Hangover Boxed Hoos hitting the fan

[knot for shore]

SUPER GOOD STUFF HERE GENTS!! I COULD WRITE A "HOW TO" AND "HOW NOT TO" FROM THIS ONE POST!!

[Bert Rodgers]

Thanks for bumping it. I remember it like yesterday.

Bert

[trollman]

I refreeze my leftovers for fluke bait. The big flaties love small hoos hooked thru the mouth on a 2 ounce bucktail.

thanks for this excellent tip, i cannot wait to try it in nantucket for the doormats in a few weeks, i got lots of leftover frozens and have been looking for a good use.

[S.P.F.1]

I have been a mate and a Capt. down in Mex for about a dozen seasons, and fished out of Stuart Fl. my wholel life. Hangover packs are a must! Save them for when you need them though. Don't pull out the used stuff if you have enough time to rig freshies or fresh thawed. If you get more bait then you can use, freezing is better then the cooler. When you freeze pop the eyes and slit the bellies, dont poop them! This lets water into the body cavity, witch rapidly starts the break down of the bait. Also, Baits that are all ready rigged, you shouldn't break the backs untill they are just about to go in to the water, They will swimm better this way and also if you don't use them that day, when you do go to use them they will not be as stiff. I would not recomend ever putting salt directly on your baits unless you are trolling faster then 7 knots. A salted bait swims like a pencile. I would rather have to check a bait every 10 min. then pull a stiffy!

[Deep C]

Hello Scott,
I find that interesting... your view that is... I'm partial to the stiffies for the reasons I laid out in this thread a year ago. Having fished with live hoos for so long and having to catch them every day down at Ocean Reef in the Keys then Islamorada, I noticed in nature they ran stiff as could be... Looked almost as if their tals were moving at all except when they gave that "burst" kick.
I know you are a hell of a fisherman with a super track record and not disagreeing. I think it adds a whole lot of great to this site that we are able to offer different ways to do the same thing. I saw you mention "slit the bellies" ... I slit mullet bellies and backs. I slit, gut, and sew macks. I have never slit the bellies on a hoo though for fear of that water getting in and washing them out. As I mentioned I troll faster than most and a slit I would think would turn my "pencils" into a balloon...
I'd for one like to know what that does to help make them a better bait.

[FESS]

Rather than "bellies", I think Scott may mean, by their butts...a small cut here and you can de-air-sack 'em and poop 'em better than just a squeeze, squish and or pinch would do (IMHO)....(salt just the slit...shhhhh)...at least in Isla where we'd process 12 dozen a night after gettin' in @ 8pm...freshies every day was the norm (spoiled rotten.)
Baits would get a spritz of salted water mixed with baking soda (mixed in a spray bottle) and be put to bed with re-usable resaurant style freezer strips over them (shhhhh.)

[frankypettolina]

Nice to see this thread resurrected. We have a larger and more diverse pool of talent on this board now as compared to a year ago, and some new insight is always a good thing.

[FESS]

Franky...i finally read this whole thread...or most of it...I don't read ALL CAP responses, (sorry BOX), (send me a PM, pls), I loved #38...you're right, we take take it to heart every moment of every day, heck with (well, not really) the client, "we" want to be the best we can no matter what, no exceptions, no compmamises(sp?)...loved it...you're right-on (can we still say that with-out dating ourselves).
As for the frozen debate, or should I say re-freezing...never been big on it except for regular charter fishin', say outa my home...Ft. Laud...where it's not so picky a buyer (bonita, kingfish, faster trolling etc.) I do love the soda flats and their ability to roll up etc....they are under-rated. Charter fishing we used mainly wire and a lot of times I'd keeep the best of the best and re-freeze 'em and that would at least give me a starting base for a trip or two. We did soo much live baiting, sometimes the dead bait would never even hit the water.
Dave & Tammy are my buds (ole cow-patty).

[frankypettolina]

Dave and Tammy will remember me from fishing on the Reel Tease out of Casa Margullia from 96 to 98 and then hanging out with Eric on the Ravenous at the same place.

I will never forget Tammy calling out the football scores for us on Sundays from Portofino's (unless the 'Boys were losing, then the updates got hostile and less frequent!!)