How to Catch Pinfish for Bait Without a Cast Net or a Pinfish Trap (Full Instructions)
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- čas přidán 25. 03. 2015
- Almost every saltwater angler would love to have a live well full of pinfish. Nice sized pinfish are some of the best live bait out there... whether you are fishing offshore or inshore.
We have caught some of our largest grouper with pinfish while fishing offshore, while at the same time catching some of our largest snook using pinfish as bait when fishing inshore.
But of course none of it is possible without catching the pinfish first...
And the one thing that most of us hate is always have to throw a cast net to catch pinfish (especially when it is cold or early in the morning when you really don't want to be wet with salt water)...not to mention the grass and weeds that your cast net pulls in to the boat when casting for pinfish on the flats.
And when it comes to pinfish traps, they take up space on your boat, they can fall apart after hours (or days) in the saltwater, and they can take a while to actually work. Not to mention you have to drop it down in the water and go check on it later (which eats into your fishing time).
Well the good news is that catching tons of pinfish without a cast net or a pinfish trap is possible. In fact, it is so easy a 5 year old can do it.
Here is how you catch pinfish on the grass flats without an cast net or a pinfish trap:
Step 1 is to simply find any Berkley Gulp bait that is no longer usable (as in a Gulp bait you were going to throw out due to being ripped apart, bitten in half by a puffer fish, etc).
Step 2 is to cut that Berkley Gulp bait into a really small (fingernail size or smaller) piece. The smaller the better in most cases.
Step 3 is to find a small hook (couple of sizes larger than a sabiki hook size), attach a small weight, and attach it to any spinning rod.
Step 4 is to throw the hook (with attached Gulp bait piece) out over any grass flats where you know pinfish to hang out.
Step 5 is to hook up with a pinfish, reel him in quick, and toss the pinfish in the live well (watch the video to see the pinfish remover that Salt Strong uses).
Step 6 is of course to go Fishing and catch a big one using your fresh pinfish as bait.
One of the coolest aspects of catching pinfish this way, is that even your kids can do this. So while they are having a blast reeling up pinfish (for your bait), you could be checking out new spots to fish, tides, weather, rigging up your lines, etc (or even having a beer)
I can assure you that once you catch pinfish like this without having to use a big cast net or a pinfish trap, you won't go back to the old way.
This is just too easy, and you can see from this video that as long as you find a spot with pinfish, you can catch a dozen of them in less than 10 minutes (sometimes with the same Gulp bait), and never have to get wet or messy.
So yes, catching pinfish for bait can be done a rod and reel.
If you have any other ideas or tips on catching big pinfish, leave us a comment below.
For more on the best fishing tips, check out:
www.saltstrong.com/article_cat... - Zábava
Heck with the kids lol I'm 30 years old and I love catching bait fish pins grunts my kids love it very easy perfect vid! Great vid honestly best way to catch bait better than a sabiki rig not shore if I spelled that right in 1 hour or less you got plenty of bait don't even need a cast net only time you need a cast net is 2 catch mullet for tarpon but don't know how to throw a cast net...sorry for the Long comment but this is the best bait catching vid on CZcams! I've seen yet
Mike Marks Hey Mike, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment!!! I'm glad to see that you enjoyed this "how to catch pinfish" video. Yes, this simple method is fun for all ages. It's effective with this one-hook style, but you can also tip the many hooks along a sabiki rig to catch them even faster.
If you do ever decide to learn how to throw a cast net so you can catch mullet on demand, here's a video which has received a lot of positive feedback that I believe you'll like too - www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-throw-a-cast-net/.
You have just saved my life! (figuratively). I fish from a kayak and cast nets are not easy to lug around all day. Love the channel, subscribed
Hey Joshua, we're thrilled to see that this tip has been well received. Yes, this is a great way to catch good bait when fishing from a kayak where you don't have to lug around a bulky cast net. Thanks for subscribing to our CZcams channel. We distribute a lot of educational fishing articles too, so be sure to sign up on our website to receive our weekly email newsletter - www.saltstrong.com/.
