Luring with live bait
by Sailfish Boats 30 Jul 16:17 UTC
Luring with live bait © Sailfish Boats
Saltwater fishermen tend to fall into one of two camps; those who like using artificial lures, and those who prefer fishing with live bait. Many of us do both, of course, depending on things like the species we're after, the season, and the availability of live bait in the first place.
But when the situation calls for it, live bait can substantially increase your chances of success, so even if you're a dedicated artificial lure guy, keep an open mind. Almost every gamefish in the sea will take one form of live bait or another, and the trick lies in knowing what bait to use when, where to use it, and how it is best presented.
The live shrimp is probably the most common bait used, for a wide variety of fish. But regional variations exist, and getting to know what works best in your backyard pays great dividends. The list of finfish that can be used for bait is long, and includes species like scup, menhaden (pogies), and tinker mackerel in northern climes. In the south, mullet, pinfish, pilchards of several varieties, threadfin herring, Spanish sardines, goggle eyes (big-eye scad), cigar minnows (round scad) and speedos (red-tail scad) are common. Crabs make good bait for certain species too.
These are but a few of the common live baits that work well, and you can buy some of them from local tackle shops or on-the-water vendors. But it always pays to learn how to catch your own, whether that means mastering the art of throwing a cast net (easier than you think), or learning to safely use sabiki rigs, multiple small hooks of differing sizes tied along a length of light leader.
Keep your livewell in good working order and give live baiting a try if you haven't already. As with most types of fishing, experimentation and trial-and-error will help you learn quickly, and by presenting the fish with what they naturally feed upon in their natural environment, you will certainly catch more of them!