The Spanish mackerel is one of only a few species which serve a dual role, both as highly sought after light tackle game fish, and as extremely effective baitfish. Migratory by nature, Spanish mackerel swim in enormous schools, thus anglers may encounter huge numbers one day and find the same area completely devoid of life the next. Fishermen of all skill levels catch this species from the surf, off piers, and from boats anywhere inside of Florida’s many passes, to a mile or two offshore of the Atlantic coast and up to five miles off the Gulf coast. For use as a baitfish, Spanish mackerel, both rigged and unrigged, can be purchased from select big-game natural bait retailers.

The scaled sardine is commonly known as a pilchard or white bait, and they make excellent enticements for just about every Florida marine fish species. Scaled sardines are distinguished by their bright silver and white scales, and enlarged keel-like bellies. They usually have a small black spot just behind the gill plate.

Commonly known as ten-pounders or whatever they’re called, ladyfish make excellent bait for both inshore and offshore fishing applications.

The ladyfish begins its life offshore, after the adults spawn during the winter months. After being carried inshore, the larval stage under-go a metamorphosis in the estuarine systems throughout coastal regions.

Ballyhoo - Or is it a balao?

Scientifically recognized as Hemiramhus brasiliensis, ballyhoo are the most popular offshore bait. Rigged or un-rigged, pre-packaged ‘hoos can be found in the freezer of bait shops from New York all the way to the northern Gulf of Mexico, and for good reason. I don’t think there’s a fish that swims that wouldn’t eat ballyhoo. Some may prefer it whole and others may prefer a perfectly cut chunk, but they’ll all eat it!

Pinfish make ideal bait for a wide variety of local species. Found grazing by the thousands throughout the shallow inshore waters, they’re often very easy to catch From spring to late fall large concentrations of pinfish inhabit just about every sea grass bed, bridge, pier, natural and artificial reef along both sides of the State. In the Gulf, you’ll also find pinfish actively foraging in the surf.

When it comes to live bait fishing, every angler has his preference. Some prefer the appeal of a juicy threadfin herring. Some prefer the flash and fishability of a pilchard. Others say there’s simply no substitute for the distress signals sent out by a live finger mullet dangling from the end of a light-wire circle hook.

RIBBONFISH: ATLANTIC CUTLASSFISH

Ribbonfish are certainly not the most handsome of fish. Long, thin and toothy, many saltwater anglers actually mistake these prehistoric looking creatures for eels or a strange breed of sea snake. However, they are in fact a fish, Atlantic cutlassfish to be exact. Common in bays and other inshore waters, ribbonfish’s primary habitats are the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic.

Although often confused with other members of the tuna family, bonito stand alone as one of the most prolific pelagic species in North American waters. Often caught well below the Florida Keys and as far north as Montauk in the Atlantic; and throughout the entire Gulf of Mexico, these super swimmers have exploded onto the sport fishing scene as a favorite target of light-tackle spin and fly fishermen alike.

Anchovies, or glass minnows, are small, oily fi sh that make excellent baits or chum. Anchovies are found in temperate waters from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. They are pelagic and feed on copepods, zooplankton, and tiny fi sh and crustacean larvae. Adult anchovies are rarely larger than three inches long.

Ranging throughout the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula to Tampa Bay, Gulf menhaden are commonly known in different regions as either pogies, moss-bunker, peanut-bunker, shad or just plain old menhaden. They roam both the inshore and offshore waters of the Gulf and should not be utilized for human consumption under any circumstances.

Commonly known to resident anglers as bigeye scad or goggle eyes, a frisky gog is without a doubt the number one most productive blue water live bait. For the offshore fisherman, looking down into your well and seeing 4 or 5 dozen gogs full of life is like looking into a pot of gold. Their brilliant sides glimmer as they so routinely swim in uniformed circles.

Clearly not in the fish family, this crawling critter does in fact deserve recognition as an excellent bait. Blue crabs require both inshore b r a c k i s h waters and high salinity ocean waters to complete their life cycles. They are commonly found from Massachusetts to Texas and a few have even been reported as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as Uruguay.