I used to do that and still do from time to timo, now I just use a crazy jig over crunchy bottom like dredge spoil. I catch about 50-50 pigfish to pinfish and the occasional pompano trout and mackerel as a bonus. Use the dehooker when you can and the pinfish stay healthier than net caught or trapped pins. My rig is a small bass casting sinker at the end of the line and a dropper loop about 12-14" above it. I like the bait above the grass. Very nicely done video's great job.
+Captiva Guide Thanks for making time to add some great tips. Fish On!
Pinfish the bluegill of saltwater lol
I’ve literally been saying that
The black folks in Wakulla county Fla call them Silver Bream
I catch them at 53 Ave in Cherry Grove SC on an Ultra Light outfit with a cork and split shot, using bait like shrimp.
I live in a neighborhood with a dock that has tons of pins and there are big reds that come through the channel nearby so this method will be a life saver since I don’t have to lug an 6 pound castnet down there on my bike
Thanks for watching!
Used this technique last week in Charlotte Harbor. Caught pinfish every cast almost. Ended with about 60 or so nice pins for redfishing.
Very informative! Thank you
hey man i was in the flats and we were fishing for snook and we ran out of bait a little thought goes through my head and i decided to take a small hook and a red bead and a little piece of gulp and i caught a boatload its awesome to see somebody with the same idea great vid
Great video, thanks can't wait to try it.
You guys are awesome! Im glad I found the channel, keep up the good work.
I would like to see a video on what you guys use for chum when netting whitebait.
Thanks
Hey Jesse, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment on this pinfish catching video and for mentioning a great topic we can cover for catching whitebait. We'll make an article and video on that soon and send it out in our weekly email newsletter. Be sure to subscribe to our website (www.saltstrong.com) if you have not already done so. Fish On!
Heading over to sub now. Thanks for the quick response!
This is an excellent video and tutorial. I used Sabiki rigs with 3 oz. pyramid weights to use from the shore, and they worked for me with the Gulp. I had a double hookup in one of the casts. But this method is easier and cheaper than the way I was doing it. Thanks so much.
Robert Suarez Hey Robert, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment! Yes, sabiki rigs do work great and allow multiple fish on a single cast. I made this pinfish catching video particularly for getting kids out fishing, so I went with the single hook setup mostly due to safety... but the simple hook style certainly saves money and is easier to store compared to using a full sabiki rig.
Thank you, I thought that may be the one ! I'll be surf-fishing in South Africa when I go back there soon, recently realised I should find some way to get the little baitfish while fishing from the beach. I'm going to use your idea of cutting up a Gulp and attach it to a multiple size 10 hooks line then, see if I get lucky.
Thanks for the tips. This will be a good way to keep my son busy and interested when fishing. He will love this. Thanks again guys.
SALT STRONG!!
Mr. Lane Yes, this is a great way to get a young child hooked on fishing. Best of all, you'll be getting lots of good bait while they are having a ton of fun catching the pinfish... win-win!
Just catching bait looks like fun.
Great video - Thanks for sharing guys! So much good info on this channel
Brendan Yeckley Thanks for making time to leave this nice comment, Brendan. We hope you decide to join our email newsletter so you can be the first to get our best posts each week... here's a link where you can start your free membership: www.saltstrong.com/members/.
My wife and I caught a dozen big pin fish yesterday and they were delicious . Fried them up like a spot or croaker . Cole slaw , french fries and hush puppies . Wash D C
They are good to eat and I have cleaned them both ways cut the head off and filled them.
