90-pound amberjack caught off the Finest Kind Charter Boat.
There are several options that work well for catching amberjacks. The top method is bottom bouncing or plunking. Both place your bait on the bottom of the water column. Another option is to troll for amberjack using natural or artificial bait. Amberjack fish can be difficult to catch, but focusing on bottom fishing or trolling will improve your chances of bagging a big amberjack.
Because amberjack fishing can be frustrating, the fish has many names including reef donkey or sea donkey. They are known as Coronado also. Some are positive names and others reflect the difficulty of catching amberjack.
NOTE: Amberjack are often thought of as tuna or Yellowfin tuna. The reality is that these fish are not related to tuna at all.
Types of Amberjack
Greater Amberjack – 20–100 pounds.
Best Bait – Live bait works best. Cigar minnows are the top option for bait. Use minnows that are up to a foot in length. Other options include – sardines and menhaden. If none of these are available then choose another baitfish that looks like any of these.
Best Destinations – Anywhere along Florida’s coastline is likely a good spot for greater amberjack to be. As a bottom feeder, they will be deep in the 60-foot depth mark.
What To Look For – Seek out wrecks, reefs, and sunken structures in the 60-foot depth region. You can find them in shallower water, but they hunt baitfish, crabs, and squid along the bottom. Oil rigs can also be a good place for amberjack fishing.
Lesser Amberjack – Maximum of 27 inches
Best Bait – Live bait is king. Cigar minnows, menhaden, blue runners, and other bait fish are the best option.
Best Destinations – Anywhere there is a reef, wreck, or oil rig.
What To Look For – Bottom depths to a max of 400 feet. Like greater amberjack fish, seek them around wrecks, reef systems, artificial reefs, and structures.
Yellowtail Amberjack – Record at 200 pounds
Best Bait – Live bait or metal jigs – Cigar minnows are the top live bait option, but you can target them effectively with metal jigs in silver tones. In deep water, you can chum them to the surface and then hit them with spoons and minnow mimic lures.
Best Destinations – Anywhere along the Florida coast where there are structures.
What To Look For – Oil rigs are a top spot for yellowtail. These structures attract the bait fish, which school to the rigs to seek shelter. It is one of the few places you will find amberjack off the bottom.
Banded Rudderfish – to 11 pounds
Best Bait – Shrimp and Squid. They prefer live bait but will also take cut bait. Cut bait on a jig or using a metal spoon can also be a good option. While smaller than many amberjacks, the banded rudderfish makes an excellent offshore game fish.
Best Destinations – nearshore in weedy patches or near shallow structures. They also can be in deep water and trail sharks looking for bits and pieces of the shark’s meal.
What To Look For – a hard bottom layer is where most banded rudderfish are found. Stay away from sandy stretches and aim for the harder shelf structures along the Florida coast. They are often found in shallow wrecks or near reef systems too.
How To Catch Amberjack
Because amberjack fish are bottom fish, you will use a bottom fishing technique, such as bottom bouncing or plunking. Live bait is one of the best options, but you can also use baited metal jigs or bottom lures to attract amberjack. In deeper water, you can chum them to the surface and then use live bait, cut bait, jigs, or spoons to attract them.
Amberjack Fishing Techniques
Bottom Fishing – weighted rigging so that your bait, jig, or lure either stay in one spot (plunking.) or drifts along the bottom (drift fishing.)
Jigging For Amberjack – baited or metal jigs at the bottom with a quick wrist flick to mimic a struggling baitfish. You can also jig in shallow water for the banded rudderfish or around oil rigs where baitfish are plentiful.
Trolling – is an okay method for attracting amberjack species to your hook if you choose the location correctly. Most of the time amberjack fish are on the bottom, and it is difficult to troll on the bottom in deep water. For that reason, you would focus on trolling around oil rigs or reef systems where your bait might attract amberjack. You could also spread a large chum area and then troll through that area. Oily fish can attract amberjack.
Plunking – occurs when your rig is heavy so that the bait stays in one place on the bottom. It differs from drift fishing, which allows your bait to bounce along the bottom.
