can anyone give me some tips on how to catch spade fish? saw a bunch yesterday and couldn’t get them to bite? had shrimp on a small hook just free lined near the surface. there were no jelly balls around. Thanks in advance…Mike
242 robalo 300 yamaha
Peeled shrimp on a small J hook … TINY J Hook
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
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the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
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that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
thanks I’ll give it a shot had a small piece of shrimp but with shell on…seems like they were really spooked when they saw it?
242 robalo 300 yamaha
How tiny of a hook are we talking and what kind of line/leader? I’ve never targeted them but would at least like to be prepared should I run into them again?
Small strip of fresh squid on a small J hook with a split shot to get it down just a little. Works sometime when you can’t get jelly balls.
Olde Man Charters
Bury the book completely to hide it.
I like to make a Carolina rig with a really long leader like 6 ft. Then if they are staying down you can lower the offering to the proper depth and the weight is far enough away to not spook them
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1/0 Owner or Gamakatsu live bait hook or #2-#1/0 Kahle hook. Fresh shrimp will catch them, but they are very fickle. They can snub your offering for hours until they turn on. Jelly balls are best if you can get them. 15-20 lb. mono or fluoro
quote:
Originally posted by millacdHow tiny of a hook are we talking and what kind of line/leader? I’ve never targeted them but would at least like to be prepared should I run into them again?
I have caught way more than my share over the years, but haven’t tried this time of the year, so I would have to concede to those who have. However, when spades are finicky, presentation becomes critical. I would use a small, strong circle hook hidden in the bait; use a good flouracarbon leader about 12 lb. test, with no weight. Cast it up-current and let drift naturally on a slack line. Let the fish set the hook. Jelly balls are still around inshore. Pieces of fresh shrimp will work. Also, I’ve caught them on ripe purple grapes , preferably peeled. Seriously. They gotta eat something.!
Call me, I can help!
If it got any better I couldn’t stand it.
I wanna go Ed… never caught any this time of year
I’ve caught a lot of them, they saved many charter trips when nothing else would bite. We used very small but strong treble hooks. No weight, or maybe a small split shot well up the line. Very small strip of cut squid and a small strip of cellophane from a cigarette pack. The cellophane alone will sometimes work. That’s the trick.
Thrashing the water surface with a rod will often fire them up. Once you hook one you’ve got it made. Leave it in the water and the rod in a rod holder. Then all of them will come to the boat in feeding mode. Don’t get greedy.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Almost anything clear/white will work. Make sure you hide the hook. Shrimp or the red part of the cannon ball jellyfish skirt work well. I use a sharp 1/0 hook and make sure its buried so they cant see it.
ANYTHING clear like a jelly will do. We caught one on a piece of a sandwich bag with a red rubber band around it. I use a Carolina rig with a foot or two of leader, then lower it down in front of them when they pass. One or two will stop to look at it. They will suck it up and spit it out in a split second, so be ready to set the hook fast.
Im going to try larry’s treble hook idea. It might set itself… that’s why I read these posts. Thanks for the idea.
quote:
ANYTHING clear like a jelly will do. We caught one on a piece of a sandwich bag with a red rubber band around it.
That’s what I’m saying. Just something clear and shiny. The cellophane from a cigarette pack works, just cut a small strip and put it on the hook, along with a small strip of squid. I’m talking small. 1/4" wide and 1" long.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
thanks for the imput guys, I’ll be sure to try the tips next time I run into them. catch um up…Mike
242 robalo 300 yamaha
Larry, that’s another reason to start back smoaking!
They usually don’t resist a fast presentation of spring steel. 
But seriously, we’ve had luck by tossing a small handful of cut squid or cut/peeled shrimp to them without any hooks. If they eat that, then toss a couple of pieces along with an offering of a few hooks also. You have to get them to feeding before putting out the hooks. When you cut the chum, make sure to cut it into tiny pieces.
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