Filled what? There's no meat lol
Nice Vid thanks for sharing
pretty neat, he sure makes it look easy
Thanks for leaving the nice comment. I wish it was always as easy as shown in the video (we were not doing multiple takes to catch them after teaching... the pinfish were stacked on that flat). For the most consistent results, I recommend fishing the flat with a Gulp on a jig head for trout when prospecting for bait... as soon as you start getting lots of pinfish pecking at it and following it in, then start cutting small chunks to catch them. This way, you can be catching game fish while prospecting for bait.
I use a zebco 33 rigged with a cork bobber just like for Bream (sun fish). I use pieces of hot dog for bait and its been working for me for 30+ years now
Thanks, I learned a new way to catch Pinfish.
Excellent Video and info guys Thanks.
Ron Gamblin Glad to see that you enjoyed this easy trick to catch pinfish. It's now pretty much all I ever use to catch them since it's easy and keeps the boat clean (unlike throwing a cast net).
Good to know about the gulp. Thanks
Great video! I used to catch pinfish like this all the time with tiny bits of shrimp. Lots of fun with a bobber. Gotta take my daughter out there and and catch some pinfish. Then go get some Snook! Thanks!!!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment. Yes, this works great with small pieces of shrimp too... the shrimp will get hits more quickly, but the Gulps are tougher so there's less time needed in re-baiting the hooks (some pieces can catch 10 or more before finally falling off).
Absolutely! It's a great, and FUN way to catch pinfish. Thanks for putting this video out there. It really brings back good memories from growing up in Florida. Back when I was growing up, we didn't have Berkley Gulp baits, they work AWESOME! Good stuff. Keep it coming!
Our pleasure! Thanks for the support.
Fish On!
Great video!!
Tyler Evans Hey Tyler, thanks so much for making time to leave a comment. We hope to hear from you again soon. Fish On!
good vid I'll try this
Thanks very much for the information, I really enjoyed it and will most certainly try cut Gulp bait real soon. Regards,
+Eddy Ballester Hey Eddy, thanks for making time to leave the nice comment. We wish you the very best next time you're out on the water. Fish On!
Can't wait to put this rig to the test tomorrow. Gonna be doing some beach fishing for snook.
Supreme Fishing Cool! Good luck out there tomorrow. Snook love pinfish, so we hope to hear that you catch some lunkers on the beach!
Thanks man!!
great video and idea,have you ever tried it with a Sabiki to get more hook ups,I'm going to use your technique for my next pier fishing adventure...tightlines
you guys are awesome !
+Heather Dickson Thanks for the kind words Heather!
I tried a piece of gulp minnow (green color). I didn't catch anything. Switched back to a small piece of squid and used small hooks and caught sevrral grunts, several pinfish, a small flounder, and small red. Returned flounder and red...let em grow and keep em later. Caught a 6 - 7 foot bull shark with pin fish in destin fl two days ago.
thanx nice video just,wondering how you reel gona sounds when yo catch bigger fish?
this is a awesome way to catch fish
To catch pin fish I would use a sabiki rig and tip it with squid. But this method is way easier than using a sabiki. Thanks for the tips. Keep it up love the videos.
Supreme Fishing Our pleasure. Yes, squid tipped sabikis work great for pinfish and tons of other great bait fish. Small gulp chunks can make a sabiki rig very effective too, so don't feel like you have to use the single hook style as shown in this pinfish catching video... more hooks = more chances of catching bait.
The John u Lloyd boat dock is always loaded with pin fish because when people come to clean their fish they chum the water. So that's a good bait spot from land.
Thanks so much!
Good job.
So do you set the hook as soon as you feel something or do you wait a second before setting it
Luke, what's the name of that tool you're using to unhook the fish? I'm trying to find one to purchase. Thanks!!
dehooker
Get a small Sabiki rig. Get live or cocktail shrimp. Rip up the shrimp and hook little chunks on the Sabiki rig. Boom. Filled a 5gal in 20 minutes with chunky pinfish. (Fishing longboat key FL)
I just use sabiki with little pieces of gulp. It works. Even caught reds and flounder on it surprisingly.
Hello. Not sure if you already answered this question but what size hook were you using?
I catch pinfish using this rig: egg sinker,bead,swivel,and a eagle claw size 4 with small cut up pieces of shrimp of squid
Gulp has strips of bait now and you can cut it to length like FishBites or Fish Gum. I see people using it for croakers and spots and it seems to work. If you are buying bait for catching bait the newer Gulp strips might be a better choice than chopping up Gulp soft plastic tails. I rarely bother with bait now but I have FishBites in my bix and it works, plus it's tough enough to catch a few baits. Y'all know this stuff but new anglers may have not if they're watching this video.
Thanks so much for sharing!
So in conclusion, kids are slaves, they catch bait for you.
Haha... Perhaps not all kids, but my dad certainly made sure that we were able to catch bait, lie our own knots, pull weeds, and mow lawns at early ages (if the later two weren't done, we weren't able to do the first two).
yes the are especially if your teaching him.
Hi my name is Chaz I'd like to know what tool you used to get the baitfish off of the line without using your hands. Thank you
Great vid and a funny ending to it! lol I'm heading to the coast in May with a cousin who's never saltwater fished before and has no experience handling all the types with some nasty teeth in 'em. What was that gadget you used to get the hook out while keeping your hands away from the mouth of the fish?? I wanna catch blues and spanish mackeral, not be a field medic, or worse maybe have to take him to the hospital for a couple stitches and lose the tide, and of course the fish that could've been had. Thanks
I'm gona try this in Charleston, we don't have snook but I'm sure a nice red would take live longish or maybe big trout
Chucktown 👍🏽
Can you use the same gulp bait for greenbacks (herrings) as well. We always have a ton of these around the sunshine pier and they are getting quite hip to sabiki rigs. Not biting near as much as they used to. I think I might try this out.
It seems as if pinfish and grunts respond to the Gulp bits best, but I have done well with greenbacks using very small Gulp pieces to a sabiki rig.
Good tips
Thanks for leaving the nice comment on this pinfish catching video. Fish On!
What kind of dehooker was that?
Hey Luke, how do you rig that bullet weight? It seemed to stay put and not slide down the line. Looks like the same rig in your grouper video. That was perfection loop and using the orvis knot to attach to the loop. Is that what you used here? Thanks.
I just wrapped the line through the weight twice... it'll keep it in place while still being able to move it up or down if needed later.
nice one..
Thanks for making time to leave a comment on this video showing how to catch pinfish!
do you also have a video for the nidlefish?😆
Awesome video though!
Did you tie a know above AND below the bullet weight? Or use a small swivel?
What is the tool called for removing the pin fish and what of gulp you use.
Thanks
is there a small swivel or knot below your bullet weight that keeps it from sliding down? Thank for the great video, I can't wait to try it out
Either of those options would work, but I just looped the mono through the weight a couple times so that it stays in one place when casting while also allowing me to adjust it up or down as needed.
Very informative . but what type of gulp bait you are using?
+Omer Afzal I was using small pieces of a 3" white Gulp shrimp for catching pinfish in this video... but pretty much all types of Gulp (jerk shad, crab, shrimp, clam, etc.) work good too.
What about squid? Any good places for squid around largo? I never seen the ocean let alone fished it but I have gotten invited from up in Indiana. Just looking for other bait options I can catch besides pinfish. Any suggestions just in case.
Thanks
Was wondering with the bullet weight setup, did you use a swivel to separate from the leaderor just let it slide up and down the leader to the hook like on a worm type of rig.
+Jerry Klemm Great question! I just threaded the weight up the mono line about 10 to 12 inches, and then threaded the tag end through a couple more times so that the weight cannot move up or down.
Another effective way to do rig gulp chunks is to build a sabiki style rig where one or multiple hooks are tied along the line with the weight hanging about 10 inches below the bottom hook.
Thanks! Great suggestions
is 3inch gulp shrimp. what your using. they kinda look like they have whiskera?
Yes, I was using a gulp shrimp to catch those pinfish. But the jerk shads, pogies, swimming mullets, and other patterns work well too.
Sometimes the pin fish and small trout will take the tail off the Gulp swimming minnow. It is amazing but trout in particular like the taste of the Glup so much the hit the jig with just the plumb body portion on it. I even take chunks of chewed up Gulp and use it on a hook under a bobber. I have caught a lot of keeper trout on the bobber and chunk of Gulp.
Yes, they sure do seem to respond to the Gulp scent well... I've even caught keeper trout while using the tiny chunks on the tiny hooks when trying to catch pinfish:)
we used to catch ours on a little shiner pole on chicken gizzards right on the side of the boat. Then take and toss one out the back of the boat on a popping cork while we casted from the front. Amazing how many big reds and cobia we caught over in the crystal river area by the bombing range just drifting along.
I am trying to find out what kind of Gulp bait it is you are using. I am not sure, so maybe you can let me know. Great video. Thank You.
I was using a small chunk of a 3" white Gulp Shrimp in this video... but it seems as if jerk shads and pogies work just as good. My favorite colors are white and new penny, but use whatever ones you have and I believe you'll have some good action... they seem to love small chunks of Gulp.
What gulp are you using?
Have you tried this rig off of walls? Good video btw.
I did this one time with the bloodworms Gulp and I was catching small porgies on ultralight gear ... was fun
Thanks for sharing!
Which specific gulp bait did yall use
Gulp! Shrimp
What gulp are you using ??
I go in the bay and catch em in my 3wt fiberglass fly rod. Fun fight plus bait. Hard to beat that.
Just one question what gulp bait did you use in this video but other than that it was a good informational video
I think it was a chunk from a Gulp shrimp... but the other Gulps seem to work equally well.
So is the bullet weight free sliding down to the hook or is it Carolina rigged?
It is fixed in this rig, it is not free to slide
Is there a season in the back bays where pinfish are more prevalent or are they around all year?
The back bays seem to be best in the colder months, but they can certainly be productive all year long. Best to move around quickly when scouting around and only stop when you're getting hits on every cast.
what size hook do you use.?
what size hook do u use?
Which Gulp exactly are you using? Link if you can please.
Gulp shrimp (www.saltstrong.com/articles/berkley-gulp-saltwater-shrimp-independent-review/) and gulp jerk shads work great... I'm sure the other ones do too.
what was that get up for taking bait off?
I'm assuming you are referring to plastic chunks and not the Nuggets / Dough bait
I use this all the time now. Ty :)
MrMotoPete We're glad to see that you're enjoying this easy pinfish catching technique. Thanks for making time to leave a comment. We wish you the best!
We anchor the front and tie on a small chum ball to the rear and let it drift and catch 30 in no time. Great great bait fish.
Will they work for bass
You are so cool
They look similar to grunts tho, is that what they the call grunts when they are little (pinfish)n grunts when big?
what type of gulp there are different types I went to Walmart to get one or two but there are so many different types please respond
I most often use shrimp and jerk shades (white, watermellon, or new penny color). But they all seem to work well so use whichever style you like fishing with most.
Where can you buy Gulp? Is it rubber bait?
What type of rod is it on the length of the rod if it's the medium or light rod what kind of line are you using
+Juan Lopez I like medium to medium heavy action rods for inshore fishing... I most often us a 7'6" rod and 10 lb PowerPro braid. The post linked here gives links to my favorite rod and reels combos: www.saltstrong.com/articles/snook-fishing-in-the-winter/
What size hook you use them on to catch snooks and grouper?
It all depends on the size of the pinfish that you're using. Here's a post with rigging details: www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-rig-a-live-pinfish/
Where can I get this "gulp" bait?
Whats the exact name of the stuff you were using?
