|
Post by dwight on Aug 23, 2019 16:14:53 GMT -5
Had 2 OZ on and hooks we all had different from 2/0 to 4/0 Hooks may be too big. I catch snapper with 1/0 and maybe 2/0. I have caught snapper and large grunts using even smaller when trying to catch small pins for bait. 2 oz may also be too big. I hardly ever use 2 oz unless the tide is really ripping. And then it’s a big harder to catch them. 3/4, 1 oz are my most common. I recommend step both down and your luck should improve. What leader material did you use? i will give it a try with the smaller hooks we had rented a pole also from the bait shed and just used it the way they had it set up thinking they knew what we needed.... What type of leader should we be using??
|
|
|
Post by phishead on Aug 23, 2019 18:51:11 GMT -5
Hooks may be too big. I catch snapper with 1/0 and maybe 2/0. I have caught snapper and large grunts using even smaller when trying to catch small pins for bait. 2 oz may also be too big. I hardly ever use 2 oz unless the tide is really ripping. And then it’s a big harder to catch them. 3/4, 1 oz are my most common. I recommend step both down and your luck should improve. What leader material did you use? i will give it a try with the smaller hooks we had rented a pole also from the bait shed and just used it the way they had it set up thinking they knew what we needed.... What type of leader should we be using?? Not sure about the 4/0 hooks. That’s approaching grouper fishing. The 2/0 where ok. 2 oz is fine if the current is ripping. Problem is they can’t have rigs ready for every scenario. As it changes hour by hour, season, fish etc.
|
|
|
Post by sigeptrooper02 on Aug 23, 2019 19:44:59 GMT -5
There won’t be much in the way of current tomorrow. Very low tidal co-efficient. Probably want to start with just 1/2 oz of lead, then adjust as needed
|
|
|
Post by shadowxmas on Aug 23, 2019 21:56:08 GMT -5
There won’t be much in the way of current tomorrow. Very low tidal co-efficient. Probably want to start with just 1/2 oz of lead, then adjust as needed you purchase readyrigs @ Walmart as well as sinker,hooks etc. It will be cheaper than buying @ the Piers. If you are going to the Piers from the the North there is a Wal-Mart on the right hand side going South. It is N of 54th Ave S. You can also hit some of the bait shops like Tatum's which will be about 25th Ave S also on the right hand side going S. I use 15-30 lb mono leader and line. I have one pole set up with 15 lb line and another with 30 lb line. I do use the heavier leader on the 15 lb pole as well sometimes but never 15 lb test leaders on the 30 lb line. That pole is a heavier pole. Smaller hooks will still get you bigger fish. I use size 2,4 or 6 size and 1/0 and 2/0 hooks.
|
|
|
Post by possumhollerfishing on Aug 24, 2019 1:08:02 GMT -5
I use 15lb mono to a #1 or #2 circle hook when snapper fishing. (That’s pretty much all I do at the pier.) I specifically like the Owner Mutu Light circle hooks. Not 2/0 or 1/0. #1 is much smaller. A lot of guys will say to use fluorocarbon leader but I don’t know if it’s necessary. Certainly won’t hurt but it is a tad more expensive. If you got the $$$ but it. Those bigger hooks are fine if your targeting bigger fish but I would start trying to catch snapper because I think they’re the easiest to learn and in my opinion the best tasting fish you can catch without a boat. Call me crazy but I’ll take them over a grouper any day! As far as lead, I’m sure it’s been mentioned but I’ll reiterate. Use the least amount lead you can while still being able to feel it hit the bottom. I think 1 oz is a good place to start as a beginner and I don’t think it spooks the fish too much. When I was teaching my girlfriend I had her drop it straight down until the line stops going out then slowly raise and lower the rod tip. You should feel the weight hitting the bottom pretty easily. Repeat this several times to get a feel for it. If you don’t feel it use a heavier weight. As you get a little more experienced you can use slightly less weight and still feel it on the bottom. Just remember, less current less weight. More current more weight. Sometimes when that tide is really ripping out there you’ll need 2 oz or more to hold the bottom. The key is really to make sure that your weight hits the bottom and then you take the slack out of the line so that as soon as the fish hits you feel it. Like I said drop it down. Then once it’s at the bottom raise the rod tip until it lifts a few inches off the bottom. Then gently lay it back down. Keep an ever so slight bend in the tip of your rod. Snapper hit pretty hard so you’ll know when one hits if you’re keeping the appropriate tension on the line. When you get the strike just reel it too the surface quickly but steadily. Don’t ever allow any slack in the line and you should get some fattys to the surface. Best of luck! Took me some practice to get all that down but you’ll get the hang of it in a few trips.
