INSHORE APRIL 2005

INSHORE
BIG SPOTTAIL BASS
It’s that time of the year when the big spottail bass can be found feeding in the surf. They are on the large side, over 23” so please don’t harm them. You best bet is handle less as possible while trying to remove the hook. These fish love the taste of fresh shrimp dead or alive. However, don’t rule out using those old shrimp from the freezer. You might be in luck. Another Old Faithful bait is the “finder mullet.” This is bait that has been a favorite of these large fish for years. Mullet can be caught with a cast net or purchased at your local tackle store. For those who know where some mullet are holding I suggest you get your cast net out. However, it would be easier to pop in to Wal-Mart or your friendly tackle store and purchase a couple packages of “flash frozen ones.” With a little bait imagination you can even make large mullet appealing to the big bass. You can try filleting them or basically cut them in half. Your best shot at a fish will be to try to make the bait look like a fish. For instance, by filleting the large mullet it has the shape of a thin fish, moves in the current like one, and certainly does taste like one. For those who just cut the fish in half, don’t worry a fish is a fish is a fish. You certainly can’t get rid of the smell