Plastic food storage sleeves closed with a vacuum sealer will keep ribbonfish in good freezer condition. Depending on the size of your ribbonfish, freezing multiple baits in the same sleeve works fine as long as baits lie flat with at least 1⁄ 4-inch of surrounding space. Lacking this option, double wrap them in heavy-duty aluminum foil and be sure to force out all of the air.

Veteran ribbonfishers use fluorescent light tubes to attract bait and rig small light sticks above the hook.

To thaw, just put the fish on the deck for a few minutes. (Tip: It’s actually easiest to rig baitfish when they’re still partially frozen as the rigidity facilitates handling. In the water, the bait will thaw quickly.)

When it comes to rigging ribbonfish for king mackerel, a stinger rig with multiple trailing segments is the way to go. A common setup uses a 1⁄ 4-ounce jighead as the lead hook, because a jig keeps the bait tracking straight through the water. Run through the bait’s lower jaw and out the topside.

However, the Senecal brothers also rig ribbons with a single lead hook, which allows the baits to flutter and flow erratically. Personal observation has shown them that ribbons don’t always swim straight. Very often, they dart and dash in varying angles, and occasionally turn perfectly vertical to target surface meals.

With the right handling and preparation, ribbonfish will add a productive facet to your kingfish arsenal—they seem particularly attractive to big smoker kings. And this is one baitfish that’s also a blast to catch.

FS