Baitfish

[rocrfella]

The water temperature is warming up. Do you guys see greenbacks yet? I'm getting broke buying the damn shrimps.

[bigguy]

There not that expensive.

[Todd]

The water temperature is warming up. Do you guys see greenbacks yet? I'm getting broke buying the damn shrimps.

Try artificials.

[rocrfella]

I like it the lazy style! Let the bait do the work man!

[Todd]

I like it the lazy style! Let the bait do the work man!

Then don't complain about the price of shrimp.

[DaveR]

Well written Toddle!

[GILs_GONE_WILD]

I don't think the water's warm enough for the baitfish to come back in.

Although I do see the little baitshop next door to Gandy Bait and Tackle has a sign out advertising Greenbacks.

[Rik]

cryonics ......

[bluebill]

I have just in the past few days started to see lots of glass minnows in the Matlacha/Pine Island area but no larger bait yet. I am catching ladyfish near the surface and I think they are feeding on glass minnows.

[FLfishchaser]

The water temperature is warming up. Do you guys see greenbacks yet? I'm getting broke buying the damn shrimps.

Try artificials.

True...

[seeinred]

There is white bait on the flats now and has been all winter. Especially with this warming trend we'll start to see more and more coming in ever day. Check flats that drop off into channels, canals and marinas. Just like all fish, baitfish gotta stay warm!

If not, mullet are readily available! Got several dozen today, what I didn't use are in my freezer... cut bait for redfish!

[rocrfella]

There is white bait on the flats now and has been all winter. Especially with this warming trend we'll start to see more and more coming in ever day. Check flats that drop off into channels, canals and marinas. Just like all fish, baitfish gotta stay warm!

If not, mullet are readily available! Got several dozen today, what I didn't use are in my freezer... cut bait for redfish!

I really need to look more carefully. You give me hope man!

Todd, I like to do it the "lazy and broke style!"

[CooKnFish]

Have you ever been to a fishing seminar, read articles or watched TV shows where they mention "match the hatch"?

This is not the time of year to throw white bait. Shrimp and crabs are your best bait going right now. If you really must use fish on your hook, cut ladyfish or mullet is the way to go.

[GILs_GONE_WILD]

cryonics ......

[MarkM]

Todd, I like to do it the "lazy and broke style!"

Been there done that when I used to fish out of a boat. But, I remember the times when I'd get out there and couldn't find any bait. Then what do you do? Go back in and buy some? And, I remember the times when I did find bait, but not in great numbers, and would spend a couple hours running around looking for more to fill up the live well. THEN, I thought about all the time I was losing trying to catch bait when I could have been fishing.

Give me a kayak, and a little practice with a few tried and true artificials, and soon I was catching just as much and actually spending more time fishing than farting around looking for bait. On those days when you can't find any bait, try a few lures (even, dare I say it, some gulp) and see what happens. First time you catch a nice fish on one of your lures, you may just change your mind about the whole live-bait process. Good luck!

[CooKnFish]

Todd, I like to do it the "lazy and broke style!"

Been there done that when I used to fish out of a boat.

I remember back in the day I used to go to seminars like Capt Mel's Conversation just to pick up a few free lures and a free meal because of my financial situation at the time. Those free lures landed me a lot of free fish dinners, too..