Having a variety of live baits often is the key to a productive trip. An 8-foot cast net with a quarter- to three-eighths-inch mesh is perfect for smaller baits like scaled sardines, greenbacks, pinfish and pigfish. The smaller mesh keeps the baits from getting gilled in the net. You can drift around grass flats and sight cast or find a likely spot, anchor up and start chumming.

A basic chum mix consists of approximately one quart of oatmeal, one can of jack mackerel and two pieces of bread. Add a can or so of water and mash it all together. If the water is clear and the baits are spooky, throw a little sand into the mix. It clouds up the water a bit so the bait can't see the net coming. Concentrate your chum offerings to a specific area in small amounts and be patient. When you start seeing a fair amount of flashes and boils in your chum slick, load up your cast net and pitch out a more liberal amount of chum, then throw the net. Give the lead line time to get to the bottom and use sharp jerks on the line to close the net so the baits can't escape. Transfer baits to the live well quickly and remove all the weeds and debris that could restrict water flow in the well. Check baits often to ensure their survival.

Rinse your net thoroughly with freshwater and occasionally soak it in a bucket with water and a capful of fabric softener. Small holes and tears in the net should be repaired with monofilament fishing line. With proper care you should get two to three years out of your net if you keep it away from oyster bars, barnacles and catfish.

-- Capt. Dan Brooks charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 867-7856 or by e-mail at captaindan@baysbestcharters.com.

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