Derpleton Herpson Most bait shops sell Gulp baits, but I mostly buy mine online. Here's a link to a post I made showing how to rig them for catching big fish... once the baits are too torn up to use for big fish, I chop them up and use the small pieces for catching pinfish for bait - www.saltstrong.com/articles/berkley-gulp-saltwater-shrimp-independent-review/.
Note: In the article, you'll see a link to buy them from Amazon... I like the New Penny and White colors best.
will small pieces of shrimp wokr? and where do i find gulp?
hello what was the other type of fish you caught? I caught one of these in my area had no clue what it was but knew it wasn't a pinfish looked like one kind of...
called it a grunt they make a.croaker type noise like a "grunt" lol... what is it?
+matthew chamberlain I believe their official name is a grunt... that's all I've ever heard anglers call them (sounds like a croaker, but different species). Grunts make for great baits for snook, reds, grouper, tarpon, etc.
I'm a beginner fisher. I watch this video many time and read the description. I was trying to figure out what is the yellow tool that you used remove the pinfish and the bait hook. Can you tell me what is the name of it? Thanks
It's a dehooking tool made to get small bait fish off of a sabiki rig. I got it at Walmart years ago for just a couple dollars... very good investment!
Thanks.
i tried the gulp shrimp but the real one works extremely well..... with the same rig
True
What kind of gulp? They make alot of stuff
We're do you hook it
Aberdeen hooks are long shank so pliers easily are able to shake the bait off the hook
I use fish bites and it works good. I never knew that gulp worked. can you please tell me what kind of gulp to use. never used any please and thank you.
Josh Montoya Hey Josh, I use a variety of Gulps for this and they all seem to work equally well. My favorites are small chunks of white Gulp shrimp or small chunks of green Gulp jerk shads (but these are what I most often use so I cut them up once they are too torn up to use any other way).
Ok thank you very much. I really. Appreciate it! Salt Strong
I bought Gulp Ghost Shrimp today and tried a little chunk. For some reason the pinfish weren't even interested in it. I bought it from the bag, not the container with the juice in it. Do you buy the container? I fish from the dock, by the way, but am fishing on grass flats.
I typically see the same results using Gulp baits from bags as I do containers (I think they use the same juice for both).
My guess is that the area you were fishing didn't have many pinfish around. When nothing is biting, it's time to move to a new spot to find where the highest concentration of them are.
Thanks Salt Strong. The strange thing was to test it out I just dropped my line in front of me at the bridge which was kind of shallow so I could see the pinfish going to the Gulp Bait at first, maybe got 1 or 2 strikes (not actual bites), and they pulled away after realizing it wasn't natural I guess. I used real shrimp right after and they gobbled it up within seconds. I will try again later today to use the new penny shrimp.
what exact kind of Gulp are you using?
heidbrain I was using a small chunk cut from a Gulp shrimp to catch pinfish in this video, but I often use chunks of Gulp jerkbaits too. I often use these Gulp baits to catch snook, redfish, and trout, and then cut them up once they are too torn up to use for my target species to then catch loads of bait.
Here's a video that shows the type of Gulp I often use along with how to rig them for catching game fish prior to using them to catch bait: www.saltstrong.com/articles/berkley-gulp-saltwater-shrimp-independent-review/.
what kind of bait do you use ? thanks
+Carlos Valdes Small chunks of Gulp shrimp or Jerk Shads after they get too beat up from going after redfish, snook, and trout. Here's a video showing how to rig the Gulp shrimp when they are new: www.saltstrong.com/articles/berkley-gulp-saltwater-shrimp-independent-review/
If you bend down the hook barb, they will be easier to hook and release. The rounded barb will hold them, but will let them release easier, with less damage to the fish.
whats that reel you are using bubba
red fish fisher I was using a Shimano Symetre 3000 in this pinfish catching video. The line used was 10 lb PowerPro tied with a strand of 20 lb fluorocarbon that I was previously using for reds. Thanks for leaving a comment. Fish On!