BAIT FISH COMMON TO THE DESTIN AREA |
KEEPING YOUR LIVE BAIT ALIVE |
LIVE BAIT PRESENTATION AND RIGGING |
FINDING BAIT FISH |
HOW TO CATCH YOUR LIVE BAIT |
HOW TO CATCH YOUR LIVE BAIT
There are three primary methods for catching these bait fish:
1. SABIKI RIG: This is probably the most common method. If you have not used one before, you will learn to both love and
hate them but they are effective. Essentially, it is a monofilament line with 6-10 small gold hooks on it that is jigged for bait. In the
early morning in the summer, you will see the charter and other boats lined up in the East Pass or just outside the jetties on the
"bar". These boats are normally using a sabiki rig to catch their bait for the day. For more information on sabikis, go to
SABIKI RIGS
2. CAST NETS: The cast net is probably the fastest way to get a quantity of bait. For more information on how to use the cast
net, go to CAST NETS .
3. PINFISH TRAPS: The pinfish trap is an efficient method for catching the ever present pinfish. It is a baited wire cage,
similiar to crab traps, that is placed on the bottom for a period of time. The bait attracts the pin fish, but they are unable to get out
easily. Go to PINFISH TRAPS for more information on using them.
There are three primary methods for catching these bait fish:
1. SABIKI RIG: This is probably the most common method. If you have not used one before, you will learn to both love and
hate them but they are effective. Essentially, it is a monofilament line with 6-10 small gold hooks on it that is jigged for bait. In the
early morning in the summer, you will see the charter and other boats lined up in the East Pass or just outside the jetties on the
"bar". These boats are normally using a sabiki rig to catch their bait for the day. For more information on sabikis, go to
SABIKI RIGS
2. CAST NETS: The cast net is probably the fastest way to get a quantity of bait. For more information on how to use the cast
net, go to CAST NETS .
3. PINFISH TRAPS: The pinfish trap is an efficient method for catching the ever present pinfish. It is a baited wire cage,
similiar to crab traps, that is placed on the bottom for a period of time. The bait attracts the pin fish, but they are unable to get out
easily. Go to PINFISH TRAPS for more information on using them.
Fish here are arranged alphabetically by the name
normally used for it in the Destin area. You will
find that many people call different bait fish by
the same name. And, it may be called another
name in another area.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anchovies: See Glass Minnows
Atlantic Bumper: See Crazy Fish
Bay Anchovy: See Glass Minnows
Blue Runner: See Hard Tail
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BALLYHOO & BALAO
(Hemiramphus brasilensis and
Hemiramphus balao)
Other names: HOO, Halfbeaks
General information: Live Balllyhoo are not normally found in the Destin area as it prefers the warmer waters of southern Florida.
Can be bought frozen and a popular bait for bluewater fishing. Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasilensis) and balao (H. balao) are
members of a group of fishes known as halfbeaks, for their small, beaklike mouths. Ballyhoo are silvery with a greenish back, and
the upper lobe of their tail fin is yellowish-orange. Balao are silvery with a bluish back, and the upper lobe of their tail fin is bluish-
violet and has a red tip. For both species, the single dorsal fin is set far back on the fish’s back, near the deeply forked tail. The
lower jaw elongates into a flat blade with an orange-red tip. Ballyhoo grow to 16 inches and are generally bigger than balao.
When Available: Not common to this area and not normally targeted. You might find them in the summer months here
Where to find: Not common in this area. I have seen some at night under the Destin Bridge.
How to catch: Cast Net, Sabiki rig tipped with shrimp. Some more reading follows if interested.
Hardiness in the livewell:
Bait Value: Considered prime bait for sailfish, dolphin, and wahoo
How to rig: Numerous methods, go to one of the following websites for some good
explanations.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BONITA
(Euthynnus alletteratus)
:Other names
*Little Tunny
Bonito
Bobo
false albacore
Little Tuna
Mackerel Tuna
Common name*
General information: Actually grows to several pounds, but the smaller Bonitas are used .for bait. The larger ones are used as
fresh cut strip baits
Range & Habitat: This fish is distributed Gulfwide in blue and green water at all depths. It comes closer to shore than any other
tuna species
Identification & Biology: This fish has a "tuna-shaped", but streamlined body. The back is steel blue to dark blue in color and has
a patch of wavy lines on the rear part of the back. The belly is very white and has several dark spots on each side between the
pectoral and pelvic fins. No other species with a back-patch of wavy or mottled lines has these spots, although the spots may be
hard to see on some fish. The closest look-alike to the little tunny is the less common Atlantic bonito. Besides lacking the belly
spots, the patch of wavy lines on the back of the Atlantic bonito extends further forward, to a point equal to the front of the dorsal fin.
In the little tunny, the patch of lines begins at a point about halfway back from the beginning of the fin.
Little tunny are a strongly schooling species that can form schools nearly a mile long. When a large school is actively feeding, they
are very noisy, keeping the water splashing and foaming in what is called locally a "Bonito Boil". They feed most heavily on fishes
such as herrings, sardines and scads, but they will also readily take squid and crustaceans. They are fast-growing, but short-lived
fish. At one year of age and 14 inches, they are mature enough to spawn, which takes place offshore in waters over 100 feet deep.
