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Post by 3spots on May 7, 2012 12:29:17 GMT -5
Many folks have the occassion to use live bait for their search of inshore species. In regards to trout, redfish, and flounder: what is your "go to" live bait (if you had to choose one)? Why? My "go to" is mud minnows. They are hardy, require little maintenance, and all three species love them.  |
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Post by Redbeard on May 7, 2012 12:39:28 GMT -5
I love fishing with live shrimp under a popping cork, but all three species sure do love those ugly little minnows. I have had times when shrimp got ignored and even the trout would eat mud minnows. Redbeard  |
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Post by gabreamyaker on May 7, 2012 13:09:37 GMT -5
well when i go saltwater fishing its gotta be shrimp i have tried the mud minnows but with no luck except the darn crabs loved them.
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Post by troutman on May 7, 2012 20:31:02 GMT -5
Either or!!!!! But if it's Mudders..... Make em big!
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Post by nubby on May 7, 2012 20:34:00 GMT -5
I like the BIG mudders best. They are much harder than shrimp. I have cought seaveral fish on 1 mud minnow.
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Post by chase4556 on May 8, 2012 5:02:17 GMT -5
How do yall like to rig your mud minners or shrimp?
Shrimp I will use a #4 or #6 treble hook through the horn, and either put them under a popping cork, or free line them with a very small split shot about 3 foot above them.
Mud minnows, I will use the same size treble hook, and I will free line them with no weight.
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Post by osprey on May 8, 2012 6:06:37 GMT -5
I love large mudders under a popping cork with free line or small split shot. All three species have hit on them for me at all times. But i seem to always bring a few shrimp just in case they are preferred for the day.
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Post by osprey on May 8, 2012 6:06:57 GMT -5
I love large mudders under a popping cork with free line or small split shot. All three species have hit on them for me at all times. But i seem to always bring a few shrimp just in case they are preferred for the day.
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Post by 3spots on May 8, 2012 7:09:54 GMT -5
How do yall like to rig your mud minners or shrimp? Shrimp I will use a #4 or #6 treble hook through the horn, and either put them under a popping cork, or free line them with a very small split shot about 3 foot above them. Mud minnows, I will use the same size treble hook, and I will free line them with no weight. Treble hook? Sounds a bit overkill. I either use an 1/8th oz. jighead or 1/0 khale hook freelined or under a popping cork. |
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Post by nubby on May 8, 2012 7:45:39 GMT -5
X2 with 3 spots
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Post by fishingwithblue on May 8, 2012 8:01:24 GMT -5
Some of the old school trout fisherman where I come from use a treble hook with the live shrimp under a cork. Trout attack the head of the bait, slashing sometimes like a kingfish would. I guess the extra hooks may decrease a "short strike" that trout are famous for.
Whatever gives you confidence is what you should stick with, they put trebles on lures right.
I love the jig head mud minnow combo for anything that swims in salt water but would pick the shrimp because after it dies it becomes whiting bait. When the bite turns off I love to soak a dead shrimp on the bottom to get the rod bending again.
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Post by 3spots on May 8, 2012 10:44:30 GMT -5
Some of the old school trout fisherman where I come from use a treble hook with the live shrimp under a cork. Trout attack the head of the bait, slashing sometimes like a kingfish would. I guess the extra hooks may decrease a "short strike" that trout are famous for. Whatever gives you confidence is what you should stick with, they put trebles on lures right. I fished with many old timers growing up and the only treble hooks they used either came on a lure or they tied one on for catchfish fishing to hold the bait on. I agree with the confident part. Lures that come with trebles are because it assists in the hook up rate due to the fact that you work a lure by twitching and/ or reeling it in, in constant motion. Live bait generally hangs under a cork and weighted down to a specific area. As I get better as a fisherman I fish more for the sport rather than the meat gathering. When I experience the slashing that male trout tend to do, I change tactics on them. Part of the fishing experience. Having said that, if someone is new to fishing, new to an area, or is a child, I totally agree with the use of whatever type hooks they want to use to provide for a greater experience. I wasn't dogging the guy, I just never heard of using trebles with live bait to catch inshore fish. |
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Post by chase4556 on May 9, 2012 10:23:56 GMT -5
Just how my grandfather always did it, picked it up off him. I do like how a treble hook does not flop around as the shrimp or minnow tries to swim. I guess it depends on how you hook them as to if it would hinder their swimming ability, but yeah no real rhyme or reason to why I do it other than my grandfather did.
Old habits die hard?
