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I've never caught one. This year I want to get some. How are you local anglers having success? I know about fishing the floating buoys and weeds and trash. Is there other ways to find them?

You pretty much got it nailed. I’ve caught several and they all have come off of some kind of floating structure. Just make sure when approaching the structure to be as stealthy as possible. They spook pretty easy. Live shrimp under a cork has worked best for me.

Thanks
I was wondering if maybe they relate to a certain bottom structure or holes? Like they don't always hang on floating stuff, right?

Agree with both of you on the structure. I have caught 1 or 2 a little further south down the coast up against an oyster bar at high tide while I was fishing for redfish as well. 90% of my experience with them though are on crab traps

Probably had 50 in my boat last year. One was tagged. All came off of visible structure. I can only remember I TT we’ve caught when not targeting them. It was caught trout fishing with a gulp under a cork on patchy bottom

Showboat can you give some detail on the time of day, tide, any months better than others? Sounds like you targeted them, I assume you rode a lot looking? Thanks

Time of day and tides didn’t really seem to matter. One exception might be increased pressure later in the day on weekend. Obviously a high sun and low wind makes them easier to see, but you don’t have to see them to catch them. We usually chased them after a couple hours of chasing top water fish.

They’re pelagics, so the same months you see cobia/migrating tarpon there are triple tail hanging around.

So even if you didn't see them you casted around the floating things? Did you use lures or live shrimp?
I was told by one fella that they used a cork set up or freelined to get deeper around the buoys.

Thanks Showboat

DOA shrimp work great. I usually don't use under a cork. Fresh dead shrimp under a cork or slip float is effective, too.

With the new limit size of 18", how will this affect the bags around here?

I read that they are smaller in this area, so will it be hard to get a legal size?

Redbelly wrote: ↑February 3rd, 2021, 10:17 am With the new limit size of 18", how will this affect the bags around here?

I read that they are smaller in this area, so will it be hard to get a legal size?

I caught a few dozen last summer from Ochlocknee Bay to Aucilla, and I think only 1 was over 18". I think if you go towards Apalach/Lanark you could probably find bigger ones.