Little tunny seldom live over
5 years
Size: Little tunny average 10-12 pounds, but are not rare over 20 pounds.
Food Value: Good; better than its reputation, but because of the very red flesh, not many people eat them.
When Available: Year round, but more prominent in the summer.
Where to find: Normally found close to shore (within 5-10 miles) but can be found out at sea
They travel in large schools and can
.be seen feeding at the surface
When feeding, they make a very
,prominent disruption in the water
referred to as a "BOIL"here. The
boil may be half the size of a football
field and usually has a flock of birds
associated with it. At times, you will
also have other fish (sharks) feeding
on the bonito. I have hooked a Bobo
several times and end up just pulling
up half a Bonita attached to my
hook. The schools of Bonita can be
seen for a few miles. They are
caught off of the Okaloosa Island
Pier in the winter and can be caught from the jetties. Best bet is in a boat.
How to catch: The larger ones are used for strip bait can be caught on Stretch 25s (red/white) trolled close to their school. Or, you
can maneuver to get in front of one of their schools and toss a lure to them which is great fun on light tackle. For lures, use:
Clarks spoons on a bubble rig
White pompano jigs, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce
Small silver spoons
They don't have sharp teeth so you do not need a
.leader normally
For a retrieve, just toss toward them and retrieve
straight back as fast as you can reel
Hardiness in the live well Very hard (Impossible?) to keep alive. When you catch them, they go into a rapid "death shake" and die
after a few minutes, even in a live well. Best to just put them on ice to start with.
Rigging:
Bait Value
Excellent for offshore fishing, sharks, and reef fish
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BULL or MUD MINNOWS
Other Names
Cocahoe minnow
Killifish*
Mud Minnow
Mummichogs
There are variety of
killifish that we call
Bull or Mud Minnows.
(Believe there are
8 species in the Gulf of
Mexico area alone.)
The most
prominent ones are:
Fundulus grandis - Gulf killifish: Largest of the coastal killifishes. May reach 8" at maturity.
Fundulus majalis - Striped killifish: Has dark vertical bars and grows to 7" in length.
Fundulus similis - Longnose killifish. Long, pointed head and dark bars on body. Adult reaches 4 1/2 " in length.
General information: Very tough fish. Can live in fresh or salt water and very inhospitable enviroments with extremes of
temperatures, salinity, and low oxygen levels. A schooling fish, .
it feeds on crabs, fish, shrimp, worms, insects, and small pieces of plant life
When Available: Year round. They spawn from March to September, with a peak in April
.and September
Where to find: Lives in both fresh and saltwater. Like muddy bottoms. Can be found along grass flats, marshes, creeks, and rivers.
Feed on small animals and crustaceans that live on
mud bottoms
How to catch: Use a standard minnow trap baited with a can of cat food, dried
dog/cat food, bread, fish parts, etc
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value Excellent for inshore fishing for Redfish and trout. Normally hooked throught bottom lip and out
through the top lip
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CIGAR MINNOW
(Decapterus punctatus)
Family Carangidae
JACKS AND POMPANOS
Other names
Round Scad
General information: Cigar minnows are a seasonal, schooling fish. Their narrow and stretched-out body is dark on top, shading to
silver on the belly, and has black spots along the front half of the lateral line. These fish have a deeply forked tail fin and two
separate, deeply notched dorsal fins. This species is one of the few bait fish species that have spines, which in round scad are
particularly sharp, so these bait fish should be handled cautiously
Large schools of them start to show up in the Destin area in the April to May time frame and normally stay in the area until the
October time frame. They run about 6 inches but can be as large as 12 inches. They may be found from the beach out to to the
edge of the continental shelf (about 25 miles). They normally remain on the bottom during the day and come to the mid levels and
surface at night. They feed on planktonic invertebrates, primarily copepods but also on gastropod larvae, ostracods and pteropods
. Spawns well offshore year-round. Eggs are free floating ( pelagic ) in the ocean
When Available: April to October
Where to find: Found in schools close to shore (within 2-3 miles of beach). Normally are near the bottom during the day, come
closer to the surface at night. Normally, you will want to use a sabiki or cast net the first thing after sunup around the east pass, the
outer bar, the CB and other buoys in the east pass channel. Also, along the beach just outside the outer
.sandbar out to a mile or so
How to catch: # 6 or # 8 sabiki rig or Cast net
.Hardiness in the live well: They are very hardy in the live well
Bait Value: Excellent
____________
Cocahoe Minnow: See Bull Minnows
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CRAZY FISH
Other names: Atlantic Bumper
General information
When Available
Where to find
How to catch
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value
___________________________________________________________________________
CROAKER
(Micropogonias undulatus)
Other names
Atlantic Croaker
General information
When Available
Where to find
How to catch
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value
___________________________________________________________________________
Finger mullet - See Mullet
___________________________________________________________________________
GLASS MINNOW
Anchoa mitchilli
:Other names
Bay anchovies
Anchovies
Fry
Big Mouth Fry