Amberjack Fishing Tips
Amberjack Bait
Live bait is a good option and includes cigar minnows, menhaden, sardines, and other baitfish. The size depends on the species of amberjack you are targeting. In general, anywhere between six inches to a foot in length is a good bet – longer for bigger amberjack fish.
Most species of amberjack will also chase lures, spoons, or jigs if they resemble baitfish.
Amberjack Fishing Rigs
For all big game fish, amberjack fish included, use a circle hook. A 9/0 10/0 will work fine for most amberjack.
A Simple Rig is best – Line, sinker, hook – use a short leader no longer than six feet. Tie the hook on one end of the leader and the sinker to the other. The terminal line attaches where the sinker is so that the weight of the sinker pins the floating bait and hook in the bottom few feet of the water column. You can use a swivel to connect the line to the sinker and your leader should be at least 100-pound test.
Equipment – A lot of people prefer braided line 50-pound test or higher but 100-pound mono will be one of the best options you can rig for amberjack. These fish can weigh 100–200 pounds, though most of what you catch will be in the 40+ pound range. A heavy-duty saltwater fishing rod with a matched reel will do you proud.
Bait – Take the time to fish for live bait. If you use cut bait make sure it is an oily fish – sardine or cigar minnow. Jigs and lures should resemble baitfish. You can use baited jigs – a nice piece of sardine or menhaden works just fine.
Amberjack Size Limits and Regulations Florida – Gulf Coast
Minimum Size Limit – Greater amberjack must be 34 inches from the tip of the nose to the fork. For lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish – nothing less than 14 inches from the nose to the fork.
Daily Bag Limit – Amberjack fishing limits Florida – one greater amberjack per person, per season. Five lesser amberjack fish or banded rudderfish or a combination of both. The total cannot be more than five.
Generally, it is open year round beginning on August 1 and ending on July 31. That changes though due to conservation efforts. Be sure to check for season changes at the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife.
How Long Does It Take To Reel in An Amberjack?
Expect to battle an amberjack anywhere from half an hour to an hour depending on its size.
What Kind of Fish Is an Amberjack?
Amberjack fish are its own family of fish not related to tuna. The family name is Carangidae whereas tuna belong to the family Scombridae. Amberjack fish are benthic predators meaning they feed at the bottom or near the bottom.
Where Can You Catch Amberjack?
Amberjack are available around the world in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They prefer warm water and are concentrated in tropical or subtropical waters. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the best areas to fish for amberjack fish.
Shark fishing in Destin, Florida waters has become a big draw for visitors to the area. Though sharks have been around for millions of years, predating dinosaurs and humans, many of us dread the thought of shark encounters at the beach. The reality is that sharks in the Gulf of Mexico are very much part of the natural experience as sharks live and hunt just off the coast of Destin, Florida.
From a fisherman’s perspective shark fishing Destin waters is life changing. There is plenty of big fish off Destin, but few strike fear or elate awe as much as the sharks do. When you book a shark fishing charter you:
Become the predator – the reversal of roles is an adrenalin rush.
Experience the thrill of taking on big, aggressive fish in a safe environment.
Gain the experience of a qualified captain and crew whose job it is to bring the sharks to you.
Shark Fishing Charters – Safely, experience the Thrill of Shark Fishing Destin Waters
Booking a shark fishing charter is one of the most thrilling experiences available for adventure seekers. Within the safety net of an experienced captain and crew members, guided shark fishing trips are the best way to experience the strength, size, and beauty of sharks in a one-on-one encounter. Once you feel the strength of the bite, the battle has just begun. Winning the tug-of-war match between man and shark is determined by knowledge and wit. Though sharks are unpredictable creatures, the help of an experienced charter crew is essential for the best chances of reeling in a massive trophy shark.
A 329-pound Bull Shark took home the top prize at the Destin Fl fishing rodeo in 2021. Shark fishing Destin waters is already amazing, and 329 pounds of bull shark is just one example of the thrills. There are plenty of sharks out there that are larger.
