One morning I arrived at the bait stand only to find pee-wee shrimp for bait. I had already searched for white bait in several locations finding none. Calling a couple other captains on the water I found that they to couldn't find bait. So off I went with six dozen pee-wee shrimp and four anglers hoping for the best. I did have a plan - I knew I could catch trout under a cork using #4 or #6 hooks, however reds - no way. I knew that we would be catching pinfish on the shrimp and that a hungry red couldn't resist a nice fresh chunk of Pin. Arriving at the mangroves where the reds were all four anglers cast a small shrimp at the mangroves - soon enough we had a pinfish in the boat. I chunked it up into one or two inch pieces and BAM the reds started feeding. Out of the twenty seven fish caught in this spot only one hit the small shrimp. Easy lesson learned. Don't give up if you can't buy or catch the bait you want, improvise - pinfish, grunts, and ladyfish are excellent baits for reds.
Tight Lines & Good Times, Capt. Terry Frankford
Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc.
941-228-7802
terry.frankford@verizon.net
www.charterfishingsarasota.com