General information: Bay anchovies live along the coast in estuaries, bays, and marshes and near sandy beaches. They usually
live over muddy bottoms. They spend the winter in deep waters and migrate to shallow shores and wetlands for spawning in late
spring to early summer. Spawning takes place during the evening hours. Females release the eggs into the water, where they are
fertilized by males. The eggs float near the surface for approximately twenty-four hours after fertilization and then hatch. Bay
anchovies mature to adults in two and
.one-half months
:When Available
Where to find: Found in the Choctawhatchee Bay and along the beach. Habitat includes
.bays, estuaries, and the ocean out to about 80' deep
How to catch: Cast nets, seines
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Greenback: See Scaled Sardine
:GOGGLE EYE
( )
aka: Bigeye Shad
HARD TAIL
)Caranx crysos(
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
Blue Runner, yellow mackerel, jack, runner
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Killifish: See Bull Minnows
Leatherback: See
Leatherjacket: See
LY: See Scaled sardine, Menhaden
MENHADEN, GULF
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
( )
aka: Pogy, Pogies, Moss Bunkers, Peanut Bunkers, Shad, LY, Alewife, Bunker
Menhaden
Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) grow to about 9 or
inches and are silvery with a dark blue-green back 10
and yellow-green fins. A dark spot behind the gill cavity
is about even with the eye. Some adults have additional
,spots on their sides. These fish have a pudgy
compressed body and have enlarged scales that extend
from the mid-section to the dorsal fin. Their oily flesh
makes them a popular choice for use in producing fish
oil, meal, and fertilizer; they are also a popular bait for
the Gulf Coast blue crab fishery. Menhaden are also
,”called “fatback,” “bugfish,” “razorbelly,” “alewife
.”mossbunker,” “pogy,” and “shad“
)MENHADEN, ATLANTIC (Brevoortia tyrannus
:MOON FISH
( )
:aka
Pilchard: See Scaled Sardine
PIN FISH
)Lagodon rhomboids(
:aka
Peanut Bunkers: See Menhaden, Gulf
Pogies: See Menhaden, Gulf
:RIBBON FISH
( )
aka: Atlantic Cutlass Fish
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
__________________________________________________________________________
_
ROUND SCAD - See Cigar Minnow__________________________________________________________________________
_
:RUBY RED LIPS
)(
aka: TomtateTomtate - Haemulon aurolineatum
Family Haemulidae, GRUNT
Description: bright orange mouth lining; light colored; gray to tan on back; yellow to brown stripe from head to base of tail fin; black
blotch at base of tail fin fades away in larger
specimens
Where found: bottom fish found around reefs and hard bottom areas
Size: can reach 10 to 11 inches, weighs less than 1 pound
Remarks: Commonly used to catch larger fish; not usually eaten due to small size
Sand Perch: See Squirrel Fish
SCALED SARDINE
)Harengula jaguana(
Other Names: Pilchard, White Bait, "LY", Greenback, Sardina
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Shad: See Menhaden, Gulf
)SPANISH SARDINE: (Sardinella aurita
Other Names: Smooth Sardine, Gilt Sardine, Gilt Pilcher, Sardine, Shiner, Herring
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
Where to find: They are frequently found around piers, reefs, weather bouys etc. Spanish sardines
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Spanish sardines (Sardinella aurita) are members of the herring family and have a slender body, bluish or greenish back, white belly
and very silver sides. They grow to about ten inches - and will fill your bait well with loose scales very quickly. You must have a
good water flow to keep them healthy - especially during summer when water temperatures are warmer. Everything loves to eat
sardines and they are great bait either alive, dead, whole, cut, trolled
. or fished on the bottom
. They can be caught on Sabiki rigs or with a cast net (3/8 inch mesh) in shallow waters
)Spanish sardines (Sardinella aurita
are a type of herring. They have a
long, torpedo-shaped silvery body
with a dark blue back, a rounded
.belly, a deeply forked tail fin, and a single dorsal fin
.Spanish sardines may reach 9 inches in length
Thread herring
SQUIRREL FISH: (Diplectrum formosum) aka: Sand Perch
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
THREADFIN HERRING (Opisthonema ogliman
)
Other Names: Mendhaden, Greenie, Greenback, Shiner, Thread, Machuelo
Thread herring
Atlantic thread herring (Opisthonema oglinum) are the
most common Florida herring. They have a rotund
body, a deeply curved belly, and a pointed head. Their
common name refers to the long ray that trails from the
back of their lone dorsal fin like a piece of thread. Silvery
with a bluish or greenish back, thread herring have
a dark spot above their gill covers and another dark spot
behind, which is often followed by an entire row of dark
spots. Six or seven streaks are present along their
sides. They may grow to 8 inches and are also called
horse minnow,” “hairy back,” “grassy back,” and“
.”greenback“
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
__________________________________________________________________________
_
Tomtate: See Ruby Red Lips
WHITE BAIT: See Scaled Sardine.
normally used for it in the Destin area. You will
find that many people call different bait fish by
the same name. And, it may be called another
name in another area.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anchovies: See Glass Minnows
Atlantic Bumper: See Crazy Fish
Bay Anchovy: See Glass Minnows
Blue Runner: See Hard Tail
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BALLYHOO & BALAO
(Hemiramphus brasilensis and
Hemiramphus balao)
Other names: HOO, Halfbeaks
General information: Live Balllyhoo are not normally found in the Destin area as it prefers the warmer waters of southern Florida.
