Had to run some errands today so did not get out early to fish, but as I was driving over the Sam’s Point bridge back to the house the water looked like glass and could see bait just churning the surface. Raced home threw the yak in the truck hit the pond for some mullet and 45 minutes later was putting the yak in the water. Yet in the 45 minutes the water was now rolling and the wind was picking up to 10 to 15 kts. Still decided to fish since I was already there. Tried live shrimp & mullet on top and the bottom as well as an EC. Not a single nibble for almost 4 hours of fishing.
Last night was out for about 2 hours landed a couple trout, but must have had a shark spawning in the area or either the blues because I kept reeling in only 1/2 of a minnow that looked as if a razor had cut them in half.
What is chiefly needed is skill rather than machinery.
Blues… little &%$$#ing %$@#^!#… If you want to catch them tail hook your minnows… they come from behind, bite off the tail and swing aroud for the head when it can’t get a away… The bigger ones will suck in a whole bait but the smaller ones just steal your bait
I have the same problem alot of the time when I troll live minnows. I am probably going to either switch to trolling a spoon with a trebble hook or a mud minnow with the mono passed through the lips, under the body, and to the hook which will be passed through the tail. It won’t be able to swim well but that won’t matter for trolling.
If you let your bat sit at all then it also can be a blue crab because I have actually watched one cleanly slice a minnow in two and run off with the back half, although it took about 3 seconds for it to cut. Usually crabs go for the guts and you end up with a mangled minnow with an in-tact tail.
14’ Pamlico 140 Angler w/ rudder
Switching to lead-free tackle.
How do you troll live mud minnows? I have troll artificals all of the time, but i would not know what kind of rig to use for live bait. If someone could please tell me how to rig the minnows it would be someting neat to try.
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
How do you troll live mud minnows? I have troll artificals all of the time, but i would not know what kind of rig to use for live bait. If someone could please tell me how to rig the minnows it would be someting neat to try.
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
I use the same setup as if I’m sitting still fishing.
swivel, float, small sinker, leader, hook w/ bait
or
trolling sinker 1/2-2 oz your choice, swivel, leader hook w/ bait.
This past sunday I got all my knockdowns on grubs 4-6 feet under a float
Interesting. I would have never thought to troll with a float. I have always just used the jig itself. Do you use it to help target fish at a specific depth?
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
When trolling found that your speed will have more of an impact on the depth of the bait when using a indicator. It also depends on how lively the bait is. When trolling my normal set up it to bounce it along the bottom, when I do have bait and a indicator its more of the simple fact that I’m changing location and it works well to leave the line out.
Think is was probably small sharks that kept stealing bitting the minnows in half. Have caught a lot of sharks in the 8 to 12 inch range in the same area.
Just getting tired of the wind is it ever going to calm down…even my neighbor who tends to just fish offshore as not been able to fish as much this year due to the wind.
What is chiefly needed is skill rather than machinery.
Interesting. I would have never thought to troll with a float. I have always just used the jig itself. Do you use it to help target fish at a specific depth?
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
It does. A combination of speed and length of line beneath the float allows me to work a part of the water column and keep bait off the bottom.
There are times when I want it bumping bottom, but when there are lots of weeds and snags I'd rather stay up in the water.
If you want to catch them tail hook your minnows… they come from behind, bite off the tail and swing aroud for the head when it can’t get a away… The bigger ones will suck in a whole bait but the smaller ones just steal your bait