Red Grouper

[youngbearman]

I was thinking about taking a run out of St Marks on the next nice weather and targeting Red Grpr. I know with all the Black Sea Bass around right now ill have to use live bait to even have a chance, but...Im not real confident I can find enough to fill my live well with the water temps so low...Any advice?

[Salty Gator]

Pm sent

[Ranaman]

Sand perch a plenty last trip out, can't ask for better red grouper bait than that!

[youngbearman]

Used baited sabiki and cast net at the St Marks river mouth at the end of low tide (sunken boat, lighthouse canal, holes and bird rack)...no nibbles, no bait.

Planning another trip this Monday but still don’t know a consistent/count on it way (in February) to get live red grpr bait.

Seems like the finger mullet and pinfish should be SOMEWHERE at low tide...

What was going on with the sand perch?

[captkeyser]

You should be able to get Pin's and Sand Perch up the Wakulla and St. Marks. Sabiki tipped with shrimp. I believe you may be targeting bait too close to the mouth. The creeks that shoot off of the St. Marks just below the Fort will hold your finger mullet. I tend to do better netting when the tide is in as the finger mullet will stack up on the shallow mud flats back in these creeks. Don't throw a mullet net, mesh is too large, I use a 6ft shiner net. Hope this helps.

[RCS]

Offshore may be your best bet for live bait, the sand perch especially. Tip your sabikis with pieces of torn up GULP or Fish Bites...stays on the hook much longer.

[MarkM]

I like pieces of squid.

[youngbearman]

Sounds good. I will respond with results.

The only reason I hesitated to bait fish up river last time was the salinity. I figured I would be stuck with fresh/brackish bait well water (I use a recirculator). Maybe it doesn’t matter...or maybe it kills the bait when it hits the ocean water.

[captkeyser]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the salinity. I think you'll be just fine. Better to have bait and worry about it staying alive, vs not having bait at all.

[youngbearman]

Roger that.

Ill give it a go, Thank you