AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2004-05 ISSUE

Scaled Sardine (Harengula jaguana)
The scaled sardine is commonly known as a pilchard or white bait, and they make excellent enticements for just about every Florida marine fish species. Scaled sardines are distinguished by their bright silver and white scales, and enlarged keel-like bellies. They usually have a small black spot just behind the gill plate.

 Scaled sardines are fast growing, with an average length of 4 to 6 inches, and they rarely live longer than a year. They feed primarily on zooplankton and small gastropods and crustaceans. Scaled sardines are pelagic, schooling fish, and spawn nearly all year round. These bait fish are typically heavier for their length on the east coast of Florida compared to the west coast. The name sardine comes from their abundance off the coast of Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean.

Since scaled sardines are common prey for most piscivorous predators, they make excellent live or dead bait. Scaled sardines are hardy baits, and can survive for long periods of time in well-oxygenated live-wells or bait-pens. Scaled sardines are often employed as ‘switch out’ baits; when other live baits fail, many anglers switch to scaled sardines.

Scaled sardines can be used both inshore and off, and are favorite amongst snook fishermen. Linesiders will often strike a frisky pilchard even when in the ‘off mode.’ These baits can also be used for grouper, tarpon, kingfish, blackfin tuna and most other inshore and offshore species.

These alluring white baits can be caught using two strategies. First, if the water is shallow they can be caught with an accurate throw of the cast net. To locate the fish, look for surface activity, or birds working the school. If the fish are not on the surface, then look for the ‘cloud’ on your depth sounder screen. Shallow water inshore reefs are a great place to find them. Chumming with ground fish can invite the school if they cannot be located otherwise. Cast nets only work if the water is shallow enough to trap the fish under the net.

If the water is deeper, then multiple hook sabiki rigs, size 4 or 6 with gold hooks, are the way to go. In fact, once the school is located, sabiki rigs can get sardines into the live-well nearly as quickly as a cast net. Simply drop the sabiki over the side of the boat into the depth where the school is holding. Often no jigging is required to load up. After the hooks are full, the rig should carefully be retrieved and the bait placed into a well-aerated live-well.

One worthwhile tip when using a sabiki rig: use a heavy weight on the bottom of the rig. When the fish are brought on board, put the weight on the deck and keep the rod tip high enough to keep the line fairly tight. The weight of the lead prevents the baits from flopping around and tangling the sabiki line. The other advantage of the heavier weight is that the rig will reach the bait’s depth more quickly and be less impeded by the current.

White bait can be used live, dead, or as chum. Free-lining is perhaps the best way to fish scaled sardines. Hook the bait through the nose with a number 4 or 6 hook to ensure that it stays healthy and doesn’t drown from the weight of the hook and line. Using the appropriate size hook also allows the bait to swim and drift naturally. If there is current or the game fish are on the bottom, then an egg sinker is necessary. Put the egg sinker above the swivel, and use a 36 inch fluorocarbon leader for inshore fishing. For offshore applications, use a leader matched to the length and weight of the fish you are pursuing.

For a killer kingfish offering, try rigging a pair of pilchards on a single stinger rig. Tie a wire leader to the mono line using an Albright knot. Rig one treble hook followed by a four to six inch trace of wire attached to another treble hook. Bait both hooks with a pilchard so the two fish swim side-by-side. This rig makes an attractive pair of baits that kingfish and wahoo simply can’t refuse.

If fishing dead pilchards, they can be used whole or as cut chunks. The best way of chunking pilchards is to cut the fish in half diagonally, starting from the top of the gill plate and cutting down towards the anal fin.

Scaled sardines also make excellent live or dead chum. There’s no better way to attract fish to the boat or turn- on reluctant fish than tossing out a few scoops of small sardines. Only toss out enough to keep the fish interested, followed by a hooked bait. 

The scaled sardine is one of the most popular baits among both anglers and fish, and for good reason. They are easy to catch and live longer than most other baits, whether on the line or in the well. Scaled sardines are definitely top choice bait for both inshore and offshore anglers. Using frisky white baits will guarantee more fish in the box!

---

Save and Share this Article: