spottail pinfish... any good for bait?

[cyril1974]

Caught a bunch of these at John U. Lloyd today, just wondering how good these were for bait? are they as good as regular pinfish?

Thanks,

Charles

[fishnfool73]

I have tried them numerous times over the years only to catch a few cudas. They are not very good bait in my experience at all.

[Boca Jetty Rat]

If we are talking about the silver ones with the buck teeth and black spot on the tail, then yes I have done very good using them over the years for snook.

[Chevy Juan]

Post up a pic if you can of what you've got.

[fishnfool73]

Intresting Boca as I have tried them numerous times for snook and never done anything on them at all. I have always free lined them in the surf to no avail. I know of a few people who have nabbed cobia on them as well. Not my bait of choice but may have to retry them in the future if nothing else is around.

[cyril1974]

Did not take any photos, it looked just like a pinfish, only with a spot on its tail instead of the usual spot, so I googled it and it looks just like the photos of the spottail pinfish. Just wanted to know if they were as good as the regular pinfish for bait... they were simple to catch on gold hooks and some small chunks of tilapia my buddy had with him.

Thanks,

Charles

[fishnfool73]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CBkQ9QEwAw

aka spots

[cyril1974]

exactly, but the ones we were catching were like 10x smaller.. perfect little bait sized! also, a bunch of baby snapper were in the area, finger sized, never saw them that small!!

[PhishingPhanatic]

I've caught snapper on them before but I prefer regular pins hands down.

[Boca Jetty Rat]

The ones I liked were a little smaller than palm sized. It is my go to bait at night on jetties. Pin them in the current to the bottom with apropriate sinker and wait. Use large rods heavier leaders typical pier style rod reel combo like a 9 foot custom torium 30 type set up. I've never tried in the surf only night jetty work caught on bikis tipped with squid at the end of jetties. Hook threw bony nose with circle hook.
. .

[rshields]

The ones I liked were a little smaller than palm sized. It is my go to bait at night on jetties. Pin them in the current to the bottom with apropriate sinker and wait. Use large rods heavier leaders typical pier style rod reel combo like a 9 foot custom torium 30 type set up. I've never tried in the surf only night jetty work caught on bikis tipped with squid at the end of jetties. Hook threw bony nose with circle hook.
. .

I have to give this a try... I've used them before but not much luck.

[chris21]

Pompano pier is absolutely loaded with those spot tail pinfish, I caught a ton one night and had a googan moment with one of them, didn't know they had buck teeth, so I barely put my finger in its mouth to remove the hook assuming it had the same kind of mouth as a regular pinfish or grunt, seconds later it clamped down very hard on my thumb and it hurt, I lifted up the lips and saw the buck teeth, ouch, never again, they're great eating though, I fry them whole

[james380]

they're great eating though, I fry them whole

[chris21]

You don't like them James?? They're pretty tasty

[fixed80]

eating no but for bait yes. i think they do well offshore though and have tried it too once.... but once is not enough I'll say.

[Phatman]

When I was a kid my old man and I would catch them surf fishing.
He would make me clean them, scale, gut and remove the heads, then he would deep fry them for the family.
I ate so many of those buck tooth turds they turned me against fish.
I always loved to fish, but the thought of eating one of those makes me a little