Can be bought frozen and a popular bait for bluewater fishing. Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasilensis) and balao (H. balao) are
members of a group of fishes known as halfbeaks, for their small, beaklike mouths. Ballyhoo are silvery with a greenish back, and
the upper lobe of their tail fin is yellowish-orange. Balao are silvery with a bluish back, and the upper lobe of their tail fin is bluish-
violet and has a red tip. For both species, the single dorsal fin is set far back on the fish’s back, near the deeply forked tail. The
lower jaw elongates into a flat blade with an orange-red tip. Ballyhoo grow to 16 inches and are generally bigger than balao.
When Available: Not common to this area and not normally targeted. You might find them in the summer months here
Where to find: Not common in this area. I have seen some at night under the Destin Bridge.
How to catch: Cast Net, Sabiki rig tipped with shrimp. Some more reading follows if interested.
Hardiness in the livewell:
Bait Value: Considered prime bait for sailfish, dolphin, and wahoo
How to rig: Numerous methods, go to one of the following websites for some good
explanations.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BONITA
(Euthynnus alletteratus)
:Other names
*Little Tunny
Bonito
Bobo
false albacore
Little Tuna
Mackerel Tuna
Common name*
General information: Actually grows to several pounds, but the smaller Bonitas are used .for bait. The larger ones are used as
fresh cut strip baits
Range & Habitat: This fish is distributed Gulfwide in blue and green water at all depths. It comes closer to shore than any other
tuna species
Identification & Biology: This fish has a "tuna-shaped", but streamlined body. The back is steel blue to dark blue in color and has
a patch of wavy lines on the rear part of the back. The belly is very white and has several dark spots on each side between the
pectoral and pelvic fins. No other species with a back-patch of wavy or mottled lines has these spots, although the spots may be
hard to see on some fish. The closest look-alike to the little tunny is the less common Atlantic bonito. Besides lacking the belly
spots, the patch of wavy lines on the back of the Atlantic bonito extends further forward, to a point equal to the front of the dorsal fin.
In the little tunny, the patch of lines begins at a point about halfway back from the beginning of the fin.
Little tunny are a strongly schooling species that can form schools nearly a mile long. When a large school is actively feeding, they
are very noisy, keeping the water splashing and foaming in what is called locally a "Bonito Boil". They feed most heavily on fishes
such as herrings, sardines and scads, but they will also readily take squid and crustaceans. They are fast-growing, but short-lived
fish. At one year of age and 14 inches, they are mature enough to spawn, which takes place offshore in waters over 100 feet deep.
Little tunny seldom live over
5 years
Size: Little tunny average 10-12 pounds, but are not rare over 20 pounds.
Food Value: Good; better than its reputation, but because of the very red flesh, not many people eat them.
When Available: Year round, but more prominent in the summer.
Where to find: Normally found close to shore (within 5-10 miles) but can be found out at sea
They travel in large schools and can
.be seen feeding at the surface
When feeding, they make a very
,prominent disruption in the water
referred to as a "BOIL"here. The
boil may be half the size of a football
field and usually has a flock of birds
associated with it. At times, you will
also have other fish (sharks) feeding
on the bonito. I have hooked a Bobo
several times and end up just pulling
up half a Bonita attached to my
hook. The schools of Bonita can be
seen for a few miles. They are
caught off of the Okaloosa Island
Pier in the winter and can be caught from the jetties. Best bet is in a boat.
How to catch: The larger ones are used for strip bait can be caught on Stretch 25s (red/white) trolled close to their school. Or, you
can maneuver to get in front of one of their schools and toss a lure to them which is great fun on light tackle. For lures, use:
Clarks spoons on a bubble rig
White pompano jigs, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce
Small silver spoons
They don't have sharp teeth so you do not need a
.leader normally
For a retrieve, just toss toward them and retrieve
straight back as fast as you can reel
Hardiness in the live well Very hard (Impossible?) to keep alive. When you catch them, they go into a rapid "death shake" and die
after a few minutes, even in a live well. Best to just put them on ice to start with.
Rigging:
Bait Value
Excellent for offshore fishing, sharks, and reef fish
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BULL or MUD MINNOWS
Other Names
Cocahoe minnow
Killifish*
Mud Minnow
Mummichogs
There are variety of
killifish that we call
Bull or Mud Minnows.
(Believe there are
8 species in the Gulf of
Mexico area alone.)
The most
prominent ones are:
Fundulus grandis - Gulf killifish: Largest of the coastal killifishes. May reach 8" at maturity.
Fundulus majalis - Striped killifish: Has dark vertical bars and grows to 7" in length.
Fundulus similis - Longnose killifish. Long, pointed head and dark bars on body. Adult reaches 4 1/2 " in length.
