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

Guest: Caesar Chavez (Toxic Baits)

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

Caesar Chavez of Toxic Baits came through for Episode 115, recorded live on January 20, 2026, and within the first half hour had broken down why you should never swing hard on a hook set in saltwater, why the RP knot slips on dissimilar line sizes, and what bait fish are actually living at the wall — hint: it’s not just senorita fish.

In This Episode

• Wind-in hook sets for SoCal saltwater: why a big swing gets you out of position and how steady pressure drives the hook home instead
• RP knot slipping on dissimilar line sizes: when to switch to a uni-to-uni and why thinner braid to heavier leader is the problem
• What actually lives at the wall: mussels, gobies, baby sheephead, baby garibaldi, and how matching the hatch changes results
• Upside-down tail orientation for bottom fishing swimbaits: why the action is the same and how it keeps the bait closer to the bottom
• Toxic spinner baits built for eelgrass: why Caesar built them specifically for that application and how the belly-forward weight balance makes them different
• iRod Coastal Series deep dive: which models Caesar runs for saltwater and why the Kimana Toxic Swim with double-footed guides came about

Why You Should Never Swing Hard on a Hook Set in Saltwater

The hook set conversation was the standout of the episode. Caesar’s version, built from 30 years fishing the Delta, came down to mechanics: the moment you swing hard and get out of position, you stop being able to reel. And if you can’t reel, you can’t take up line. And if you can’t take up line, you’re not driving the hook home.

“With braid, it’s like once you start coming tight, you’re putting pressure on that fish,” he explained. The wind-in approach keeps you connected and keeps the hook moving in one direction. It sounds counterintuitive coming from freshwater bass fishing on TV, but the bite in saltwater is so fast that a big swing often just pops the bait out. Keep your rod down, reel into it, and stay connected.

When the RP Knot Isn’t the Right Call

Caesar’s knot philosophy is built around what actually holds under pressure. The RP knot works fine when line sizes are close. The problem comes with dissimilar sizes — thinner braid to a heavier leader — where the RP can slip on a hard hook set. His call is uni-to-uni when in doubt. Faster than an FG, cleaner casting profile, and it doesn’t fail on the set.

The FG came up too. It’s strong, but a rushed FG is worse than a clean RP. For bass fishing specifically, Caesar wants something fast that casts clean and holds. A knot that passes the pull test but hangs up on the guides on every cast isn’t solving the problem.

What He Actually Found at the Wall

Caesar’s bait fish survey method was equally practical. Instead of taking other anglers’ word for what lives at the wall, he went out with mussels and two-pound test and caught whatever showed up. The results didn’t match what people told him. Baby sheephead are pink and white, which explains why pink and white baits had a hot stretch. Baby garibaldi are orange, which explains the sudden impact gill runs. When a color is working, there’s usually something real in the water that it matches.

That approach, test it instead of assuming it, is what makes Caesar’s content useful beyond this one episode. The soft plastic color guide and the SoCal structure fishing guide both depend on this kind of observation. Understanding what fish are actually seeing and feeding on is the foundation everything else is built 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.