i stopped taking bait the first time i got a fish on plastics havnt taken bait since and rarely regret it

90% of the time the bigger fish are caught on jigs/plastics and you dont get harrased by wrasse quite so much

yeah i was thinking i would regret it if i wasnt catching anything on the jigs, but i think jigs with back up plastics is the future....

Going out without the normal bait supply, few trips with nothing or undersize species but i put that down too my ground not the fact im not using bait, Its working out cheaper and is great for a quick clean up once home. If i do take bait its a packet of scalies for which i will drift bait a few if under 40m.

Now ive strated with the plastic's and jigs the bug is itching more than ever to get out and get a hit!!

I could never understand it and though i would never change!! funny game this fishing.

 I don't own a boat so have always been a deckie. And i jig only. Never baited for the 3 years I am in Perth.

 I caught my own share of fish, sometimes better than bait and less by-catch. When I do catch though they are bigger than the baited ones.

 Skipper and other people can be catching fish on bait but i still soldier on and jig. The reward speaks for itself.

So be persistent and you will definitely feel confident enough one day to not bring bait out.

 Cheaper you say???

thanks for your feedback guys, just confirming what im leaning towards, looks like i will need to get myself some more jigs. im looking forward to not spending hours trying to get the smell out of the boat

I use jigs (such as octo jigs etc.) but often put a small peice of bait on one of the hooks - the taste and smell adds to the temtation - that being said its nice not having smelly hands now and then. 

Went on a charter a few years back with some mates and the operator questioned me when I pulled out my "light" rod and a lucanis - caught the 2 biggest snapper for the trip (one being in my avatar which he now uses the same pic in his advertising - all the rest caught on the 4 other baited lines were ruggers).

 Don't know how it could be cheaper. We do trips out with only jigs and it's not uncommon to loss $200plus in jigs compaired to free ocky from the cray boat and a few hooks and sinkers..

Much more fun and rewarding but definately not cheaper.

Belly

Gotta use what's working on the day.

No doubt that Dhuies and Blackarse love jigs, but if after baldies and KG's then bait all the way.

always good to have a back up plan, i love using the jigs but if the tide is running you won't be jigging too much, not even a sea anchor does enough to allow a vertical drop and well it's not fair on one bloke to try and hold you over a spot while you fish i'd rather both going at it.

I agree with what everyone says, you get the better fish most of the time and less bycatch, no smelly hands but i can tell you if i took outa bunch of guys fishing, taking only jigs and SP's and find the tide is running well i've just wasted 40L of fuel getting there and 1.2 hours driving to the spot.

Up north it's not cheaper either, if the tooth brigade settle in you might as well throw a $20 note overboard every 15 mins some days, even in the shallows!

Cheers guys - good feedback, yeah i agree on the back up plan - strong drifts to make it very difficult when using the jigs, you atleast want to feel bottom. definately something to note if conditions dont look favourable the day before.

havent been up north yet - but will stock up on shtty jigs if i do then haha.

 Jigs and plastics for me.  Family fishing trip this year to monkey mia, the wife used her handline and bait and caught a heap of undersize fish.  Except when drifting live baits, I exclusively used soft plastics (didnt want to lose my expensive jigs to the toothy Grey coats) and caught less fish but rarely an undersized one.  Got some great pinkies and nice cod.

I stick to jigging myself only because I enjoy it, but in my experience there is a drawback in that it reduces my chances of catching some very desirable species. On my boat the strike rate for baldies and black bums is much higher on bait, 10 to 1 in my estimates. Never caught a KG or Tarwhine on jigs but they are a welcome by-catch on bait. On the flip side I find Dhus love jigs, I catch more Dhus on jigs than any other species. However, given the current bag limits if we bag out on Dhus I switch to bait.

 Dant,

We fish similar to you with having a rod in the holder except we have a soft plastic on the end just bobbing with the swell while we jig. You dont have to keep checking it and can keep jigging. Hav'nt taken bait out for ages and have been consistantly getting better results as our technique improves. the placcie is just good back up as it usually always gets a hit or two....

cleaning dried out stinking bait off boats sucks!