Is catching a fish the big thing? Or does “how do you catch the fish” mean something??
I have done it every way you can. I’ve had fun doing it. Where I am at in life, if I can’t do it with a lure, I don’t want to do it. I get no satisfaction from “feeding fish.” And I’ll say it: If you are using live bait that’s all you are doing. You are feeding the fish. If you are using artificial baits, you are doing it, not the bait.
I don’t care how you do it. The people who are offended: Use your bait. I am not saying it is wrong, I’m just saying it’s not how I’m going to do it. Am I better than you? I am, but not because of this.
I grew up on live bait. My father never left it. I’m using lures, he’s baiting hooks. He never tired of that.
Being a kayak guide, the natural thing to do it to switch to lures. I’m all lures all the time now. They work. If you force yourself to do it, get the confidence, you too will put live bait in the past.
If you want to fish for sheepshead or mangrove snapper: Bait is a much better way to have success. Both species can be tricked on realistic fly or crab patterns if you are a fly fisherman. They are otherwise rarely caught on a conventional lure. Black drum: I use a pompano jig and teaser. People will tell you that you have to use crabs to catch drum are wrong. It works but so does that jig/teaser.
12 Fathom lures has been my sponsor for a long time. Their plastic baits catch everything that swims. The “mullet” for redfish. The SlamR for trout and flounder. The Buzz Tail is what I call my “secret weapon” when the other lures aren’t as successful. The design, that sickle tail throws off bubbles which is vibration. Little known fact: The Buzz Tail is the quietest, soft landing bait.
The Buzz Tail rigged weedless is a great lure to use on shallow water redfish. The mullet is my standard for redfish but if the redfish are in six inches of water, the buzz tail is a better bait. If you get the Captain Joe Edje jighead, that will work very well.
Fishing the other 12 Fathom tails, you want to rely on a 1/8 or 3/16-ounce jighead. Both work in nearly all situations. The ¼-ounce jighead is good in very high current or deeper water but a majority of your fishing, use the lighter jigheads.
Pompano will eat the SlamR. Pompano are normally caught on the jig and teaser. The teaser, mentioned multiple times, tied by me. Pink is the teaser color of choice especially for pompano. The black drum like the pink teaser. Other teaser colors work really well on species like Spanish mackerel and silver trout. Search the article “Jigging and Jiggling”, for more info on using the pompano jig and teaser.
Topwater lures are a big part of my business. There are times of the year where the topwater lure is just great for big trout. BIG trout. I use the Mirrolure brand. Top Dog Junior. I like the color “18” which is a green top and white belly. But they have a dozen colors that have worked great for me.
Going to lures: No more catching bait. No more buying bait. No more “keeping bait alive.” It simplifies things.
“In between”, fishing with scent. You can add Pro Cure scent to lures and make them smell like natural bait. Here is an article on scent: http://www.capmel.com/fishing-with-scent-by-neil-taylor/
There are times when the bait is going to get it done when the lures are not going to work as well. Bait is basically cast it out and leave it in one place until it is eaten. Finicky fish are more likely to eat a still target when things are really tough. Cut pinfish, if the pinfish is fresh, is a way to catch redfish when the odds on catching them on a lure are basically zero.
So, you can lean on natural bait when times are tough. You can master lures and then move on to fly fishing. Fly fishing is the ultimate. That’s the final step.
Neil Taylor, strikethreekayakfishing.com
727-692-6345
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