Bonefish in South Bay

Discussion in 'Bay Fishing' started by Kam_Walsh98, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. Kam_Walsh98

    Kam_Walsh98
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    Headed out yesterday afternoon to try for one of my favorite species that I haven’t targeted in awhile. Haven’t gotten the chance to fish LJ in awhile with the high surf and my schedule so this was my first kayak trip of 2021. Water was dirty with lots of dead grass, and the tide was so far out I could see the bottom almost everywhere I was fishing. No bites the first few hours. Found a ledge by looking down at the edge of a channel until I could no longer see the bottom. It was pretty close to sunset and I still had lots of ghost shrimp so I got a chum line going with the fast current in the deeper spot. The bones soon arrived. Connected with three and missed a few other bites. Got a bonus short Hali as well on the ghost shrimp. The bones were unusually lethargic today (maybe from the cold?); none of them pulled much drag and came quickly to the boat. All were released. I want to try getting them dialed in on artificials this year; ghost shrimp is a hassle to get every time.

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    #1 Kam_Walsh98, Jan 16, 2021
  2. mattgulptosser

    mattgulptosser
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    I've heard that small grubs in motor oil, a la what guys use for perch, can work well on bones. either c-rigged or a small jighead
     
    #2 mattgulptosser, Jan 16, 2021
  3. Fat Spottie

    Fat Spottie Lord Pitmaster
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    #3 Fat Spottie, Jan 16, 2021
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  4. Bass Kid

    Bass Kid
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    NIce, ive done 1 trip a month for the last 9 months for bone fish on artificials only and landed a whole 0....
     
    #4 Bass Kid, Jan 16, 2021
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  5. Kam_Walsh98

    Kam_Walsh98
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    have you been fishing in areas where you’ve been catching them on bait?
     
    #5 Kam_Walsh98, Jan 16, 2021
  6. Bass Kid

    Bass Kid
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    I dont use bait, but ive paddled almost every square inch of south bay.
     
    #6 Bass Kid, Jan 16, 2021
  7. Kam_Walsh98

    Kam_Walsh98
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    I’d recommend trying some ghosties or market shrimp to figure out where they’re holding at a given moment
     
    #7 Kam_Walsh98, Jan 16, 2021
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  8. dj thrillz

    dj thrillz
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    Perch grubs will work, rootbeer green flake accidentally caught a pack of bones a time or two.
     
    #8 dj thrillz, Jan 17, 2021
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  9. myahk

    myahk Well-Known Member

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    Wonder if something like the Buggs lure for Florida bonefish would work here? I’ve tried drifting ghost shrimp from my sup but I must not be doing it right because it’s a hassle not to get caught in eel grass.
    I’ve got a few spot ties on the shrimp but no bonefish yet.
     
    #9 myahk, Jan 18, 2021
  10. dj thrillz

    dj thrillz
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    I don’t know anything about that lure, but try it you never know.
    When I used to fish for bones from my buddies boat, our drift was always slow. When I’d fish for them from shore I would drag the bait about the same speed as the drift was. I’d get hung up once in a while, but if they are around and hungry you don’t normally get a chance to get hung up. Liberty station between may-july is pretty active, but so is all the traffic.
     
    #10 dj thrillz, Jan 18, 2021
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  11. Kam_Walsh98

    Kam_Walsh98
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    Don’t even try to cast the Carolina rig too far away from the boat; dropping it vertically or at the angle the current puts in it works and keeps the rig from getting stuck in grass
     
    #11 Kam_Walsh98, Jan 18, 2021
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  12. myahk

    myahk Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the tip. Never would've guessed the angle made a difference in not getting hung up.
     
    #12 myahk, Jan 20, 2021
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