Sharks Species and Shark Fishing Opportunities
The Gulf of Mexico is home to many species of sharks. That fact means that there are plenty of variances between size, speed, and capabilities among the sharks that call the gulf home. It is important to understand the laws and regulations for shark fishing in the gulf, as they are different for each species that you may encounter. This is another great reason to book a shark fishing charter out of Destin, Florida. Whether you’re interested in catch and release or catch and keep, the Finest Kind charter boat can help you to distinguish the keepers from the untouchables while hosting your unique charter experience for shark fishing adventures.
What’s your top shark? Remember the movie JAWS? There are great white sharks in the Gulf and many other species too. If you are lucky, you may encounter a Great Hammerhead Shark which can reach 20 feet in length. That is the stuff of legends when it comes to shark fishing Destin FL. To put this into perspective, a 20-foot Great White Shark can weigh 4,000 pounds. A 14-foot Great Hammerhead shark will weigh around 1,300 pounds. Remember that 329-pound bull shark record – There are plenty of sharks off Destin that will smash that record.
There is truly nothing more exciting in the world of fishing than hooking a shark!
Destin, FL is a Shark Fishing Paradise
Shark caught of Destin, Florida coast with Capt Jason Michael & daughter
There are many types of sharks in Destin, but those most commonly caught on the Emerald Coast include Bull Sharks, Hammerheads, Blacktips, and Sand sharks. It is also possible to hook Shortfin Makos or Tiger sharks in deeper waters, particularly if you’re working with an experienced charter deep sea fishing crew who understand sharking Destin waters.
We intend to make your charter fishing experience both exciting and educational. Though you will be in great hands and learn from the Finest Kind charter crew, while on board, we encourage you and your shark charter fishing guests to learn more about the species that you will be hunting. Not only are shark facts interesting, but you’ll get to know your opponent and his characteristics well enough to say “Shark On” by the tug of your line!
Bull Sharks
Bull Sharks are very plentiful but also dangerous. The Bull Shark is among the top three species involved in human attacks, and it can be very menacing. This shark is a very territorial fish that prefers to stay close to shore and can even survive in fresh water. Chumming and drift fishing are great ways to hook Bull Sharks.
Hammerhead Sharks
Hammerhead Sharks are well known for their distinctive and unusual head shapes, and they’re one of our favorites. These sharks prefer to swim in schools by day but act as lone hunters at night. These sharks are listed as catch-and-release-only fish and are best sought out as part of a chartered deep-sea fishing excursion.
Spinner Shark
Spinner sharks are similar to Blacktip sharks, but they grow longer and heavier. One difference is that the marking that gives the Blacktip shark its name is missing from the Spinner Shark – the black tipped anal fin. You can catch Spinner sharks in January, February, and March near shore as they feed on fish just over the breaker line. The rest of the year, you find them in deeper water. They max out around 8 feet in length.
Blacktip Sharks
Blacktip Sharks do not grow as heavy as some other sharks, but they can still put up a terrific fight which makes them a prime target for deep-sea fishing adventurers. Blacktips are eating machines that love any kind of bait! They’re popular for their unique flavor and are common on many restaurant menus here in Destin.
Sand Sharks
Sand Sharks, named for their preference to stay near the shoreline, are mean-looking fish. They swim with their mouths open, displaying three rows of sharp pointy teeth. Sand sharks are the only known species of shark that will rise to the surface to gulp air which can give the kids quite a scare! They store the air in their stomachs so they can maintain buoyancy to hunt prey while remaining nearly motionless. These sharks are catch-and-release only.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Perhaps the most often caught shark around Florida, the Sharpnose shark is not heavily regulated for size or fishing season. You can fish them from shore with larger baitfish or in deeper water. These sharks remain fairly small growing to around 32 inches long.
Tiger Sharks
Tiger Sharks are easily recognized by their unique pattern. Spotted as juveniles, these marks combine to form stripes as the shark matures which gives them a tiger-like appearance. This shark is one of the largest caught by Florida fishermen and their strength and size make them a formidable foe.
Mako Sharks
Mako Sharks are known among anglers as one of the most exciting sharks to catch. They’re always popular among bachelor parties and guy groups! These sharks are known for jumping up to 20 feet out of the water at amazing speeds, and they’re the fastest swimming shark in the ocean.