General information: Very tough fish. Can live in fresh or salt water and very inhospitable enviroments with extremes of
temperatures, salinity, and low oxygen levels. A schooling fish, .
it feeds on crabs, fish, shrimp, worms, insects, and small pieces of plant life
When Available: Year round. They spawn from March to September, with a peak in April
.and September
Where to find: Lives in both fresh and saltwater. Like muddy bottoms. Can be found along grass flats, marshes, creeks, and rivers.
Feed on small animals and crustaceans that live on
mud bottoms
How to catch: Use a standard minnow trap baited with a can of cat food, dried
dog/cat food, bread, fish parts, etc
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value Excellent for inshore fishing for Redfish and trout. Normally hooked throught bottom lip and out
through the top lip
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CIGAR MINNOW
(Decapterus punctatus)
Family Carangidae
JACKS AND POMPANOS
Other names
Round Scad
General information: Cigar minnows are a seasonal, schooling fish. Their narrow and stretched-out body is dark on top, shading to
silver on the belly, and has black spots along the front half of the lateral line. These fish have a deeply forked tail fin and two
separate, deeply notched dorsal fins. This species is one of the few bait fish species that have spines, which in round scad are
particularly sharp, so these bait fish should be handled cautiously
Large schools of them start to show up in the Destin area in the April to May time frame and normally stay in the area until the
October time frame. They run about 6 inches but can be as large as 12 inches. They may be found from the beach out to to the
edge of the continental shelf (about 25 miles). They normally remain on the bottom during the day and come to the mid levels and
surface at night. They feed on planktonic invertebrates, primarily copepods but also on gastropod larvae, ostracods and pteropods
. Spawns well offshore year-round. Eggs are free floating ( pelagic ) in the ocean
When Available: April to October
Where to find: Found in schools close to shore (within 2-3 miles of beach). Normally are near the bottom during the day, come
closer to the surface at night. Normally, you will want to use a sabiki or cast net the first thing after sunup around the east pass, the
outer bar, the CB and other buoys in the east pass channel. Also, along the beach just outside the outer
.sandbar out to a mile or so
How to catch: # 6 or # 8 sabiki rig or Cast net
.Hardiness in the live well: They are very hardy in the live well
Bait Value: Excellent
____________
Cocahoe Minnow: See Bull Minnows
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CRAZY FISH
Other names: Atlantic Bumper
General information
When Available
Where to find
How to catch
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value
___________________________________________________________________________
CROAKER
(Micropogonias undulatus)
Other names
Atlantic Croaker
General information
When Available
Where to find
How to catch
Hardiness in the live well
Bait Value
___________________________________________________________________________
Finger mullet - See Mullet
___________________________________________________________________________
GLASS MINNOW
Anchoa mitchilli
:Other names
Bay anchovies
Anchovies
Fry
Big Mouth Fry
General information: Bay anchovies live along the coast in estuaries, bays, and marshes and near sandy beaches. They usually
live over muddy bottoms. They spend the winter in deep waters and migrate to shallow shores and wetlands for spawning in late
spring to early summer. Spawning takes place during the evening hours. Females release the eggs into the water, where they are
fertilized by males. The eggs float near the surface for approximately twenty-four hours after fertilization and then hatch. Bay
anchovies mature to adults in two and
.one-half months
:When Available
Where to find: Found in the Choctawhatchee Bay and along the beach. Habitat includes
.bays, estuaries, and the ocean out to about 80' deep
How to catch: Cast nets, seines
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Greenback: See Scaled Sardine
:GOGGLE EYE
( )
aka: Bigeye Shad
HARD TAIL
)Caranx crysos(
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
Blue Runner, yellow mackerel, jack, runner
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Killifish: See Bull Minnows
Leatherback: See
Leatherjacket: See
LY: See Scaled sardine, Menhaden
MENHADEN, GULF
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
( )
aka: Pogy, Pogies, Moss Bunkers, Peanut Bunkers, Shad, LY, Alewife, Bunker
Menhaden
Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) grow to about 9 or
inches and are silvery with a dark blue-green back 10
and yellow-green fins. A dark spot behind the gill cavity
is about even with the eye. Some adults have additional
,spots on their sides. These fish have a pudgy
compressed body and have enlarged scales that extend
from the mid-section to the dorsal fin. Their oily flesh
makes them a popular choice for use in producing fish
oil, meal, and fertilizer; they are also a popular bait for
the Gulf Coast blue crab fishery. Menhaden are also
,”called “fatback,” “bugfish,” “razorbelly,” “alewife
.”mossbunker,” “pogy,” and “shad“
)MENHADEN, ATLANTIC (Brevoortia tyrannus
:MOON FISH
( )
:aka
Pilchard: See Scaled Sardine
PIN FISH
)Lagodon rhomboids(
:aka
Peanut Bunkers: See Menhaden, Gulf
Pogies: See Menhaden, Gulf
:RIBBON FISH
( )
aka: Atlantic Cutlass Fish
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
__________________________________________________________________________
_
ROUND SCAD - See Cigar Minnow__________________________________________________________________________
_
:RUBY RED LIPS
)(
aka: TomtateTomtate - Haemulon aurolineatum
Family Haemulidae, GRUNT
Description: bright orange mouth lining; light colored; gray to tan on back; yellow to brown stripe from head to base of tail fin; black
