Catching the right live bait can be the most important part of a fishing trip.
The type of bait you need for the trip dictates the time you leave the dock and what kind of equipment you need.
Those heading offshore need to get bait before the sun rises. A 10-foot net with 3/8-inch mesh catches whitebait, scaled sardines and pinfish near bridge pilings, channel markers and nearshore buoys. If you need threadfins, a heavy 10- or 11-foot net with 3/4-inch mesh is necessary. You'll need a recorder to locate schools near the Skyway bridge, channel markers and along the beach. After finding a school, idle back to the spot. Have the net ready, and cast from the back of the boat as soon as the bait shows on the recorder. Put the boat in neutral and let the net sink to the bottom before bringing it in.
At sunrise, whitebait can be found on grass flats and under bridges. Look for pelicans diving on the flats or bait splashing on the surface. Stop the motor upwind of the bait and drift into the school. When the livewell needs to be full, chum the bait with Jack mackerel or sardines in soybean oil and mixed with corn meal. Toss small amounts of chum into the water every 30 seconds, and have the net ready to throw. Cast the net when you see a swirling ball of bait in the chum. At bridges, chum around the pilings until you see bait. Throw a big handful of chum onto the bait, then toss the net.
- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.