Common Thresher Shark
Thresher sharks have a dramatic tail which they use to stun fish. These monsters can grow to 18 feet in length and feed on small baitfish. The best season to target Thresher Shark is the fall.
There are many large sharks in the Gulf of Mexico that do not feed on fish. The Whale Shark and Basking Shark can be massive and both feed on plankton or shrimp.
Brace Yourself for Battle!
Shark Fishing in Destin, Florida, is a thrilling experience you’ll surely never forget! Come to the heart of the Emerald Coast and make memories that will last a lifetime. Contact us today to talk about your options for shark fishing in Destin’s waters.
What is the best circle hook for your fishing adventure? The truth is that while size matters, it varies depending on the fish you want to target. We will sort that out later in this blog, and we encourage you to take a closer look at the circle hook size chart here and explore the various circle hook sizes.
Circle Hook Sizes
You may have noticed that circle hooks run in two ways – the # or the /0- For example, the #1 circle hook is different from the 1/0 circle hook. As you choose your range of circle hooks understand that with the # number system on hooks, the larger the number the smaller the hook. So, a #4 hook is smaller than a #1 hook. With the ought or aught system, the hook sizes are followed by a /0 – for example, 1/0 is a one aught hook, and it is smaller than a 4/0 (four aught) hook.
Another key consideration when choosing the hook size regardless of the style of hook circle, J, etc. – is that you need to match the hook to your bait size, and bait size is a reflection of the fish you want to target. Many fish, with some exceptions, will eat whatever food will fit in their mouth. By matching the size of bait to the mouth size of the fish you want to target, you can sometimes eliminate pesty bait steelers that will take your bait even though they are small.
There are physiological reasons for choosing the right hook. With circle hooks, you want to pay attention to the gap. That is the space between the point of the hook and the shank. Wider gaps allow thicker jaws to enter the circle of the hook and therefore allow you to hook bigger fish. Smaller gaps make it more difficult to hook bigger fish since the hook will not fit over their jaws.
How to Choose the Right Size Circle Hook for Your Goals
Fishing hooks have seven parts. These include the:
Eye – where you tie your line to the hook
Shank – Attaches to the eye and is a straight part that ends where the hook begins to bend.
The Bend – The bottom of the hook where the metal forms a U-shape
Throat – where the hook begins to straighten after the bends – there is often a barb in the throat to help keep the hook in place.
The Point – where the throat meets the barb
The Barb – the sharp part of the hook that penetrates the fish’s flesh to help set the hook and keep it in place.
The gap – The span of air – no metal – between the barb or point and the shank. The gap is the diameter of the opening that indicates the fish jaw size to hook size ratio.
Choosing the best circle hook is all about two things.
The diameter of the metal that makes up the hook – thinner for smaller fish, bigger for heavier baits, and for bigger fish.
The gap measurement so that you can gauge what size fish will fit the hook or what size bait you can use with this hook.
The exact size of the circle hook will vary from one species of fish to the next. For that reason, you want to think about what size bait you will use or soft plastic. Longer soft plastics, which are very popular, take bigger hooks. You want the shank of the hook to be longer so that the head of the soft plastic piece sits at the eye of the hook and the bend emerges from the soft plastic near the middle or top third of the soft plastic mimic.
You also want to think about the gap, especially with circle hooks. The gap needs to be large enough so that the hook will be set above the jawbone. If it does not, the fish can tear – literally – away from the hook.
Best Circle Hooks for Saltwater Fishing
Two brands stand out when you shop for circle hooks. Mustad and Gamakatsu.
There are other brands of circle hooks that are also awesome. Eagle is one such brand.
For saltwater fishing, you will likely stay with a 2/0 hook for most inshore and some offshore fishing. For reds and speckled trout, you can do down to a 1/0 or stay with the 2/0
#4-6 for Jack Mackerel, if you are targeting bigger fish such as Cobia, or Yellowtail 5/0 is a good bet. If you are using soft plastics as bait, consider a 3/0 or larger depending on the length of your soft plastic bait.
For massive fish, such as marlin, you will head to the top of the big hooks with 10/0 and 11/0 hooks. You could use a 10/0 or 11/0 circle hook for the red snapper. Their mouth is huge, and they don’t typically shy away from hooks.
