Anybody ever had any luck using hardheads for bait? Live or fillet? Fins on or off? They are very abundant and sometimes that's bout all you can catch. Just wondering if I'm missing out on decent bait.
I wouldn't consider it my go to bait but back in the day when we killed everything we caught, we use to open them up to see what was inside. Quite an assortment but the species that we found more than any other was catfish. My first Spinner over 6' was caught on a fillet from a large sail cat. Catfish used to also be a very popular Tarpon bait in this area in days gone by. They used them live but broke off the spines with a pair of pliers. Not my first choice for bait but they will work.
I've had pretty good success with catfish for bait. Caught spinners, blacktips, sandbars, and even a bull with them. I just cut off the barbs on each fin, make a few cuts in the side to get some blood flowing, and send them out whole. I have only used them fresh caught that day though, never frozen.
Thanks fellas, I'll have to try em out if this weekends bait mission don't produce.
Goliath grouper will also gladly suck down a catfish spines and all. Seen them caught at the Naples pier years ago.
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Works good to as a live attractor on dead bait. Just lip hook it to your hunk of whatever your using and they stay alive for hours. Works when you can't get good bait
Yes, Have caught Goliath Grouper and Tarpon. I just hate them - so logically, sharks must hate them. just kidding.
A guy I went fishing for Tarpon with used to catch them then leave the to get ripe and stinky. The he would butterfly the sides. Works great for tarpon. I have caught a black tip but nothing else.