Bait Bridles for Toothy Critters

When big choppers are in full on blitz mode, what you're throwing typically doesn't matter, so long as it's extra heavy duty. If they're down and I'm live lining, an adult bunker is usually too good for them to pass up. Fishing them on a bridled rig with a stinger or bitch hook practically guarantees a hookset with each bait, or keeps the bait swimming actively for long periods of time. I use this setup on other toothy critters like pike, and barracuda down south. Last weeks big blues were chomping right through 45lb. wire, so these are rigged with 80lb. Berkley Steelon, 8/0 circle hooks and Mustad 2/0 3X Strong trebles. Both the circle and stinger are crimped individually to the swivel. The circle gets hooked through the nose and the stinger can either go through near the tail, or as I prefer for a more durable bait, rubber banded near the tail. This method puts very little stress on the bait and keeps it fresh. You can slow troll as well.