Sorry for the novel. Just trying to share some things that helped me teach my girlfriend how to catch them out there. She’s a pro now.
|
|
|
Post by dwight on Aug 24, 2019 16:29:57 GMT -5
I use 15lb mono to a #1 or #2 circle hook when snapper fishing. (That’s pretty much all I do at the pier.) I specifically like the Owner Mutu Light circle hooks. Not 2/0 or 1/0. #1 is much smaller. A lot of guys will say to use fluorocarbon leader but I don’t know if it’s necessary. Certainly won’t hurt but it is a tad more expensive. If you got the $$$ but it. Those bigger hooks are fine if your targeting bigger fish but I would start trying to catch snapper because I think they’re the easiest to learn and in my opinion the best tasting fish you can catch without a boat. Call me crazy but I’ll take them over a grouper any day! As far as lead, I’m sure it’s been mentioned but I’ll reiterate. Use the least amount lead you can while still being able to feel it hit the bottom. I think 1 oz is a good place to start as a beginner and I don’t think it spooks the fish too much. When I was teaching my girlfriend I had her drop it straight down until the line stops going out then slowly raise and lower the rod tip. You should feel the weight hitting the bottom pretty easily. Repeat this several times to get a feel for it. If you don’t feel it use a heavier weight. As you get a little more experienced you can use slightly less weight and still feel it on the bottom. Just remember, less current less weight. More current more weight. Sometimes when that tide is really ripping out there you’ll need 2 oz or more to hold the bottom. The key is really to make sure that your weight hits the bottom and then you take the slack out of the line so that as soon as the fish hits you feel it. Like I said drop it down. Then once it’s at the bottom raise the rod tip until it lifts a few inches off the bottom. Then gently lay it back down. Keep an ever so slight bend in the tip of your rod. Snapper hit pretty hard so you’ll know when one hits if you’re keeping the appropriate tension on the line. When you get the strike just reel it too the surface quickly but steadily. Don’t ever allow any slack in the line and you should get some fattys to the surface. Best of luck! Took me some practice to get all that down but you’ll get the hang of it in a few trips. Sorry for the novel. Just trying to share some things that helped me teach my girlfriend how to catch them out there. She’s a pro now. What is the best bait to use for the snapper
|
|
|
Post by tears143 on Aug 24, 2019 16:32:47 GMT -5
What is the best bait to use for the snapper The bait that they like to eat.... 0.o Some days it is shrimp or crabs.. other days.. pinfish or whitebait. I usually just use whitebait. It is basically free out there with a castnet or sabiki.
|
|
|
Post by possumhollerfishing on Aug 25, 2019 1:30:20 GMT -5
I always try to castnet up some greenbacks as my plan A. If you can throw a cast net it’s almost always easy to get a bucket full. Look for the flashes in the water. One good throw is often enough for the whole night. I ussually cut them in half. Shrimp works well too but sometimes they get torn up by the pinfish really badly. I’d really recommend buying a net and learning to catch your own bait. Seems daunting at first but it’s not hard. There are tons of YouTube videos on how it’s dond. It will save you money in the long run and is just a good skill to have in my book. Some people say they’re successful with squid too but I’d stay away. I’ve never had much luck and that stuff smells sooooooo nasty!
|
|
|
Post by phishead on Aug 25, 2019 9:19:52 GMT -5
What size bait do you guys consider too big to cut in half for inshore snapper. I usually do not use the 5-6”.
