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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 31, 2002
The bait-and-switch technique is normally associated with offshore trolling for game fish. Hookless, skirted teasers bring the fish from the depths and work them into a heightened state of feeding. The teasers then are quickly taken away, a rigged live bait or skirted dead bait is presented to the fish, and the fight is on.
The inshore bait-and-switch method requires light spinning tackle or bait casters capable of making long casts and covering a lot of water. A 3- to 4-inch top water chugger with the hooks removed makes a good teaser. Work the lure erratically. Watch for boils and flashes near the teaser and when a fish strikes, take it away quickly. This time of year tarpon and larger sharks are common. The teaser allows you to quickly assess what type of tackle is needed.
Have three pre-rigged rods and reels -- light, medium and heavy -- with suitable leader, quickly cast your offering in the same area where the teaser was struck, and hold on. Tarpon and snook open their mouths quickly, creating a vaccuum effect, and the prey is sucked in quickly. Redfish, trout and sharks sometimes have to make several attempts to eat a surface lure. Don't set the hook until you feel the fish on your line. A 6-foot hammerhead shark, a handful of tarpon and some unseasonably large trout have fallen prey to surface lures this week.
-- Capt. Dan Brooks charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 867-7856 or by e-mail at captaindan@baysbestcharters.com.