blotch at base of tail fin fades away in larger
specimens
Where found: bottom fish found around reefs and hard bottom areas
Size: can reach 10 to 11 inches, weighs less than 1 pound
Remarks: Commonly used to catch larger fish; not usually eaten due to small size
Sand Perch: See Squirrel Fish
SCALED SARDINE
)Harengula jaguana(
Other Names: Pilchard, White Bait, "LY", Greenback, Sardina
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Shad: See Menhaden, Gulf
)SPANISH SARDINE: (Sardinella aurita
Other Names: Smooth Sardine, Gilt Sardine, Gilt Pilcher, Sardine, Shiner, Herring
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
Where to find: They are frequently found around piers, reefs, weather bouys etc. Spanish sardines
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Spanish sardines (Sardinella aurita) are members of the herring family and have a slender body, bluish or greenish back, white belly
and very silver sides. They grow to about ten inches - and will fill your bait well with loose scales very quickly. You must have a
good water flow to keep them healthy - especially during summer when water temperatures are warmer. Everything loves to eat
sardines and they are great bait either alive, dead, whole, cut, trolled
. or fished on the bottom
. They can be caught on Sabiki rigs or with a cast net (3/8 inch mesh) in shallow waters
)Spanish sardines (Sardinella aurita
are a type of herring. They have a
long, torpedo-shaped silvery body
with a dark blue back, a rounded
.belly, a deeply forked tail fin, and a single dorsal fin
.Spanish sardines may reach 9 inches in length
Thread herring
SQUIRREL FISH: (Diplectrum formosum) aka: Sand Perch
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
THREADFIN HERRING (Opisthonema ogliman
)
Other Names: Mendhaden, Greenie, Greenback, Shiner, Thread, Machuelo
Thread herring
Atlantic thread herring (Opisthonema oglinum) are the
most common Florida herring. They have a rotund
body, a deeply curved belly, and a pointed head. Their
common name refers to the long ray that trails from the
back of their lone dorsal fin like a piece of thread. Silvery
with a bluish or greenish back, thread herring have
a dark spot above their gill covers and another dark spot
behind, which is often followed by an entire row of dark
spots. Six or seven streaks are present along their
sides. They may grow to 8 inches and are also called
horse minnow,” “hairy back,” “grassy back,” and“
.”greenback“
Cxxxxxxx
)Decapterus punctatus(
:Other names
:General information
:When Available
:Where to find
:How to catch
:Hardiness in the live well
:Bait Value
__________________________________________________________________________
_
Tomtate: See Ruby Red Lips
WHITE BAIT: See Scaled Sardine.
BAIT IN THE DESTIN AREA
A good live bait on your rig is probably the best way to catch fish in the Destin area. While not always true, a live bait will normally
catch more fish than any other type of bait. While any fish can be used as bait, we will just talk about the more common ones that
can be found in this area.
The bait is this area can be divided into two types, the ones that are here all year, and the ones that join us for the summer when
the waters warm up.
The first group, the "residents" are like the name says, here all year. Inside the Choctawhatchee Bay, we have pinfish, mullet, and
pigfish. Out the East Pass in the Gulf of Mexico, we can find Ruby Red Lips (Tomtates), Squirrel Fish, Bonita (Little Tunny), Hard
Tails, rock fish,
The second group, the schools of "tourists", join us in April, in full force in May, and usually stay until October or November, when
they return to warmer waters south of us. These would be the cigar minnows, scaled sardines, threadfin herring, Spanish
Sardines, etc.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON BAIT FISH IN THE DESTIN AREA
Range and Habitat of Gulf of Mexico bait fish: Most baitfish species reside in nearshore waters from the lower sections of
estuaries to about 90 miles offshore, with the majority caught in waters 20 to 60 feet deep.
Spanish sardines and Atlantic thread herring are found throughout Florida waters.
Although ballyhoo also occur statewide, the fishery for them is located primarily in south Florida from
Miami to Key West.
Round scad are caught mainly in northern Florida.
Bigeye scad range from the northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil and Bermuda, but
are found worldwide in warm waters.
As their name implies, Gulf menhaden are residents of the Gulf of Mexico and are found throughout west coast waters from the
Panhandle to Florida Bay. Other menhaden species occur in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic Ocean, and occasionally they
even crossbreed (hybridize) when they occur together.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Spanish sardines and threadfin herring are planktoneaters, equipped with special structures called gill rakers that enable them to
filter suspended matter from the water. Most baitfish will, however, also eat small crabs, shrimp, and fish.
Baitfish migrate seasonally, moving north and south or into and away from shore. They do this in response to temperature
changes or for spawning. They may also use habitats such as mangroves or seagrass beds for cover, and they appear to be
attracted to structures such as piers.
Baitfish are fast-growing fish that rarely live longer than four years. Some, such as ballyhoo, balao, and
scaled sardines, live only about one to two years. Fortunately, because their existence is so fleeting and precarious, baitfish
usually mature at about one year of age and spawn frequently. Except for menhaden, which spawn in or near the mouths of
estuaries, all of the commercially important species travel to oceanic waters to spawn. Most spawning takes place in waters from
30 to 165 feet deep, but eggs and larvae have been collected from even deeper waters.
