I suck at catching bait....

[SERprise]

I really want to catch some ballyhoo and mullets but every method I try is fruitless. I tried catching em with a rod and reel first but nothing showed up then I tried cast netting some mullets and the dang net sinks too slow and they swim out before it traps em. I was using a 6' diameter net with 3/8" mesh and for the rod and reel I use 4# suffix tritanium with size 14-20 hooks. I need better luck!

[WAHOONBOX]

BUT YOU SURE CAUGHT A MARLIN THE OTHER DAY

BIGGER WEIGHTS......BIGGER WEIGHTS TO SINK FASTER

YOU SHOULD USE BELLY STRIPS .....DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BRAND EITHER.....I USED THESE FOR 10 YRS RELIGIOUSLY

[Glenn W]

I really want to catch some ballyhoo and mullets but every method I try is fruitless. I tried catching em with a rod and reel first but nothing showed up then I tried cast netting some mullets and the dang net sinks too slow and they swim out before it traps em. I was using a 6' diameter net with 3/8" mesh and for the rod and reel I use 4# suffix tritanium with size 14-20 hooks. I need better luck!

Not laughing at you---- laughing with you. I am perhaps the world's worst at making bait. Do a search, there are a couple good threads on catching ballyhoo. Given your passion for billfishing, you you have any small mackeral shaped fish that are readily available to catch in you area?.

[SERprise]

Not laughing at you---- laughing with you. I am perhaps the world's worst at making bait. Do a search, there are a couple good threads on catching ballyhoo. Given your passion for billfishing, you you have any small mackeral shaped fish that are readily available to catch in you area?.

I'm sure there are but other than crocodile needle fish, mullet and ballyhoo I don't know of anything.

[brad regan 01]

maybe try a bigger/heavier net and try to find some in shallower water

[SERprise]

maybe try a bigger/heavier net and try to find some in shallower water

The water I was in was only about 5-6ft deep. Cant go much shallower in my area. I recently found an area of schools and schools of ballyhoo but it was about 15ft deep. There had to be at least 500 hoos there but I was spearfishing and didn't have my cast net. I am gonna go back there soon but don't know if my net will work. I am looking to get a net with a 10ft diameter instead the 6ft I have now.

[rarhomes]

I catch a lot of mullet for bait (6" to 12"). I use a 10' net with a 3/4" bar X 1 1/4" stretch and it weighs 12 lbs. built out of light mono and it sinks very fast.

This net is hand tied and cost about $235.00.

Your net is ever thing. Invest in a good one.

DON'T WASTE A THROW - MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN RANGE
Sometimes you only get one chance make it count.

One little trick I used to do, was chum your hoos in in typical fashon with a chum block hanging over the side and just before you get ready to throw your net have someone throw in a hand full of oat meal (and maybe some oat meal/sand mix), this should help bring em to the top and cloudy the water a bit.

good luck

[SERprise]

I catch a lot of mullet for bait (6" to 12"). I use a 10' net with a 3/4" bar X 1 1/4" stretch and it weighs 12 lbs. built out of light mono and it sinks very fast.

This net is hand tied and cost about $235.00.

Your net is ever thing. Invest in a good one.

DON'T WASTE A THROW - MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN RANGE
Sometimes you only get one chance make it count.

One little trick I used to do, was chum your hoos in in typical fashon with a chum block hanging over the side and just before you get ready to throw your net have someone throw in a hand full of oat meal (and maybe some oat meal/sand mix), this should help bring em to the top and cloudy the water a bit.

good luck

Thanks for the advice I am looking to get a 10' Ego brand cast net or an Ahi brand cast net. Which would you suggest and what mesh size for hoos and mullet?

[merry marlin]

If you can go to the same spot at night put a light in the water... You should fill up fast!
MM

[rarhomes]

Thanks for the advice I am looking to get a 10' Ego brand cast net or an Ahi brand cast net. Which would you suggest and what mesh size for hoos and mullet?

I'm not familiar with the brands mentioned, but I would say a 10' net with 5/8" mesh would work fine.