What size circle hook is right for your next fishing adventure? If you are going solo, stick with a selection of circle hooks to match the catch available. A good quality 2/0 will do you well for most inshore fishing. 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0 for medium-sized fish and go big – 10/0, 11.0 for anything with plenty of weight and a big mouth.
Saltwater catfish are a pain to deal with because they are so good at stealing your bait. The joke, however, is on them because you might find them to be one of the best fish to eat. How big do saltwater catfish get? Most species range from 9-12 pounds at full maturity, so not as big as freshwater catfish. While there are several types of saltwater catfish there are only two main Florida catfish species – hardhead and gafftop catfish.
What Are Saltwater Catfish?
Are there saltwater catfish? There are a few species of catfish that live in saltwater. Hardheads and sail catfish are perhaps two of the most widely populated saltwater catfish along the coastal waters of Florida. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico.
If you are wondering how big saltwater catfish get, they stay fairly small. The Hardhead catfish can grow to 28-30″ in length and about 12 pounds. Anything close to that would be considered a trophy catch. Most Florida catfish found in the shallows range in weight to three pounds. The Sail Catfish or gafftop catfish is slightly smaller when fully matured weighing around nine pounds. On average, expect most of the Florida catfish you catch to be under three pounds. In fact, both species are considered pest fish for anglers because they are very good at stealing your bait.
Hardhead or gafftop fishing is fairly easy. You can find saltwater catfish in both the shallows during the summer and in deeper water in the winter months throughout the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. While the hardhead catfish is generally only a saltwater fish, the sail catfish, aptly named because of its taller dorsal fin, will sometime invade brackish lagoons, bays, and estuaries.
For those anglers who want to target snook, redfish, or spotted trout, you will have to battle the sailcat catfish and hardhead catfish as both will try to steal your bait. For most of you, that’s a negative, and it can be, but there is an upside. Ocean catfish make amazing cut bait. If you find that you are having to re-bait your hook or constantly unhook Florida catfish from your line, just use them as bait.
Hardhead Catfish
Can You Really Eat Saltwater Catfish?
A big question from anglers new to catfish saltwater fishing is “are saltwater catfish edible”? They are edible, though some people do not like their taste. You can, and you should expect a similar taste and texture as you find with freshwater catfish. Many people who catch saltwater catfish do not bother with eating them. They just throw them back. They have a bit of a negative image because they are not overly large, they are bony, and their dorsal spins can be toxic. They are actually excellent to eat.
If you cook them correctly, you end up with a solid, flakey fish that has a firm texture and that lovely catfish taste. They are not gamey or bad tasting. You do have to work cleaning them as they are very slimy. Their extra thick slime coat helps protect them from the saltwater but makes them slippery to hold. There is also the risk of getting “stung” by their dorsal rays, and pectoral rays, which can cause a toxic reaction.
For these reasons, many anglers prefer to target other fish, that are less work and easier to clean. Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder. The ocean catfish pretty much catch themselves. All you have to do is throw out your line, and they will attempt to steal your bait. If you have not tried them for lunch or dinner, do so. You may be pleasantly surprised at the quality of fish they are.
How To Clean and Prepare Saltwater Catfish
Catfish have very angled rib bones. So, you have to filet them a little differently than you would another type of fish.
Step 1: Bleed them, by cutting the gills. You can use an ice chest with water in it so that they bleed into the water. That kills the fish faster, and they bleed out quickly. The result is a cleaner filet.
Step 2: Once the fish is dead, you want to feel for the outline of the ribs. The bottom of the ribs will range from the pectoral fin to the anal fin. Cut along the spine and along the edge of the ribs down to the anal fin. This will help you remove those ribs when you filet the fish.
Step 3: At this stage, you can filet the catfish like you would another fish. The difference is that as you remove the meat (filet, you slide your knife along the rib cage where you made the cut to the anal fin. As you do, the meat will come away from the ribs, and you will end up with nicer filets. Hardhead and sailcat catfish do not have a lot of meat, so fileting in this way helps to produce the most meat.
