Saltwater fishing lends itself to both live bait picked clean from the ocean to artificial lures. Whether you need to drop quickly (using a 16 ounce diamond jig) to interfere with the group of bluefish, or you need something splashing across the surface such as a top water plug you have to determine which is the time and place for each.
Fresh bait can be extremely expensive and quite a nuisance. First you need to spend a small fortune at a live bait shop, and then you have to transport it to the boat to get to live fishing grounds. Unfortunately, all of this moving tends to upset the fresh bait, and by the time you arrive at your fishing spot, but they could be very stressed. This is of course assuming that you are able to find the live bait you with looking for at your local bait shop. There are times, when it’s preferable to gather your live bait yourself.
Fishermen in the Northeast often are interested in chasing striped bass. A bunker, or menhaden as it’s known in other areas, is one of the favorite foods of striped bass. Unfortunately, although bunker is typically easily available at any bait shop, they are not always fresh. Bunkers are not difficult to find, and they can easily be rounded up using snag hooks or even cast nets. Catching them yourself, means they will stay alive for hours and most fishermen find that they are significantly better than any frozen or dead bait they might have purchased. You can save any unused bait by freezing it until you need it again. It makes a reasonable substitute if you are unable to find live bait.
Live bait is very helpful if you are fluke fishing as well. While it may be easier to use dead and frozen bait, live bait can often provide an edge over those who are fishing with frozen bait. Mummichogs are the preferred bait for summer flounder. They can easily be found in creeks, the mouths of rivers, and other shallow estuaries that are typically found along the coast. It is not unusual to find these mummies in marinas. Place a trap and simply put a can of wet cat food into your trap, and within 30 minutes if you’ve placed in the right spot you’ll have all the bait you need.
Blackfish season in the Northeast means that many fishermen will be looking for green crabs. While they are easy to find in most bait shops, they tend to be rather expensive. The predicament comes in that blackfish are great at stealing this bait off the hook. Most anglers have discovered that in the long run, they will be far better off financially if they purchase a cheap crab trap. Rocks, jetties, docs, marinas and creeks are hiding spots for green crabs and Asian crabs. They swarm there in the thousands. It is not difficult to catch them, simply throw a filleted fish carcass into your trap and before you know it, you can fill a 5 gallon bucket.
While not everyone wants to take the time to catch their own bait, some find that it’s as much of a challenge as game fishing. It also allows you to learn more about the fish you intend on landing by learning the habits of their preferred prey. Not only can catching your own bait save you money, but it can help you become a better angler.
When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Saltwater Reels, Penn Reels, and Daiwa Reels.