I only liveline spot. My neighbor threw a few perch in the livewell and used them a week or two ago. He never got smacked while I was catching on spot.
I have been using no weight and letting the spot swim. Since the small spot have done well, I am using a thim diameter 4/0 octopus Gam hook in the mouth and out the nose of the spot. I drop him on the upcurrent side of the piling and let the spot drift right down the side of the piling. If the spot swims too far away from the piling, you take the chance of your spot getting wacked by a bluefish and it isnt as productive for the rockfish. My meter mostly shows bait fish as there is a ton of baitfish around the pilings right now. While a lot of people anchor the pilings, the last several trips I just drift them and have done well. Besides I have been able to work more pilings this way to find fish.
Paul, that is my Magnum PI shirt!
