Ep. 115: Caesar Chavez of Toxic Baits on Hook Sets, Knots & SoCal Bait Fish

Guest: Caesar Chavez (Toxic Baits)

Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

Episode 115, recorded live on January 20, 2026, focused on practical saltwater mechanics: hook sets, connection knots, matching forage at the wall, and why small adjustments in presentation matter more than most anglers think. Caesar Chavez of Toxic Baits joined the crew to break down what decades of Delta and saltwater fishing taught him about staying connected to fish and reading what is actually living in the water.

In This Episode

• Wind-in hook sets for SoCal saltwater — why a hard swing often pulls you out of position instead of driving the hook home
• When the RP knot slips on dissimilar line sizes and why uni-to-uni can be the better call
• What actually lives at the wall — mussels, gobies, baby sheephead, baby garibaldi, and why that matters for matching the hatch
• Upside-down tail orientation for bottom fishing swimbaits and how it keeps the bait closer to structure
• Toxic spinner baits built for eelgrass and how weight balance changes how they move
• iRod Coastal Series discussion — which rods Caesar prefers in saltwater and why

Why the Hook Set Works Differently in Saltwater

The hook set discussion is the most useful part of the episode because Caesar explains it through mechanics, not slogans. The problem with a big swing is that the moment you throw yourself out of position, you stop reeling effectively. Once that happens, you stop taking up line — and that’s when the fish gets slack or the bait comes free.

The wind-in approach keeps pressure moving in one direction. With braid, you are already coming tight fast, so the key is to stay connected and keep driving pressure through the fish instead of snapping the rod back and losing control. For anglers used to bass-fishing TV hook sets, that shift in mindset can make a big difference in saltwater.

The forage discussion points to the same lesson: real observations matter more than assumptions. Caesar did not just repeat what people said was at the wall — he tested it by catching what was actually there. That kind of fish-first thinking lines up naturally with the soft plastic color guide and the SoCal structure fishing guide, because both depend on understanding what fish are actually seeing and feeding on.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode matters because it breaks down a few fishing ideas that get repeated constantly but rarely explained well: hook sets, knot choice, and matching forage. Caesar’s value here is that he explains all three through direct observation and experience instead of fishing clichés.

If you fish harbors, walls, or tight SoCal structure, the takeaway is simple: stay connected to the fish, pay attention to what actually lives in the water, and don’t assume the common advice applies to every setup. The spotted bay bass guide, SoCal structure fishing guide, and soft plastic color guide all connect naturally to the ideas in this episode.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.