What is used to target bonnetheads specifically? I know they mainly eat crabs and shrimp. Can you use cutbait effectively or do you have to use shrimp and catch about everything else? Are they attracted to bloody cutbait like most sharks?
In my experience, no. Crabs and shrimp are what they go for. I’m sure there are exceptions. Saltfisher is very knowledgeable on this subject
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
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Optiker is right. There are exceptions as I have caught them from time to time on 4-6" whole menhaden or mullet, live or fresh. A big live shrimp works best for me.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
I’ve caught tons (unfortunately) on cut mullet and hadens and much easier to get than crab.
I’ve caught them on cut shrimp, blue crabs, cut mullet and menhaden. Shrimp and crabs seem to work the best. I will tell you that they hang around oysters in creeks/ rivers near the ocean. Sometimes you can see them working the edges in only a foot of water. Lots of fun on light tackle.
Jack Taylor
watch them cruising the shallows and pitch 1/4 crab about 10 feet in front of them. Keep your rod tip high and let the drag do the work.
Want to have the time of your life? Give Carter a call at Kayak Fish SC and take a kayak charter for bonnies. Wooooo Hooooooo what a hoot.
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Agreed with the above. Find live oyster beds. They are frequently more shallow than you’d expect. I took a teenager friend fishing once, a few years ago, in Folly river in a canoe. It was awesome watching him get all goggle-eyed over the 4’ bonnetheads up in 1 foot of water chasing crabs and mullet.
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ive never caught them on cut fish but half a crab works pretty well. not to beat a dead horse but they were in fairly shallow water near some rocks and a sandbar.
i have caught them on most everything, Whole live crab seems like the best. Half crab works, 6" mullet live works also. I always find a wide creek off the main channel and set up right at the center of the mouth of the creek, They will come in and out of that point between tides and you are likely to get a ray as well as a bonnethead.
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My Cherokee indian name is asuvsgi nahna adadudi or Fishes on Credit
I’ve never been able to keep a whole Blue Claw crab on my hook very long before a Bonnethead ate it.
I was up above IOP on Saturday using shrimp and caught 6 bonnetheads. One in particular was over 4 feet and gave a hell of a fight… stripped line out a number of times before we were able to get it on the boat.
Two Deep
Triton 2895
Charleston, SC
I caught this big boy on shrimp:
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
How does one bait a crab?
Several videos on youtube. I wish I had seen the one linked below earlier as it points out 2 things I had to eventually figure out myself -leave a bit (1/2 or so) of the flipper legs on and use a eavy duty kitchen shears instead of a knife. I have also found that it it quicker to cut them in half first and take the top shell off in 2 pieces than having to mess around with the apron.
i always take off the legs and run my hook in one of the holes and through the shell so it stays on. Depending on size of crab…its either halved or quartered.
I just keep a stub of leg to run the hook out of. Less meat seems to wash out of the leg than open socket. I forgot to mention that I had been always using half crabs and success went up after trying quarters at Saltfisher’s suggestion.
What size leader is preferred?
War Eagle 115 yamaha 4 stroke
You know you’re old when youtube isn’t the first thing to cross your mind…thanks
quote:
How does one bait a crab?
Quick and easy Cracker crab rig for live crab. Get a stout rubber band and loop one end over one of the points on the shell. Twist the rubber band 15 or 20 times then stretch it across the back and loop the free end over the opposite point. Insert a circle hook in the rubber band at either point, twist it twice and go through the band again to secure it.
This makes a very natural presentation and keeps the hook exposed for good hook-ups. Only takes a few seconds to rig and doesn’t injure the crab like breaking off a leg.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
that there is a pro tip if ive ever heard one cracker. appreciate the info!
“mr keys”