#31 Half Pilchard or Garfish

Just about anything that swims will eat a half bait. The main thing you need to keep in mind is that you don't bury the hook point and barb inside the bait. Position the hook so that the end of the hook is near the end of the bait and it has only gone in halfway to the body of the bait. Secure it by two to three half hitches around the tail.
Snapper, bream, a variety of reef species, trevally, flathead, kingfish, mulloway, gummies and rays love pouncing on a well presented half pilchard or pilly.
Even though this rig is dedicated to using either a half pilchard or garfish, it can be used on any baits that have been cut into half, including whitebait, mullet, herring, slimy mackerel, squid and so forth. The main thing that you will have to change when using this rig is the size of the hook that you are going to use, which will need to match the size of the bait that you are using.
As an example, I would use a 3/0 to 8/0 size hook with half a mullet when targeting snapper or mulloway, while for bream I would use a 1 to 1/0 hook in a half pilchard.

[@ricardobabia4919]

You’re a legend. Thanks mate 🤝🏾

[@knudhamsund1531]

Gary, thanks for sharing these most useful tricks

[@garybrownfishing8574]

no worries and thanks for that

[@fantomghost6213]

Great job explaining. Thanks!

[@andreblack8132]

Well after all the years of fishing this is about the best advice I have seen for baiting up with sardines!? 😊

[@garybrownfishing8574]

Thanks very much for that. I will have some more bait rigging videos up soon.

[@tlgf7638]

Nifty trick. Nice one

[@BautistaVids]

That is a great rig. The bait will hold up nice on hard casts with the Gemini Splash Down accessory. Thanks!

[@garybrownfishing8574]

no worries

[@chrisfish8838]

Best bait fishing information right there! Gary your info is gold! The diagonal cut I do all the time now. It also exposes more of the guts which acts as a burley. Great tip you give to go through the eye of the bait TWICE - this makes a huge difference in keeping the bait on the hook.

[@garybrownfishing8574]

Thanks for that.

[@caroljames3853]

Loaded session 9f hints - thank you

[@albinoperos7083]

This application will come handy to me, thank you

[@garybrownfishing8574]

Glad I could help out.

[@TheWakatv]

This man is a fuckin genius - thanks gaz

[@theidolshow1810]

Thanks, I learned a lots

[@garybrownfishing8574]

Hi Hope it works as well for you as it does for me

[@user-ke4oo6mt6p]

👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@brendaroberts821]

Very good video, but I was wondeing what happens to the half hitches when you catch a large fish? I'm sure it would cut through the bait, but would they straighten out or end up in a knot? Thanks

[@garybrownfishing8574]

Hi Brenda
The 2 half hitches don't cut through the bait. When the fish take to bait and swallows it the 2 half hitches unravel. They are not a knot. Just two loops.

[@brendaroberts821]

Ah, great! Thanks for the reply! I did a search here in the US and found nothing on it. Must be a down-under secret! @@garybrownfishing8574

[@MenCanNotBeWomen]

use elestic or bait cotton to wrap baits up. they last longer