- 1). Select a 7-foot medium-heavy saltwater fishing rod with matched reel. Choose 15-pound test or heavier braided fishing line for the reel. Attach the line to the reel with an arbor knot, wind the line onto the spool and pull the line through the eyes of the rod.
- 2). Attach a lead weight to the fishing line followed by a circle bait holder hook 18 to 24 inches farther down the line. Tie the hook to the line with a Palomar knot. Attach a strip of cut squid to the hook and cast the bait into the water. Allow the weight to carry the bait to the bottom and move with the bottom water currents.
- 3). Tie on a buck-tail jig to the end of the fishing line with a Palomar knot. Cast the jig into the water and allow it to drop to a depth where sea bass are thought to be located or near the bottom. Raise the rod tip to bring the jig up and allow it to settle downward once again. Continue to work the jig up and down to entice a strike.
- 4). Attach a spoon to the end of the fishing line with a Palomar knot. Add a small strip of cut squid to the hook to tip a spoon. Cast the spoon and retrieve it with a stop-and-go motion. Allow the spoon to settle deep and then jig up and down or troll the spoon slowly behind a boat.
- 5). Tie a wide gap hook onto the end of the fishing line with a Palomar knot. Rig a soft plastic swim-tail shad bait, in a size based on personal preference, onto the hook. Turn the hook with the point up and insert the point into the bait nose. Push the point in 1/2 inch, turn it down and out the bottom of the bait. Rotate the point up toward the bait and insert it into the bait body. Cast the bait and retrieve it with a slow motion to allow the design of the tail to swim the bait naturally in the water.
- 6). Set the hook of a buck-tail, spoon or rigged hook by raising the rod tip and reeling down on the line. Keep the rod tip angled up as the fish is played and maintain pressure on the line and fish. Avoid slack in the line to prevent losing the fish.
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