Keaton

[IRATHERBFISHN]

Hey everyone, I'm heading down to Keaton Friday for some trout and whatever else will bite. Has anyone been down there lately? Also I heard there was a ramp down at Spring Warrior, has anyone ever used it and if so how is it at low tide?

[SS-342]

Yes, we went last Thursday.

Fished with my brother and my wife. Caught our limit of trout and one red plus about six , over 14" BSB. Used about everything in tackle box: gulp, soft bait and plugs. Our best trout, 22.5", 21.5" 19.8" and the 22.5" red was caught on cut pinfish. Fished Eaglesnest area north of Spring Warrior from 2.5' to 6' of water.

I've only been out of Spring Warrior once this last winter with our gheenoe to have a back door during summer months while fishing the flats near by. It can be a little tricky at the mouth depending on the tide.

There is a ramp.

We use Keaton marina who lifts our boat for $5.00 more and the trailer doesn't get in saltwater. They also keep check on us. We usually fish near or north of Spring Warrior.

My 2 cents.

Good fishing. Looks like the wind will be up.

[IRATHERBFISHN]

Thanks for the info. Question on fishing with pinfish. I have tried it in the past with no luck. What is the preferred technique with them. DRIFTING? Just setting in one spot? Under cajuns? Slow reel in? Poppong the cajun?

[SS-342]

I'm not the expert.

A local launching out of Spring Warrior showed me how he cut pinfish the week before the above report. Google "How to fish cut pinfish" and see what you find. This fisherman cut them in half, splitting the tail at the fork, one half the tail goes with the belly side and the other the top side. Head removed. I used a circle hook and pinned near the very ends. I did catch an 18" with a very small whole pinfish but believe the cut ones are better? Caught the trout drifting with a cork and leader, popping ever so ofter in 4'-5' water. Redfish caught with a cork and short leader in 2' water.

Believe me, there are folks on this forun who know more than I'll ever know. Maybe they will give you better advice.

Good luck and good fishing.

[tallykenj]

I've tried live pinfish but never cut pinfish. How are the cut ones better; other than you get two for one?

[silverking]

Puts out more scent, Ken.

[tallykenj]

Ah, thanks Dave. That does make sense!

[Daybreak]

Pinfish-
Cut them in slices crosswise the body, about an half inch to inch in size, hook on tip, let them float with the boat. With wind, put a small sinker on them to get them down near the grass. You also can fish them under a cork, (CT) with a small sinker, pop them every now and then. Fish 3-5 ft. depth of water, be prepared, for a lot of different fish, including some you do not want, they will hit them and give you a pull. This has worked many yeaars for me out of Steinhatchee, and Keaton.

Daybreak

[Daybreak]

Pinfish-
Cut them in slices crosswise the body, about an half inch to inch in size, hook on tip, let them float with the boat. With wind, put a small sinker on them to get them down near the grass. You also can fish them under a cork, (CT) with a small sinker, pop them every now and then. Fish 3-5 ft. depth of water, be prepared, for a lot of different fish, including some you do not want, they will hit them and give you a pull. This has worked many yeaars for me out of Steinhatchee, and Keaton.

Daybreak

[IRATHERBFISHN]

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I look forward to trying out some pinfish on my next trip since buying gulp is putting a dent in the wallet.

[SS-342]

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, verse 1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:..."

I believe this is true with pinfish and trout in the theme of things from a fishermans prospective. Seems now might be the best time to fish pinfish. Lot's of the other fish that feed on pinfish that you might not be interested in catching are gone or thinning out: sharks, spanish and such. Also the trout are feeding heavily on pinfish now vs in the spring when they feed more on fingerling mullet.

This is not to say trout will not feed on pins other times of the year but.....now is better.

Shrimp come in there some where. May be anytime?

I'm sure others can add to this idea and correct it if needed.

[ChasingTail]

Just talking about gulp...u should try z-man, its 10x stronger than gulp and scented w pro-cure! Plus there cheaper than gulp! I highly recommend trying it. Good luck this wkend.

[IRATHERBFISHN]

Yeah I will have to give those a try. My results from Friday are posted under the post named Keaton report. Thanks for the Info...

[CSMarine]

I use cut Pinfish 90% of the time (known by locals as Shinner Tails,) when fishing the flats. Needs to be used when drift fishing. The faster you drift the better. It can be used with a jig head or plain hook under a Cajin Thunder, but I prefer tight lining on the bottom. This is the bait that my grandfather and all the old guides used. It will catch any fish that swims the Gulf. It's also a lot cheaper than Gulps. It a no brainer to use, so almost anyone (wife, kids, etc.) can catch fish with it.
If your tight lining, throw it out on the down current side of the boat, when the line becomes tight, jerk it straight up, then let it settel back down, keep doing this pumping motion to make it seem alive, and keep it out of the grass.
Rig it like you would for Carolina rig worm for bass. First put a 1/16 bullet lead on, next a barrel swival, next about 14 inches of 20 Lb. flora carbon leader, tie a number 3/0 hook. I prefer a red eagle claw.
As you see in the drawing cut on the dotted line (1) first, split the bait into (2) you will have two baits per pinfish. Hook the bait where you see maked with a * in the drawing. The Pinfish needs to be at least 4 inches long. The larger the pinfish, the better.
The downside of this bait, you catch everything, I mean everything! Catfish, shark, stingrays, but you also catch bigger trout, seabass and redfish.
Excuse my drawing, but you get the idea.

pinfish.jpg (18.45 KiB) Viewed 3042 times

[tallykenj]

Csmarine, great info. Thanks.