Live bait question

[FlatCrazy]

I keep reading on here about people using pinfish/choffers for bait for trout. I have a question for those that use them. Whenever I have used live pinfish for bait the bite seems really slow to almost non-existent. I have let a pinfish soak for hours without a bite. I have fished them under a CT, carolina rig them on the bottom. Nothing seems to make them work for me. Switch over to a large whitebait or 6" finger mullet and BAM, fish on! The only thing that changed was the bait.

Have I just been unlucky fishing pinfish? I only use them when I can't find suitable whitebaits or finger mullet. Heck, I will use a large bull minnow before I will use a pinfish.

What am I missing? Are you guys using pinfish because you can't find anything else? Is there some secret to rigging them to make them more appealing to the trout?

I'm not concerned about reds, they will eat anything, I am just curious about trout.

[captkeyser]

I agree with you. I would take a large finger mullet over a pinfish anyday. However, when I do fish with pinfish it is usually only in the Summer months when the shallow water bite slows during the middle of the day. The key that I have found is to move. Fish an area for 15 mins and if you've not had any action, then pick up and move a couple hundred yards away. As I am sure that you know, the bottom that you are fishing plays about as much importants as the depth.

I don't like fishing just grass. I look for potholes, rocks, rockgrass, or a mixture of different types of grass. The more variety the better. These areas tend to hold the larger trout.

Hooking the fish depends on a variety of factors. I like to drift, and If I can get a nice slow drift then I prefer to hook the pinfish behind the dorsal fin or right behind the arse. I will also hook the fish in this same spot if I have to anchor. If the wind is really blowing and I can't slow down the drift, but don't want to anchor, then I will hook the fish in the mouth through the nostril, to keep the fish from being drug backwards, which ultimately kills it.

This has worked for me. As I mentioned before though, I don't fish live bait unless I absolutely have to, and this is usually during the hottest of the Summer months.

[Dabbler]

Before I explain my success on live bait and possibly run aground, what are the regs on the type of live bait that can be used?

[Knot Tester]

Anything can be used for live bait. As long as it is not a regulated species. If it is, it has to meet the regs. So, you could use a 15" black bass for bait but not a 4".

Well, almost anything. I don't think a birddog on a hook for shark fishing is legal!

Anybody tried using one of these? You have to be VERY careful when hooking!

[lordsfisher]

Anybody tried using one of these?

That's hilarious!

LIve bait is incredible, but you can't cover as much water as fast as with artificial. I love to spend 20 min of cast netting and stocking up on live bait. My favorites for trout and reds are:
1) long-nosed killifish (a mud minnow) -- they are hearty and lively.
2) mullet
3) pinfish

The silver shad-type fish usually don't last too long.
I don't think I've ever found a little fish that didn't work for bait. The bigger the bait, the bigger the catch. I've even caught my biggest reds out of the Gulf Coast passes using slippery dicks. Not trying to be obscene, but it's like a little parrotfish that are easy to catch out of the jetties. It's the common name of Halichoeres bivittatus. A little trivia: The fisheries committees met one time to get change the name to something more acceptable, and even voted on "Elusive Richard", but the old name stuck. If you ever tried to grab one of these you'll find out why it got its name. Oh and they bite.

[Geaux Fishin]

I am a novice at this fishing stuff, but I have not had much success with live shrimp. The only thing I have caught with a pinfish was shark. It is easier for me to put gulp shrimp on the jig head or on a bottom rig.

Any suggestions are welcomed!!!

Go SEC!!!

[Flint River Pirate]

I am a novice at this fishing stuff

Are you a novice at fishing in general or just salt water fishing? That will make a difference on how we can help you.

[Reel Cowboy]

I've always heard the best live bait for cobia is a barely legal rock bass.
But then again, when I put my tackle box in the boat I've got every bait I'll use that day.

[Geaux Fishin]

I have been trying this fishing thing out for about 3 yrs. Saltwater is the only fishing thus far. I gave up golf for this fishing stuff!! My wife would rather go fishing than go to the golf course. I was a decent golfer, single digit handicap, but I am a duffer when it comes to fishing.

I fish the flats East and West of the Lighthouse at St. Marks. My wife and I went out last Sat. am and did not get a bit with live shrimp. Tried the St. Marks river in a few spots in the channel and shallow on the sides, Mouth of Big Pass, oyster bars just east of big pass and also the Aucilla river - nothing. It is like having the shanks!!!

[Reel Cowboy]

Winter is rough on me every year but when winter passes spring starts and it'll be on like donkey kong.