How To Hook Your Bait Fishing live bait is probably the commonest way to deep sea fish. Most times the live bait is going to be in the size range of 3 to 6 inches for anchovy, 3 to 9 inches for sardines and herring and 12 and sometimes bigger for baits such as mackerel .When using live bait there are five basic locations for placing the hook, some such as hooking the bait underneath tend to make the bait swim deeper, while Hooking on the top either before or after the dorsal fin makes the bait swim near the surface and is most often used when kite or balloon fishing. Small baits like the anchovy are hooked through the nose or the bony collar behind the gills don’t hook fragile baits like the anchovy on the back or belly or it will kill them. Sardines and herring most often are hooked through the nose or in front of the anal fin. Remember when deep sea fishing to carry an assortment of hooks so you will have the correct one for the size bait you have. 1- All baits, 2an3- Strong baits such as mackerel, 4- Any bait you want to swim deeper