Live bait choices

Can someone please tell me the best love baitfish choices for kings and redfish? I have heard people talk about LYs and sardines and menhaden, can you also please post pictures of these baitfish so that I will know what's what?

Thanks,

David

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com.../what-as-a-ly/

Spanish Sardines :eat:
[img width=118 height=213]http://www.sansebastian.com.ph/images/products/spanishsardines-hs-corn.gif[/img]
;) :D

Actually TOP: Mackerel Scad (aka cigar minnow) BOTTOM: Spanish Sardine (aka herring or sardine)
[img width=300 height=200]http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/attachments/f192/159785d1316225492t-11.jpg[/img]

Scaled Sardine (aka LY)
[img width=463 height=277]http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/fish/images/Scaled_Sardine463.jpg[/img]

Menhaden (aka pogie)
[img width=550 height=363]https://apps.acesag.auburn.edu/mediamax/pdata/446.jpg[/img]

We don't often get menhaden around the GSPPier in the warm water months, and rarely in the cool water months though they migrate into the gulf.

Croaker and ground mullet for reds.

[size=12pt][font=comic sans ms]Here are some typical baits (except the Ghost Shrimp) for Kings and the Reds will hit ’em too.
In fact when the Reds are running in a feeding frenzy; you can probably put your flip flop on a hook and catch a Red. It gets crazy out there at times!

[img width=720 height=863]http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g446/finchaser1/Forum%20Only/NON%20REPORT%20PHOTOS/baitfish2.jpg[/img]

can I catch croaker and ground mullet with a sabiki rig?

Not ordinarily.
Try a small carolina rig setup with a #6 single hook about a 15"-18" leader (8#-12# line) and a 1/2 to 1 ounce egg sinker depending on how deep the water is and how much wind/current there is to deal with.

Thanks for the info. From the look at the pictures, I was mostly catching spanish sardines and LYs during the day and seems like only the crazyfish at night on the sabiki rig. One other question, what is the best way and type hook to use for each of these baitfish?

12-24 inches of wire #2 treble through the eye socket... cast and work back slowly (Slightly upwind/current)

Well, I am headed out to the pier to give it a try, thank for all the help guys!

As far as reds, when school is in session. One that is in the water with a hook in it is the best bait. It really doesn't matter. Red drum are the perfect the perfect fish for googans, newbies and tourists on this pier. The have decent size, they put up a good fight even though they aren't hard to land, they hit practically everything thrown at them, there are few fish that are more photogenic and everyone from one these groups will tell you, "those bull reds, they taste great".

... and they are EXCELLENT candidates for CPR (Catch, Photo & RELEASE ;-) :headbang:

I sure wish more people would see it that way Dave. It wouldn't hurt my feelings any if Alabama adopted Florida's policy on oversize reds (limit of zero).

[quote author=DRH link=topic=1737.msg16398#msg16398 date=1343866803]
I sure wish more people would see it that way Dave. It wouldn't hurt my feelings any if Alabama adopted Florida's policy on oversize reds (limit of zero).
[/quote]

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I though Florida changed their laws this past spring to allow anglers to keep one over slot.

[quote author=SandmanFishing link=topic=1737.msg16400#msg16400 date=1343867949]
[quote author=DRH link=topic=1737.msg16398#msg16398 date=1343866803]
I sure wish more people would see it that way Dave. It wouldn't hurt my feelings any if Alabama adopted Florida's policy on oversize reds (limit of zero).
[/quote]

[size=24pt]+1[/size]
[/quote]

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I love bull red photos about as much as I love seeing them do a perfect 10 nosedive back in and doing a 1/2 twist swim away.

Anytime Im down there I never see anyone release a fish. I see people give them away. Does anyone ever release?

I see them released all the time, but the people who are giving them away don't realize how much of a pain they can be to clean if you don't know what your doing.

I throw back 99 percent of my reds .. I love the lOok on peoples faces as they say" are you letting that go?!"

Let em live

Meaning no disrespect but I don't "throw" them back.
Rather I put them back in the net and lower it down to revive the fish and let it swim away.
It might rub a little slime off but it seems to be less stressful on the fish than the impact of the 'two story belly flop' I've seen employed at times ::)

just sayin...

And yeah, I luv that look of "You lettin that go?!" :D

[quote author=the original pier pest link=topic=1737.msg16402#msg16402 date=1343868368]
I though Florida changed their laws this past spring to allow anglers to keep one over slot.
[/quote]
Florida did make a change concerning reds, but it was to double the limit within the slot from one to two in certain regions of the state. The limit above and below the slot sizes still is zero.

[quote author=Johnny come lately link=topic=1737.msg16410#msg16410 date=1343871234]
Anytime Im down there I never see anyone release a fish. I see people give them away. Does anyone ever release?
[/quote]
Perhaps you aren't noticing the ones being released. I have caught literally tons of reds, so I'm really not interested taking a picture of one unless it has something unique about it. I also see no need to keep it out of the water long enough to show it off or make a big deal over it. I understand the need or at least the want that a first timer has to take a picture, weigh, measure and show it off a little. I support their right to do that and think it is great for practically every aspect of fishing. I'm far from alone in having caught numerous reds and having no desire to make a big deal over them. I like to get my fish in quickly and get rerigged to possibly catch another one before the school vacates the pier. I generally just break them off at the pier so I don't have to take the time to net it and release it. I have no problem losing 50 cents worth of hook, leader and swivel for each fish I break off. So if you aren't paying any attention to me specifically it would be hard to notice me releasing a fish. That is even if you noticed me catching one. Now if I have a lure that I would like to get back then I will net the fish, unhook it and get it back in the water ASAP.
[quote author=Peaches link=topic=1737.msg16429#msg16429 date=1343894264]
I throw back 99 percent of my reds .. I love the lOok on peoples faces as they say" are you letting that go?!"

Let em live
[/quote]
Now getting a picture of that look would be worthwhile.

[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=1737.msg16432#msg16432 date=1343905102]
Meaning no disrespect but I don't "throw" them back.
Rather I put them back in the net and lower it down to revive the fish and let it swim away.
It might rub a little slime off but it seems to be less stressful on the fish than the impact of the 'two story belly flop' I've seen employed at times ::)

just sayin...

And yeah, I luv that look of "You lettin that go?!" :D
[/quote]
I agree, give them a lower and don't be a thrower. If you've got to get the fish over the rail and intend on releasing it, that is the most practical and humane way to do it. If there was an absolutely fool proof method of dropping or throwing a red over the railing where it would land head first every time than I'd say go for it, but there isn't so lower them back in the net folks.

I usually catch the croaker and ground mullet on a single hook bottom rig with dead shrimp or squid.

I like to slowly lower them into my cooler.
Usually in a plastic bag to keep the slime from getting all over.
My family loves redfish and like the fact that in Alabama you get to keep one oversized.
If not for that, the opportunity to catch a slot fish is not too good. (for me)
Being down there a couple weeks a year I am happy to take any fish (king, red, spanish) that someone doesn't want.
Nothing I cooler goes to waste.