Mudsuckers. This is the name given by anglers to the longjaw goby, Gillichthys mirabilis, and excellent bait for striped bass in the San Francisco Bay Area. Unlike bullheads (staghorn sculpin), you’ll generally have to seek out this bait instead of simply sitting back and waiting for the fish to come to you. But it can be done. Several PFIC anglers have talked about catching them, especially in Benicia and Vallejo, but they’re actually in many bays up and down the state. Typical rigging to catch them: a small, size 10 or 12 hook, a light line, a split shot sinker, and a small piece of pile worm or shrimp. Cast down around the bottom between the inshore pilings. Most anglers simply buy them for bait. The good news is that almost any tackle shop located near prime striper territory will have them for bait. Like bullheads, they are very hardy. They will live in a little water or even in a damp gunnysack for several days. Although less often used on southern California piers, they are good bait for sand bass in inner bay piers.
Most of the bullheads are fished on a Carolina-like rigging although some people use a high/low. They are generally hooked up through the nose and fished near the bottom with a size 2 to 4/0 hook.
Longjaw Goby aka Mudsucker
Most of the bullheads are fished on a Carolina-like rigging although some people use a high/low. They are generally hooked up through the nose and fished near the bottom with a size 2 to 4/0 hook.
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