Tyler Massey

It can be one of the most frustrating things... You have the net made up, see the school right on top, make a good throw and you end up with nothing.. Bait in deep water (greater than 25ft) is nearly impossible to catch in any net. The best bet though is at the Mass. you want to throw close to the ship over the school of LY's and let it sink until you see them flashing! almost to bottom. The cigs and sardines almost always have to be caught using chum in water less than 30 ft but you also let it sink.

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Captain Tyler Massey
www.hotspotscharters.com
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flukedaddy

I've heard people say get the beach sand mixed with chum or cat food, I guess kinda disorintates em or something. any experiences with this? I always get my cigs shallow very spotty though usually in the spring.

Capt.Kyle

mix up some powder milk and sand when u see the bait throw several scopes into them so it clouds the water up that way when you throw they dont see the net as bad. this should work for you i do it all the time

Prince Caspian

I'm no expert, but I know that the 3/8" mesh is the biggest part of your problem. I doubt you could add enough weight to that net to catch bait there and still be able to throw it. You'd probably need a net with 3/4" mesh, and better 1" mesh.

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old sneaky

try it in the DARK!

Salty Daze

I have seen the bait guy chum the water with ground up something and menhaden oil I believe. He throws a huge net and lets it sink to bottom in 20 to 25' of water.

But I also just buy from him too. Its his business, he's a nice guy, the ground up chum and oil cost money and time for him. So that's one less thing i have to do or carry on the boat. All for twenty bucks and I get more live bait than my livewell can handle.

The problem is.....when he can't catch them.... then we scramble!

my3nme

The best way mis to get there before daylight. A lot of time by the time you throw your net they have scattered. I usually don't have a problem throwing before daylight

fivestar

Who is this bait guy and where can I find him? I would love to see and buy bait from him, because like most of us I have thrown a net and come up empty more times than not!

bigrick

get inside the pass and find a school in shallower, cigs are damn near impossible to catch but if you find some herring in shallow you shouldn't have a problem. Obviously the bigger the net the better. In deeper water the idea is to use a lot of weight so it has time to sink around the school before you jerk the bottom shut. Some kind of chum will help, when their mind is on food they won't be as shy about the net. But like I said your best bet it to find a school on a grass flat.

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2004 14' Superior Yachts skiff(under constuction)
2002 236 Key Largo w/2011 200 optimax(FOR SALE)
2008 225 Key West W/A w/ 200 Etech

bigrick

the bait guy in destin stays on channel 69 . He usually sits rite outside the pass, any day thats not rough he will either be sold out or there will be a line during snapper season. After that you shouldn't have a problem. He will usually give you a net full for $20. Not sure about pensacola.

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2004 14' Superior Yachts skiff(under constuction)
2002 236 Key Largo w/2011 200 optimax(FOR SALE)
2008 225 Key West W/A w/ 200 Etech