Pickin ya brains - The Hull Truth

fordfisher · 09-13-2009, 10:22 PM

Will be headin out of Hatt inlet end of Sept so for the next couple of weeks may have a few questions for yall x perts. Thanks for your help in advance. First question. which direction should I head for baitfish at the end of the month? Im going to be trolling for Mahi and trying live bait into the groups. If I cant find Mahis will try baitfish over some wrecks for reef donkeys. I wont be going out till sunrise since Im new to offshore. Thanks

Ice Cream Man · 09-14-2009, 04:33 AM

Dolphins are not picky eaters, they will gobble up a frozen Ballyhoo, dead Cigar Minnows & artificals w & w/o strips of pork rines ........
AJ are even less picky - topwater plugs, dead bait & jigs all work as well ........
Hope this helps ......... ICM

fordfisher · 09-14-2009, 06:06 AM

Sounds good, but I am making contingency plans for rough weather. May have to stay in close and hunt for kings or drop some livies around the bouys. Just seems right to have a few fish swimming around the live well.

HeadHunt · 09-14-2009, 07:11 AM

There isn't alot of live baiting going on down there. In the summer, you can cast net bunker inside. I have heard of one guy who nets the bigger ones in the fall on the outside but alot of searching is involved. Generally, it's a waste of time since they bite dead bait just as good. You can catch some pin fish using shrimp near the docks and ramps. They are a pretty hardy live bait. Sometimes I pick up some mullet that way as well. Put five or six of those in the livewell and carry a couple of packs of medium hoo, Bionic Brand only. Don't buy the other crap down there.

Alan

netman9 · 09-14-2009, 05:29 PM

I second the pin fish, we use a hand line with #10 hook and squid right at the dock while getting boat in water and ready. A 5 gal. bucket and bucket buddy will last 2 days. Fed alot of fish not landing some due to size on them within sight of land. Good luck, I'll be watching for reports as we will be down for the week of Oct. 3 with 4 boats and a bunch of guys out of Pirates Cove.

fordfisher · 09-15-2009, 02:22 PM

we'll be there the previous week. Ill report if we catch fish. If we dont, well, I'll probably be too depressed. I prepare all year to go out 2 to 3 weeks. When the weather sux or the bite is off its pretty lame. although it is nice to have a week vacation. This year im insuring internet connection where we are staying. I can tether my phones internet to my laptop. I needed that for weather and sea reports.
Have fun.