Both in 70 to 80 ft of water. Both times the bottom 2/3 of the Mac was gone.

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StinkyMatt · 08-29-2014, 01:46 PM

Kelp.

99% sure.

1% it was a sea lion.

jorluivil · 08-29-2014, 01:56 PM

Here's what I've seen and what I believe could be the culprit

bait is not raked but skinned = bass
bait is raked, rakes have gaps = halibut, ling or any fish with large teeth except a GWS
bait comes up with head still attached to the hook, everything behind the gills is missing = seal

GregAndrew · 08-29-2014, 02:30 PM

Mack cut in half is almost positively not a Halibut. They do have a good bite, but their teeth are for gripping not cutting. A Sardine or Anchovy, on the other hand, might cut themselves almost in half struggling to get free. And a shake of the head of the Butt could finish the job. But the skin on a mack is going to hold it together against a Halibut bite. Lots of sharks around that could do that though. Thresher as you suggested, as well as Leopard, Soupfin and Seven Gill just to name the most likely. By your description, I would think leopard. They will sometimes do something similar to a Halibut "Soft bite". And it can be hard to tell the difference from a Butt fight some times.

Ross, if I were a betting man, I would bet the bait got bit in half before the Sandbass picked it up. Easy for a big Ling to do it though.

08-29-2014, 12:46 PM	#1
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	I actually had my baits bit clean in two twice in the last month. The difference was that I landed both fish. One was a 30 inch ling and the other was a 22 inch sand bass. Both in 70 to 80 ft of water. Both times the bottom 2/3 of the Mac was gone. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

08-29-2014, 01:56 PM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Here's what I've seen and what I believe could be the culprit bait is not raked but skinned = bass bait is raked, rakes have gaps = halibut, ling or any fish with large teeth except a GWS bait comes up with head still attached to the hook, everything behind the gills is missing = seal __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

08-29-2014, 01:46 PM	#2
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Kelp. 99% sure. 1% it was a sea lion.

08-29-2014, 02:30 PM	#4
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Mack cut in half is almost positively not a Halibut. They do have a good bite, but their teeth are for gripping not cutting. A Sardine or Anchovy, on the other hand, might cut themselves almost in half struggling to get free. And a shake of the head of the Butt could finish the job. But the skin on a mack is going to hold it together against a Halibut bite. Lots of sharks around that could do that though. Thresher as you suggested, as well as Leopard, Soupfin and Seven Gill just to name the most likely. By your description, I would think leopard. They will sometimes do something similar to a Halibut "Soft bite". And it can be hard to tell the difference from a Butt fight some times. Ross, if I were a betting man, I would bet the bait got bit in half before the Sandbass picked it up. Easy for a big Ling to do it though.