Been blowing up this form haha.

After I finish my two spiral wrap trolling rods, I'd like to make a custom bait catching rod. I catch my bait with a home made sabinki style rig. The rig has 5 hooks on dropper loops a small swivel and a 5 or 6 oz bank sinker. 15-20 pound test line. From the swivel to the sinker is about 10ft.
My idea of the best rod for this would be about 8ft to 8.6ft one piece and have a fast action. The baits are usaly about 10oz to just over 1lb, but when I get 3 or 4 on at once they can really pull. Also get by catch of small tuna, and jacks that also fight hard. Once caught a 10lb mahi and a 16lb YFT on my bait rod.
I don't want a big beefy rod, I've seen some blanks that have the length and action I'm looking for but the butt diamature is larger then what I'd like. Looking for a butt of around .500
Anyone have any suggestions?

This is probably the most important pole is my arsenal because live bait is key to my success on the kayak.

Aloha

So after much looking i found this 91540 Jaws 9' 15-40 LB BLANK
Anyone made a rod from one of these blanks yet?

Go for it; It sounds like the ideal blank for your needs.

I'm interested in what you are doing. I think it might apply to my fishing. I'll tell you what things are like where I'm at and what I do. Msaybe we can both learn something:)

First we have the "inshore baits" that appeal to fish like tarpon and snook. These are pinfish/croker/spots. I think we can discount them for your needs.

Second we have the offshore baits for smaller fish. These might be pilchards, menhaden, herring, cigar minnows, and the like. One would like to have a 100-200 of these baits before heading out to blue water. You are tossing handfulls overboard to establish "bait balls" around the boat. Baits are best caught with a cast net. These can be "okay" baits for some of your needs. Basically the only baits I see "requiring" the rod blank you have suggested.

Third are basically members of the jack family. Blue runners/hardtails/goggeyes/etc. These are nice hardy baits that might be as big as a couple of pounds. One could feel okay running offshore with as little as six of these baits. I'm thinking this is what you are after.

Fourth we have ballyhoo. Both big and little fish like these. I put them separate because of what it takes to catch them (and keep them alive).

"If" you are interesed in the jack family baits......I'm going to suggest a single hook, with a bit of squid/shrimp, on a lighter rod and sinker, will yeild as many baits in the end.

"If" you are after ballyhoo, then you need sensitivity and finesse. These are also hard baits to keep alive. For these reasons I'm thinking they aren't what you are after.


"If " you are after the pilchards then go for multipe hooks and heavier sinkers as you plan. Just don't think those baits are best for what you are after. Sure, they get bites.....just not "big fish only" bites. Not to say 20# snappers don't inhale 2# goggleyes mind you:)

"If" you could consider the single hook approach for baits that are

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Fishery is a lot different here in Hawaii, we like opelu, they probably a distant cousin to goggleyes, they look very similar.