Published in The Boca MagazineVol. 12, Issue 3Contributor: The Tackle Shop
“Ah pack ah
1/0 alavee hook, a 27 wire, and ah pack ah swivel.” That’s the à-la-vive checklist, a fool-proof formula of what you need for successful
live-bait fishing.
In live-bait fishing,
a small live fish—usually a joshua— is rigged to a hook attached to a wire
leader. The leader is then connected to
nylon with a small swivel. As suggested
in the Patwa term à-la-vive—which
literally means ‘in the manner of alive’—the live bait is allowed to swim
freely, attracting primarily carite, kingfish, cavalli, and bechine. Since the
whole point of à-la-vive fishing is to keep the bait alive until it attracts a
bite, care must be taken in selecting tackle which is light-weight and allows
the bait to swim uninhibited.
- Hooks need to be light so as not to “drown” the bait and to have a short shank to facilitate rigging. Both Eagle Claw and Mustad produce bronze hooks meeting these criteria. The hook must also be appropriate to the size of live bait. Sizes 1, 2, and 1/0 are for average-sized bait and are popular this season.
- The leader is made with Tooth Proof wire (not cable like Surf Strand) which has the advantage of being flexible and strong enough to hold a haywire twist so that crimps are not needed. Small swivels are also used to minimize weight.
- Although trolling with live bait is possible, using handlines is more popular in Trinidad. Bonafide and experienced fishermen use lighter nylons (10, 12, 15 lb). We recommend a heavier nylon (20lb) for novices.
- If you are interested in catching your own bait, sabiki rigs do the trick nicely. Simply attach a small egg sinker to the sabiki rig which consists of very small tinsel jigs with razor sharp hooks and glow beads to attract the bait.