|
|
|
Post by justfishin2 on Aug 25, 2019 12:32:00 GMT -5
What size bait do you guys consider too big to cut in half for inshore snapper. I usually do not use the 5-6”. Personally I use the Scaled Sardines which are most commonly caught at the pier in my cast net, them and the Spanish Sardines. These are little smaller in size and seem to be thinner than the Scaled Sardines. I use these guys whole and live or dead seems to work for me. Although I have at times cut them up for chum and used a half of a Scaled Sardine on my hook. The larger bait like the Threadfin Herring and the Pinfish large or small Pins I tend to use for grouper. But many times I have caught real nice small Pinfish in my cast net (if I allow it to hit bottom before I pull it up) and have used them for snapper. When I’ve done this I usually get smacked hard and miss the hook set, I don’t give it time to eat before I react. 🥴 learning curve 🤪 Here a website that identifies all the baitfish here in FL, you may want to check it out. Keep your lines tight and enjoy 😊 www.shrimpnfishflorida.com/bait_fish_identification.html
|
|
|
Post by sigeptrooper02 on Aug 25, 2019 14:27:27 GMT -5
What size bait do you guys consider too big to cut in half for inshore snapper. I usually do not use the 5-6”. Personally I use the Scaled Sardines which are most commonly caught at the pier in my cast net, them and the Spanish Sardines. These are little smaller in size and seem to be thinner than the Scaled Sardines. I use these guys whole and live or dead seems to work for me. Although I have at times cut them up for chum and used a half of a Scaled Sardine on my hook. The larger bait like the Threadfin Herring and the Pinfish large or small Pins I tend to use for grouper. But many times I have caught real nice small Pinfish in my cast net (if I allow it to hit bottom before I pull it up) and have used them for snapper. When I’ve done this I usually get smacked hard and miss the hook set, I don’t give it time to eat before I react. 🥴 learning curve 🤪 Here a website that identifies all the baitfish here in FL, you may want to check it out. Keep your lines tight and enjoy 😊 www.shrimpnfishflorida.com/bait_fish_identification.html[ Nice explanation of local baitfish, thanks for posting!
|
|
|
Post by possumhollerfishing on Aug 25, 2019 20:13:39 GMT -5
So I’ve always called scaled sardines greenbacks. Ever since I was little. I guess I’ve been wrong this whole time. I like to use half of a scaled sardine/whitebait whatever they’re called. But if they’re really small I use a whole one.
|
|
|
Post by phishead on Aug 25, 2019 20:32:43 GMT -5
At how many inches do you guys keep them whole and at how many inches you chop them
|
|
|
Post by possumhollerfishing on Aug 25, 2019 21:02:18 GMT -5
At how many inches do you guys keep them whole and at how many inches you chop them I chop them at about 3 inches. So each bait is about 1.5 inches. Maybe even a little smaller honestly. I rarely use them whole. I know a lot of people do use them whole. Seems to work for me though. But I’m no expert.
|
|
|
Post by phishead on Aug 25, 2019 21:16:54 GMT -5
At how many inches do you guys keep them whole and at how many inches you chop them I chop them at about 3 inches. So each bait is about 1.5 inches. Maybe even a little smaller honestly. I rarely use them whole. I know a lot of people do use them whole. Seems to work for me though. But I’m no expert. If you chop 3” do you even bother chopping the 5-6” in thirds. They seem to be too thick or too tall to be useful for inshore snapper. I usually do not chop 3” or less. But over 3” yes. I guess my main question is, are the 5-6” chopped useful for inshore snapper.
|
|
|
Post by tears143 on Aug 25, 2019 22:11:16 GMT -5
They r useful.
|
|
|
Post by corpuszero on Aug 25, 2019 22:18:17 GMT -5
At how many inches do you guys keep them whole and at how many inches you chop them I chop them at about 3 inches. So each bait is about 1.5 inches. Maybe even a little smaller honestly. I rarely use them whole. I know a lot of people do use them whole. Seems to work for me though. But I’m no expert. Where do you usually hook the cut bait?
|
|
|
Post by possumhollerfishing on Aug 26, 2019 14:17:29 GMT -5
I rarely get the big big baits in my castnet so I can’t comment on that. As far as where I hook them, I try to hook them near the spine in the tail half or the harder part of the head on the head half. Seems to stay on the hook better there for me.
|
|
|
Post by beerfishin on Aug 26, 2019 19:02:06 GMT -5
Do y’all keep your greenbacks live in a bait bucket or put them on ice. I’ve heard some people put them on ice
|
|
|
Post by Mackerelman on Aug 26, 2019 19:04:25 GMT -5
Do y’all keep your greenbacks live in a bait bucket or put them on ice. I’ve heard some people put them on ice Put them in a Bucket with an Aerator. They will stay alive as long as You keep replenishing the Water. Put them on Ice & they will die & You will have Dead Bait to Fish with or You can take them & Freeze them for Your next trip.
|
|
|
Post by parkpass on Aug 26, 2019 20:10:08 GMT -5
Now everyone pay attention....I have watched tears and his GF limit out on nice mangos using 3-4" scaled sardines that they picked up off the concrete, fished whole. Minutes out of Tears castnet....dead but still fresh and tasty
|
|
|
Post by phishead on Aug 26, 2019 22:44:48 GMT -5
Now everyone pay attention....I have watched tears and his GF limit out on nice mangos using 3-4" scaled sardines that they picked up off the concrete, fished whole. Minutes out of Tears castnet....dead but still fresh and tasty Good to know 3-4” can be used whole for inshore snapper.
|
|