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John's Journal... Entry 50, Day 3

To Catch Live Bait

click to enlargeEDITOR'S NOTE: This week, you'll learn how to catch more snapper, grouper, triggerfish and amberjack. We'll show you how to rig and how to catch the big ones. Our guest, Captain Mike Parker of the charter boat the "Silver King" out of Destin, Florida, has fished most of his life and daily takes charters out for all the targeted bottom species.

QUESTION: What's the easiest and quickest way to catch live bait for bottom feeders?

ANSWER: I use a pinfish trap and bait with Killer Bee Cigar Minnows. Since pinfish love cigar minnows, they'll come in to the trap and stay there until I need them. Baiting your trap with a cigar minnow provides one of the easiest, quickest and most painless ways to make sure you have live bait for fishing on the bottom. My customers also like having the bait caught up before they get on the boat rather than having to go out and catch bait.

QUESTION: How do you rig to catch live bait?

ANSWER: To catch for live bait, we rig up five hooks spaced approximately 6 inches apart on a 1- to 2-inch snoot. We call this gold hooking. These small gold hooks, almost smaller than a crappie hook, will catch cigar minnows, herring, threadfins and hardtails.

click to enlargeQUESTION: What size lead do you put laying at the bottom?

ANSWER: Generally a 2-ounce.

QUESTION: And what size hooks do you use?

ANSWER: No. 10s and No. 12s.

QUESTION: What kind of lead do you use?

ANSWER: Two ounces.

QUESTION: How long does the whole rig measure?

ANSWER: About 5 to 6 feet.

QUESTION: Onto what pound test line do you tie this rig?

ANSWER: You use this rig on light line, anywhere from 10- to 25-pound test.

QUESTION: With what tackle do you fish?

ANSWER: Generally spinning tackle or light baitcasters.

click to enlargeQUESTION: And you just throw the bait out and drag it behind the boat?

ANSWER: You locate the bait with a fathometer right underneath you and lower it straight down until it hits the bottom. Then reel it up to about where you see the bait, and start jigging it up and down lightly. Sometimes you'll load up all five hooks at the same time and bring up five baits on a pull.

For more information on fishing with Killer Bee Squid or Killer Bee Cigar Minnows, contact Killer Bee at P.O. Box 1384, Pascagoula, MS 39568, (877) 557-2248, www.killerbeebait.com.

click to enlargeTo learn more about fishing for bottom feeders, call or write Captain Mike Parker at the charter boat the "Silver King," 408 Lee Lane, Destin, FL, 32541, (850) 837-2028. You also can check out his website at www.destincharterboats.com or e-mail him at mike@destincharterboats.com

Tomorrow: Two-Hook Rigs

 

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about How To Take More Bottom Feeders With Mike Parker ...

Day 1 -Making a Squid Pie
Day 2 -Use Squid to Catch Triggerfish
Day 3 -To Catch Live Bait
Day 4 -Two-Hook Rigs
Day 5 -The Size of Bait Determines The Size of The Catch

John's Journal