the price of gas you would spend going to catch shrimp in the boat will be the same as buying them.
The reason you are catching sharks is cause you are probably fishing the bottom, same with cats, and reds (sometimes).. I never fish the bottom becasue i hate catching cats, flounder, sharks, or stingrays.. I love to catch sharks if im going out that day "just to catch sharks"..
Eddie, if you want to put in a few hours at night before a day's fishing, you might catch a few dozen shrimp by wading some grass flats with a headlight and dip net. I'm still trying to learn the best times and tides, etc. for doing it myself, so if I figure it out I'll share it here.
This time of year, what's known locally as "white bait" is probably as effective as shrimp for most species of gamefish. These are also called "green backs" and probably a few other names. You'll see huge schools of them out over the gras flats, along the beach, in the bays, etc. Easiest thing to do is buy a castnet with a bait size mesh, about an 8 footer, and learn to throw it. You can anchor on a the flats in about 3 or 4 feet of water and use bait chum to bring them in range. You may also get a bunch of pinfish, which are also excellent for snook, reds, grouper and the smaller ones for mangrove snapper.
A lot of your success will depend on your tackle, how you rig it, and how you fish it. It can make as much difference as the bait you use. You may have fished other places and had success with a certain method, but it won't work here because certain conditions are different, like water color, clarity, tide movement, bottom structure, etc.
Lots to learn, but worth the effort!
🙂 Thanks for the reply GoodOyster,
True, rigging is just as important than bait. I'm still learning, lol. I do have a cast net and been catching green backs and pin fish. The green backs are awesome bait. I've caught 2 red fish using green backs. One 26" the other almost 27". Rigging is one of learning priorities! It does make a big difference when fishing. About two weekends ago, before all this raiin, I went out to Anclote.My friend and I went near these crab traps and we cast Gulp bait 3" shrimps and caught some trouts. But no luck on other species. I really not interested in going to the gulf, whcih I can through johns pass. I'm more interested on staying in bay area . This way i can bring my kids and not worry to much about the wave action. My boat is only a 18' footer. Here in Florida waypoints are hard to come by, lol. Guess I have to learn the hard way ,lol. I only have one good spot and thats by Johns pass. By the channel there's two islands by the green Marker one. I get close the the one towards the right facing johns pass. Thats were I had caught the two red fish and many sharks (black tips). I could only keep one per vessel. My friend did tell me to gut the shark out and place it on ice. If not , it will smell bad. But i need to read up on Florida fishing law and see if I'm alllowed to do that. Anyway, thanks for the info and as I learn I will post to share.
Take care and good luck fishing. 😆
Never been much on waypoints fishing in the bays and such. Easier to use landmarks and look for certain things like drop-offs and rock piles.
Waypoints are good if you're going offshore and won't have any landmarks to go by.
Something you might try is drifting the grass flats. On nice day when there's about a 5-10mph breeze (depending on boat size) you can start on the upwind side of the flats and fish across the flats, casting Gulps to potholes (sandy areas) or throwing a gold spoon or jig and retrieving it just above the grass. Live shrimp under a popping cork work good for trout, and you might pick up a red as well.
If there are any oyster bars in your area, try to anchor out on the downstream side to where you can cast to the edges on an outgoing tide. The reds will cruise around the bars looking for crabs and such that are washing out with the tide. Pot belly jigs work well, Gulps probably will, too.
Went to apollo beach and fished the rock by the old motel and caught one 32" red and a 27" red using pin fish had some thing on my line but broke the leader off 30# but over all had a great time thanks for this form so i can learn more about fishing its been almost 12 years sence i been able to come back and go fishing all the time
Beagle