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Post by 3spots on May 9, 2012 10:36:15 GMT -5
Just how my grandfather always did it, picked it up off him. I do like how a treble hook does not flop around as the shrimp or minnow tries to swim. I guess it depends on how you hook them as to if it would hinder their swimming ability, but yeah no real rhyme or reason to why I do it other than my grandfather did. Old habits die hard? It's hard to beat "how granpa did it"! Mine did some things that others didn't either. Some methods from the old timers are getting lost through generations, some are still very good. |
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Post by gonefishin on Jul 19, 2013 16:49:48 GMT -5
how do fiddler crabs do as bait? New to salt water. What is biting on the mars and what is best bait. If live bait, is there a place on the south-side of Sav where I can get it?
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Post by 3spots on Jul 19, 2013 18:58:41 GMT -5
Fiddler Crabs do very well for Sheepshead and redfish.
Coffee Bluff Marina is the only bait shop I know of on the south side and it is closed for renovations this year. Maybe Bandys bait shop will be close enough for you. It's at Skidaway Narrows/ Rodney J Hall boat ramp on the Diamond Causeway.
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Post by yakdaniels on Apr 7, 2014 11:30:03 GMT -5
I grew fishing Long Island sound for stripers, blues and flounder and always used circle hooks to prevent gut hooking them. I also used them for catching fresh water trout.
I have had success down south using fiddler crabs on a circle hook with a free floating weight for reds. I have not caught a salt water trout yet and hoping to change that soon.
Anyone else use circle hooks and if so do they impede catching salt water trout due to the thrashing fishingwithblue mentioned? I know the technique of setting the hook threw me off a little when I first started to use them bc you have to set your drag a little tighter and let the fish take the bait and set the hook itself. I lost several fish before I learned just let them take it. I love them though bc it's a lip hook 99% of the time.
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Post by tradbow on Apr 7, 2014 14:21:43 GMT -5
I use circle hooks all the time when fishing freshwater for catfish and hybrids or fishing the salt with squid or crabs. I have started using circle hooks with live bait some but I am not quite sold on them yet to make a complete swap over. Not enough patience I guess. My fault not the hook. But back to the original question, I prefer big mud minnows to shrimp.
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Post by jerseyjoe on Apr 7, 2014 17:11:48 GMT -5
I prefer mud minnows, on a light jig head if I'm working the bottom, or on a circle hook if left to float under a cork. Under the cork I know that the circle hook is going to pretty much set itself. I just love how tough those little guys are!
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Post by Sharkattack on Apr 8, 2014 4:46:42 GMT -5
Depends on the season, I do love mud minnows though, but not a fan of using live from a kayak. Artificial occupies my time as well as gives the greater satisfaction of being able to replicate the bait that's in the area and target or sight cast to the game fish. Such a bladt
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Post by laughinggull on Apr 8, 2014 8:10:08 GMT -5
I love using mud minnows the majority of the time. It is nice to have a live shrimp floating away under a popping cork. Problem is shrimp are hard to keep alive for a while. Those muddies stay alive forever it seems. I had 4 dozen I kept alive for almost 5 days one time. Overall mud minnows are the best and I especially like to use them with my own homemade flounder rig. That way I get the muddy flopping about 2 ft off the bottom. I've caught my best fish that way. Does everyone buy mud minnows or try and catch them in a minnow trap?
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Post by jerseyjoe on Apr 8, 2014 15:41:06 GMT -5
I bought a minnow trap and, lol, let's just say it is going to take a LONG time to pay for itself. I've only put it out 3or4 times...and caught ONE mudder. I have yet to find a good spot to deploy it around richmond hill. Any advise for picking a spot to set it? I have used canned cat food for bait.
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Post by reefdonkey on Apr 8, 2014 16:05:09 GMT -5
Joe, I would suggest setting your trap right next to Ben's...he always catches a bunch of the "bull" mud minnows!
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Nommawaitingonapproval
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Post by Nommawaitingonapproval on Jun 20, 2016 21:16:34 GMT -5
I use a minnow trap for mudders. I always go at low tide and find a muddy bank with bigger rocks. You will see if there are any mudders there. They tend to be in about a foot of water at the most. I use Vienna sausages as bait. Drop the trap so that the entry holes are just covered. If you completely submerge it they will pick at the bait from the top while it floats. Was at Jekyll this weekend took about 10 min and I had two dozen. Now to answer the actual question. #2 owners circle hook with live shrimp under a cork for trout and #2 circle with mudder for reds. If the current is really strong I'll put just enough buckshot weight to cast and let a shrimp carry in the current.
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Post by Solitude on Jun 21, 2016 8:50:23 GMT -5
The minnow seem to be the overwhelming choice. That's a little surprising to me, as I've been using shrimp with only modest success, mostly whiting and a few reds. I think I'll give the minnows a try.
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