Spawning seasons vary with the species. Gulf menhaden spawn in the fall and winter, but most baitfish
spawn in the spring and summer. Each female can produce from 30,000 to 80,000 eggs and may spawn
several times in a season.
The eggs of menhaden usually hatch into larvae within a few days of being fertilized. Menhaden larvae
grow rapidly and are carried by currents to estuaries, where they will remain until they become full-fledged juveniles. When they
mature, usually by the end of their first year, they begin moving offshore to join large schools and spawn. Baitfish die at extremely
high rates from both natural and human-related causes, and the majority caught by fishermen are only one or two years old.
As juveniles, baitfish join large schools and spend almost their entire lives in these tightly packed formations. The size of some of
these schools can be aweinspiring, and their ability to move as one unit, with the precision of synchronized swimmers, is
remarkable. When frightened, baitfish in a school can dart off at a 90-degree angle in a flash, with each member turning as if on
cue.
Baitfish schools generally stay near the bottom during the day and rise to midwater or the surface
at night to feed.
Most baitfish tend to form groups, or "schools". Schooling behavior often helps baitfish avoid being eaten by the multitudes of
marine creatures larger than they are. A large school may confuse predators: viewed as a whole, the well organized unit can
appear to be one very intimidating creature! Scientists speculate that schooling behavior may sustain a population by increasing
the probability of successful reproduction and by enhancing each Baitfish schools appear tighter and more compact during
daytime hours and more dispersed at night.
BAIT IN THE DESTIN AREA
What you can catch and how . . .
What you can catch and how . . .
KEEPING YOUR LIVE BAIT ALIVE -
If you are going to use live baits, you will need a "live well". Most fishing boats come with them installed.
There are many portable models available for sale at all
the local fishing tackle stores. Most people just get a 5
gallon bucket and put an aerator on it.
For more information on Live Wells, check out the following
links.
LIVE WELLS
KEEPING YOUR BAIT ALIVE
If you are going to use live baits, you will need a "live well". Most fishing boats come with them installed.
There are many portable models available for sale at all
the local fishing tackle stores. Most people just get a 5
gallon bucket and put an aerator on it.
For more information on Live Wells, check out the following
links.
LIVE WELLS
KEEPING YOUR BAIT ALIVE
| All drawings and information of the fish depicted here are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and were illustrated by Diane Rome Peebles. The complete set of fish and illustrations are located at: FWC FISH INFORMATION SITE |
"BONITO BOIL "
Bonito
Some links.....
60 SECOND STRIP BAIT
OFFSHORE ACADEMY - MAKING STRIP BAITS
60 SECOND STRIP BAIT
OFFSHORE ACADEMY - MAKING STRIP BAITS
Sabiki Rig Pin Fish on a Sabiki Rig Charter boats lined up in the East Pass catching bait in the morning.
A PINFISH TRAP
FULL OF PIN FISH
FULL OF PIN FISH
BALLYHOO VIDEO # 1
BALLYHOO VIDEO # 2
BALLYHOO VIDEO # 3
FLORIDASPORTSMAN ARTICLE
SPORTFISHERMAN.COM ARTICLE # 2
BALLYHOO VIDEO # 2
BALLYHOO VIDEO # 3
FLORIDASPORTSMAN ARTICLE
SPORTFISHERMAN.COM ARTICLE # 2
If you area going to catch your own bait, you need to find it first. As stated before, you have two main types of bait fish here, those
that stay all year and those that migrate into the area in the summer. We will talk about the all year fish first.
BAIT FISH HERE ALL YEAR: These will be the pinfish, bonito, reef fish such as ruby red lips and porgies, and fish on
natural bottom such as the squirrel fish.
PINFISH:
- From around May to October, you will find
pinfish around docks in the bayous or Destin Harbor. They
will also be on the grass flats in Choctawhatchee Bay and
bayous. (There are grass flats north of the Destin Coast
Guard station and the entire area south of Eglin AFB on the
north side of the bay).
- During the winter months, say November
to April, you can find pinfish in the deeper waters, between
15 to 60' deep. They will be around structure on the bottom.
The Shalimar bridge and the wrecks in the Choctawhatchee
Bay have always produced pinfish in the winter.
-
REEF FISH: The ruby red lips are probably the most abundant bait fish in the gulf all year. They, along with other small reef fish,
can be found on most of the offshore wrecks or structure using either a squid tipped sabiki rig (# 8 or larger) or a bottom rig with 2
to 3 small (2/0) squid tipped circle hooks. The squirrel fish can be caught using the same rig fishing over natural bottom.
BONITO: This is a schooling fish that can be found most of the year in open water close to shore. However, they are more
abundant in the summer. Mostly used for cut or strip bait. Look for the familiar "Bonito Boil" or birds diving to locate them. See the
Bonito section below for more information.
