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.

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!

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.