Rig · bait off the bottom

Float rig

Tie it 5 minDifficulty EasyBest for Piers, harbour walls, rock edges

Fishing. The float suspends the bait at a set depth, well off the bottom. On Irish east-coast piers that often means a light, shallow garfish setup; drop deeper or step up the hook for mackerel and pollock.

Targets

Garfish
Mackerel
Pollock
Mullet

Baits. Mackerel strip, ragworm, bread for mullet

What it is made of

1Stop knotSets the depth. Slides up or down the line
2BeadStops the float running over the knot
3Sliding floatRuns on the line, cocks when the weight settles
4WeightJust enough to cock the float, no more
5SwivelStops the weight and joins the trace
6Trace and hookFor garfish: size 8 to 10 on 3 to 6 ft of 6 to 12 lb fluoro, fished shallow. Step up hook and trace for mackerel or pollock

Tie it

Stop knot on the mainline at your chosen depth. Keep it shallow for garfish.
Bead, then float, then weight.
Swivel below the weight.
For garfish: 3 to 6 ft of 6 to 12 lb fluoro and a size 8 to 10 hook. For mackerel or pollock, a shorter, stronger trace and a larger hook.
Move the stop knot to change depth, not the whole rig.

Use the least weight that still cocks the float. Overweight it and a taking fish feels the resistance and drops the bait.

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