How To Use Fishbites For Surf Fishing (Review & Rigging Tips)
- By: Wyatt Parcel
- on
Have you used Fishbites before?
I’ve been using them for surf fishing recently and have had a lot of success with them.
Everything from pompano, to black drum, to whiting, and other species can’t resist these little smelly strips.
In this video, I’m going to show you how to use them to catch more fish from the beach, plus I’ll share the top pros and cons of them.
You’ll learn:
- How to get the most out of every bag of Fishbites (and save money)
- How to rig them to get more hookups — most people make a simple, but critical mistake here
- And much more
Check out the review below.
P.S. Keep in mind that we’re not sponsored by Fishbites, I’ve just been using them a lot recently and wanted to share my thoughts with you.
Fishbites Review [VIDEO]
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Mentioned video:
First, I’ll break down the pros and cons of Fishbites, then I’ll dive in to how to rig them.
Fishbites Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Durability. Unlike many baits and lures, these won’t be destroyed by pinfish or other tiny critters out there.
- Versatility. You can cut them to different sizes to target different species of fish, and you can use them alone or paired with live bait.
Cons:
- Because they’re so durable, it’s actually kind of hard to get them off of the hook when you’re done using them.
How To Rig Fishbites
How you rig fish bites depends on how big of a strip you’re using.
If I’m targeting pompano or whiting, I usually use a strip about as big as my fingernail (which helps you catch fish and also save money by getting the most out of each bag).
Thread the hook through the strip once when using this size, but be sure to keep it close to the hook point.
One mistake that many people make is that they push the Fishbite too far down towards the shank of the hook, which brings it farther from the hook point.
This can cause you to get fewer hookups.
Here’s what rigging them this way looks like:
If I’m targeting bigger fish, like black drum, I’ll usually use a bigger strip of Fishbites.
I’ll rig it similar to how you would rig a swimbait on a worm hook, putting the point through the bottom part of the strip, then having it come out towards the top part of the strip.
Here’s what it looks like this in this scenario:
Conclusion
Fishbites are great baits for surf fishing.
Fish love them, but they’re super durable, so they won’t get torn up by small fish like pinfish.
Have any questions about Fishbites?
Have you used them before?
Let me know in the comments below.
You can get Fishbites from our shop here!!
And if you know someone who surf fishes, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
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I’m thinking of using FB for small snappers when reef fishing in Costa Rica. What scent would be good? Shrimp and squid? The cut bait we use is called caballa. It is an Oily bait fish similar to bunker/menhaden in the Northeast. Suggestions? Thx
Personally, I would prefer the squid for snapper, but shrimp should work too!
I just got this from Amazon, can’t wait to try it in areas where there’s a plethora of baitfish stealing my live shrimp!
Yup! Good luck Jessica!
thanks – can you cut the strips into pieces and keep them in the package?
Yes, you absolutely can. Keep them in the original package and make sure it’s tightly sealed. I keep mine in the refrigerator between trips and it seems to help it last longer. Just my TBO (Two-Bit Opinion).
THIS DID HELP ME , JUST BOUGHT SANDFLEA AND SHRIMP BITES ONES , GOING TO TRY THIS WEEKEND UP AT THE NORTH JETTIES IN THE MAYPORT AREA. THANKS
That’s awesome! Glad to hear this was helpful for you Paul!
What do you find to be the best “flavor” of fish bites for the Tampa Bay Area
I would reccomend shrimp or sand flea!
Love FB for the sole reason of them being less messy and always ready and no need of ice
How heavy of a weight do you typically use at the end of the pompano rig to fish the beach in NC?
I usually throw about 4 oz weight, but if it’s really whipping, I’ll bump up to 5 or 6 oz
Hey Wyatt, I really appreciate all of the surf fishing content that you’ve been putting out.
I’m a big fan of Fishbites type baits! I like to use them in conjunction with live/cut bait as an extra insurance in rough surf.
We have a local, FL panhandle, alternative called Fish Gum that you should try out. I’ve fished them side by side with Fishbites and had better success. They are much thicker than fish bites and have a really tacky, almost gooey feel to them. I’ve limited out on Pompano more than once just using them on a hook. An added bonus too is they are small batch produced, with a born on date, so you don’t risk getting an old dry pack(like I’ve gotten from Wal-Mart fishbites)
I’ve been meaning to try out the Fish Gum! Expect a head-to-head test soon!
Great video1 Note that Fishbites also has a line of “FAST ACTING” baits that have no mesh. They are used more for colder water, but can be used in conjunctions with a regular Fishbites to give a quick scent to your line. They will melt away quicker, but it helps attract the fish to you area faster as the water warms. I’ve had luck with these when the water temp goes down below 60 degrees. A good thing to pack in your bag for the beach. Keep coming with the Surf Fishing videos, a wonderful aid for us novices.
Interesting! I’ll have to try these out!
I only fish in the surf here in Atlantic Beach, NC and always have Fishbites with me…last week caught 8 Whiting and a 14″ Pompano on a Pompano rig using sand fleas and an orange Fishbites strip. One Con though I thought should be mentioned…they do get old after a season and start to lose their color, even if sealed in their original packaging, if you don’t use them. I haven’t tested this out, but going to vacuum-seal a bunch after I cut the strips and see if that helps with their longevity. Tight Lines!!
The Pompano fishing has been great here in NC, so I’m glad to hear you’re getting in on the action! I haven’t experianced that issue with Fishbites though, but I’ll keep you updated with any findings of longevity issues in the future!
Dont surf fish but i always tip my jigs and spinnerbaits with a small piece of fishbites made locally here in my neck of the woods i use alot of scent before fishbites I used to tip my lures with a small piece of fresh dead shrimp being fresh is the better word because after only a few casts it would usually come off but fishbites usually doesn’t at least not for a while anyways in my view a great product at a pretty cheap price????
I’ve heard they work great for inshore fishing as well, but I haven’t tried them out! Thanks for the tip Steven!