I'm new to sabiki rods and am looking for advice, I have a 7' rod and was wondering what reel to put on it. Also how are they best used? Casting, jigging or both? Should I use a weight for the end of the rig and if so what size, or do you use a weighted jig? Does anyone have suggestions?
Thanks in advance!

reel: building 19 special/whatever you got laying around. not a big deal.
put a diamond jig on the end (1oz? 1 1/2oz?)
drop to bottom, slowly jig up/slowly retreive up/jig in place/do a little dance.

Mark the fish and jig on top of them. Can of cat food in a chum bag will hold them tight. But to cover more area, I usually troll the sabiki at 2.5-3 knots. Heavier weight jig. Four boat lengths back. Light rod, crap reel....

If you don't know where the fish are but have a general idea, trolling like Ross said is your best bet. That's how I usually do it and we are usually filling the cooler and live well while every one else is aimlessly jigging. When the fist fish hit throw the boat in neutral and let it sit out there for a few...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I bought a cheapo used fresh water bait casting reel on ebay for 15 bucks. Loaded it up with 20 power pro and it glides out nice and smooth.

As for the techniques, what everyone said :uhuh:

Thanks, I'm headed in the right direction now. What size sabiki rigs should I carry, I have size 8 fish skin style right now but they seem too small and the 10# line too light for mackerel, they look good for herring and pogies I think; but I may be wrong.

I always use the biggest, heaviest ones I can find- generally the Owner ones in 20 lb or 30 lb mainline. Sz 8 or 6 hooks should be fine.

Reason being, unless you have a specific sabiki rod (that reels the rig inside of the rod itself) they tend to tangle... And it's much easier picking apart the heavier line.

Haven't found the bait to be too picky about the size of the rig- mackerel, herring, pollock, whiting all seem to hit just about anything.

Thanks, I'm headed in the right direction now. What size sabiki rigs should I carry, I have size 8 fish skin style right now but they seem too small and the 10# line too light for mackerel, they look good for herring and pogies I think; but I may be wrong.



You can take pogies out of the sabiki equation. They are filter feeders. best to net or snag them. My sabikis are all on the boat, but the line is 15# I think. Always seems too light when you get a full string, but haven't had one fail due to macks. Blues will do a number on them when they hit the diamond jig though... I tell my local B&T to figure a dozen for me when he orders in January. Get a small break that way and saves me running back to grab one. They do get worn out and don't work as well when they are rusted IMO. How have you been doing with them since you first posted?

I haven't had a chance to fish in a month :(

I like lighter line as well ( #15) I tie my own rigs using gold hooks and a little flashaboo.... I bought ( and should have made instead) one of those sabiki rods that stores the rig inside out of harms way.. it works the nuts but a piece of PVC would have acomplished the same thing.. Ilike a deadly #^&#^&#^&#^& ( with single hook) in lnsted of a diamond jig... if I need to go deeper I use a small crippled herring...

I havent fished with Macks since June... I might swim a few along the rocks this week end myself..

...... They do get worn out and don't work as well when they are rusted IMO......



I find that the first thing that goes is the hook barb wrt rust. You will hook up allot but many never make it in the boat. Really s&cks when they drop off right at the boat on a day when bait is scarce.

I like the rigs with a size six or larger hook. Check rigs often for damage, and replace often. I use a one or two oz pyramid sinker when trolling to give the rig a wiggle. Also works good for jigging as they hit on the quick drop.

Thanks, Stefano.

How do you guys store your sabikis when you are done with them?

How do you guys store your sabikis when you are done with them?

wrap em up on the cardboard they came on, and put em in my slim plano box. or make your own cardboard w slits like i do for the ice fishing rigs. they're in the same spot actually :)

I really appreciate the advice.
Thankyou all :btu:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

How do you guys store your sabikis when you are done with them?

They store inside the sabiki rod....

How do you guys store your sabikis when you are done with them?
At a couple bucks a rig, they get thrown away once I have to put something else on the rod. The headache of the rigs getting tangled in everything or getting tagged in the hand/arm/leg by one of the hooks isn't worth the $2.

Benny's puts them on sale randomly for 99 cents. I tend to buy half a dozen and am all set for most of the year. However, I don't bait fish all that much.

the foam pool noodles work well for storing them, can hold 4 or so on a 6” section.

I just wrap it around the reel stem and hook the crippled herring hook on the bottom guide. Into the rod storage and done. Ready for the next time.

I keep two rods for jigging macs and the home made sabiki stays on the rod wrapped around the reel handle hooked to one of the eyes on the rod.