BAIT FISH THAT ARE HERE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS
Around the middle of April of each year, the waters off Destin have warmed enough (around 70 degrees) that schools of bait fish
migrate into the area from south Florida in search of food. This is also the time the fishing picks up around Destin as you have the
predator fish following these schools of bait into the area also. These bait fish are the Threadfin Herring, Cigar Minnows,
Menhaden, Spanish Sardines, and others.
Generally speaking, you will find these schools of bait fish, or "bait balls" as they are called locally, anywhere in Choctawhatchee
Bay and within about 2 miles of the coast line in the Gulf. You will have to just look for them as they travel constantly and will not
always be present where you caught them yesterday. The best time to catch them is the morning just after sun rise. After a few
hours, they tend to go deeper in the water column.
If you are around the east pass around 7:00 am each
morning in the summer, more so on the weekends,
you will see what I call the "elephant walk", over 40
boats some times, lined up around the jetties trying
to catch bait.
If you are on a boat, you will be able to paint some of
"Bait Balls" on your depth finder, or you will be able to
actually see them in the water, either skipping on top
trying to get away from predators or just below the
surface.
Some areas that normally hold bait in the morning,
depending on the tides, are: in the channels around
crab island (just north of the Destin Bridge), around
the bay side of the entrance to the channel into Joe's
Bayou, in the east pass between the jetties, around
the jetty rocks and pylons, and outside the jetties on
the deepwater side of the sand bar around the
entrance into the east pass. You will normally see
other boats lined up in areas holding schools of bait.
If you can not find bait in any of those places, try any of the buoys or buoy cans just outside the pass. The CB Buoy,
(N30 22.243 W086 30.896), is the most southern buoy
that marks the entrance into the Destin East Pass.
It normally holds bait all day. Toss your squid tipped
sabiki toward the buoy and let it fall. Then, jig it up
in a slow, jerking retrieve.
Also, you can go either west or east down the coast, staying within a mile of the breakers in 50-70' of water and be able to spot
schools of bait on the surface or by the flocks of birds diving on them.
The Destin Inlet Box, a concrete structure on the
bottom about a mile east of the jetties will hold bait.
NOTE: Sometimes the Destin Bait Boat will set up
near this. Although it is a free ocean, it is common
courtesy not to fish for bait around his boat.
A NOTE ON FISHING ETIQUETTE AND COMMON COURTESY: Go by the golden rule, sometimes it gets crowded out there
with many boats trying to fish the same bait ball or structure. While it is ok to do this, don't crowd orcut off your buddy, respect his
place. The unwritten rule is that the first boat there is given priority.
IF YOU DON"T HAVE A BOAT: Not to worry, you can still catch some bait. Again, a squid tipped sabiki rig thrown outside the
first breakers on the beach and around the jetties/bridges/docks will usually provide you with some live bait.
One excellent place to catch cigar minnows, hard
tails, etc is off of the Okaloosa Isand pier. Toss
your sabiki near the pilings or into any of the many
schools of bait that pass through the area.
A NOTE ON FADS: For many years around Destin, fishermen would put out FADS (Fish Attraction Devices) close to shore to
attract bait fish so they would have a private, reliable area area to catch bait that does not receive the same fishing pressure as
the pubic spots. These would normally consists of
a 5 gallon bucket full of concrete, with a plastic tarp
attached via a rope. Some type of floatation device
such as foam balls or sealed milk containers would
be attached to the other end. This would form some
vertical structure on the bottom that would attract
and keep bait fish close by. These are of course not
allowed now as you can't throw anything overboard
now. However, some may still be present along the
coast in 50 to 80' of water. Usually, they are within
a mile or so of the beach.
PINFISH CAUGHT
ON THE SHALIMAR
BRIDGE USING
SQUID TIPPED
SABIKI RIG DURING
DECEMBER
ON THE SHALIMAR
BRIDGE USING
SQUID TIPPED
SABIKI RIG DURING
DECEMBER
Some areas that normally hold bait fish all year
BARREL BARGE N30 21.819 W086 36.096
BRIDGE RUBBLE N30 20.826 W086 29.630
HOPPER BARGE N30 19.688 W086 22.893
KELP BED N30 20.826 W086 29.630
LIBERTY SHIP N30 18.392 W086 36.206
MISS LOUISE N30 22.286 W086 25.316
These are only a few. You will normally find bait
on any of the offshore structure.
________________________________________
Some natural bottom where I have caught squirrel
fish:
18s Bottom N30 11.489 W086 32.654
128 Hole N30 09.959 W086 31.744
Again, many other places to look.
BARREL BARGE N30 21.819 W086 36.096
BRIDGE RUBBLE N30 20.826 W086 29.630
HOPPER BARGE N30 19.688 W086 22.893
KELP BED N30 20.826 W086 29.630
LIBERTY SHIP N30 18.392 W086 36.206
MISS LOUISE N30 22.286 W086 25.316
These are only a few. You will normally find bait
on any of the offshore structure.
________________________________________
Some natural bottom where I have caught squirrel
fish:
18s Bottom N30 11.489 W086 32.654
128 Hole N30 09.959 W086 31.744
Again, many other places to look.
Ruby Red Lips (Tomtate)
Squirrel Fish (Sand Perch)
