Live bait is far and away the most productive way of fishing. It is used in "Kite" and "Wreck" fishing for virtually all of the bottom species, on the "Reef" for the intermediate species as well as for the bottom dwellers, and in the "Gulf". The most important issue that we must face on a daily basis is procuring live bait. This includes both purchasing and catching our live bait for the day's fishing. There is no other method other than netting and stability rigs to get the baits of choice with the single exception of shrimp.

Of the many types of live bait, we will cover the most calmly used here. The first of which might be the most widely used form of live bait in the state of Florida, the Shrimp. Shrimp are deployed using many methods for many species. We purchase them before the charter if available.


Shrimp

The blue runner and may be the most widely known offshore bait in this area. The bait can be deployed deep, or suspended from a kite as well as drifted behind the boat on a flat line or slow trolled. Practically all species of game fish will respond favorably to this method of presentation. The bluerunner, though not quite as desirable as the mullet or pinfish for grouper, but is much more durable, and will stay lively for a longer period of time, under more trying circumstances. In addition a runner will bring you plenty of strikes from the likes of king mackerel and sailfish when they are around, especially when under the kite.

Blue Runner

One of the most favorite baits that I use is the threadfin herring. When hooked behind the head, it will swim up and down in the water column and would appear to search for the predator, however, it must periodically be replaced with a fresh bait. It is not a hearty bait and will succumb to abuse from overcrowding, rough seas, or mishandling. I use this bait for offshore, wrecks, reefs, and gulf fishing and if I had to use only one live bait, this would be it.

Threadfin can be difficult to get, but the rewards can be awesome.

Scaled sardines, (greenbacks, white bait, pilchards etc.) are one of the most favored baits in the Southwest Florida area. They are readily available during the summer months and they suffice for both chum and bait. A large number of them are collected and taken offshore where 6 or 8 at a time are thrown into the water. As they head off in different directions, a circle of chum develops, with the boat at its center. When schools of predators begin working the area, they are drawn to the central area where the bait is the most concentrated. A pilchard is used for bait and the strike is nearly instantaneous. Greenbacks also make an excellent bait for most of the bottom dwellers.

Cast netting is the best way to get scaled sardines.

Pinfish, though not as desirable as most of the aforementioned, make a fairly good offshore bait. They are readily available even when most other baits are impossible to find, and they are a very hearty bait. One of the few than can be kept from day to day. As the pinfish spawns in large schools in the open blue water, it is no stranger to the pelagic species of the offshore, and it is quickly consumed by most of the bottom dwellers. In Southwest Florida the bait of choice is "Live Bait".
Pinfish

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