Saltwater Cat Fishing Tips
What bait do you use for saltwater catfish? – Catfish hunt by smell, so something stinky is always a good choice. Oily cut bait is one of the best baits to use.
How to safely catch saltwater catfish? – Saltwater catfish have three spines that can produce a toxin. Those are the first dorsal ray, and the two thickest spines on the pectoral fins. To safely catch catfish, bring them to the boat or on shore with a net. The net helps reduce them flopping around, which can cause you to get stung easily. Put them directly into the cooler and then bleed them.
What techniques work best for saltwater catfish? – You can target catfish in shallow water and along structures with cut bait and hook. You can also chum them in the same situations and then target them with a hook and bait. Chumming helps cause the catfish to congregate in one area where you can then target them with your hook.
Why Do People Not Like Ocean Catfish?
There are two main reasons why anglers do not like ocean catfish. The first is that they steal your bait while you are fishing for other fish. The second is that they are a little harder to clean. Some anglers will tell you that ocean catfish are not good eating and that is very debatable.
Are saltwater catfish poisonous? Another reason people do not like ocean catfish is that their spines can cause a toxic reaction. By learning how to handle them safely, you can avoid much of the risk. The flesh is not poisonous to eat.
Fishing with live bait is sometimes a must. When it comes to tempting big fish with live shrimp many anglers struggle to keep their bait shrimp alive. Inside, we discuss how to keep bait shrimp alive and some of the tricks we use to use live bait successfully.
How To Keep Shrimp Alive Longer
Like all living organisms, there are parameters that must be met to keep shrimp alive. Those are:
Plenty of air
The right water temperature
When you take shrimp out of the water and put them in a bucket or a Livewell, you are putting them into an artificial environment. That means you have to manage the environment to create one that sustains life, even if it is for a short while as you fish. Here’s some more on how to do that.
Limit How Many Shrimp You Put in Your Bucket or Livewell – For three gallons of water Keep no more than about 18-shrimp. For five gallons of water keep no more than 24 shrimp. Too many shrimp deplete oxygen and foul the water. When the water is dirty it kills the shrimp. Live shrimp is a better bait option over dead shrimp – though both will catch fish.
Add Oxygen – Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water. Because the shrimp are in a bucket, the water will warm quickly. To counter the loss of oxygen, use a bubbler. There are battery-operated bubblers that will aerate the water for you. As an alternative, there are flow-through shrimp buckets that you drop into the ocean where you are fishing. The tidal pressure forces water through the bucket so you don’t have to worry about an aerator.
Use a Shrimp bucket – Unless your Livewell is small you probably want to go with a special bucket for live shrimp. They make them. They are set up to hold an aerator. Plus, they are small enough that you don’t have to hunt for shrimp.
Use small ice packs to regulate the water temperature. If the water is too cold or too warm the shrimp will die. By using small ice packs or even small amounts of frozen water in a bottle or container, you can keep the water in the bucket just right. Do not add ice directly to the water. It will shock the shrimp and cause them to die. It also will melt and dilute the water in the bucket. Saltwater shrimp need salt water and if you add ice to the bucket, it will drop the ratio of salt to the water.
Limit the time you have the shrimp in the bucket – On the way to go fishing, pick up your live shrimp from the bait store. Trying to keep them overnight is a hassle. By limiting the amount of time you have the shrimp, you stand better odds of getting to the fishing spot with live shrimp.
Keep it Shrimp Only – The shrimp bucket is for shrimp. Don’t put anything else in there. Not only do you risk your shrimp becoming a meal for other things in the bucket, but those other things will use up oxygen and pollute the water, both of which put your live shrimp at risk of dying.
What Are You Using To Keep Shrimp Alive?
One big mistake that anglers make when trying to keep shrimp alive is to use a regular bucket. You can certainly take a regular bucket and modify it to work. It is much easier to just buy a shrimp aerator or filter bucket. It is also important that your shrimp bucket be clean before you use it – every time you use it. When you have a designated shrimp bucket, you tend to use it only for shrimp which cuts down on many pathogens that may kill the shrimp.
Common Mistakes
Adding ice directly to the bucket is a common mistake.
Not cleaning the bucket well enough before you add the water and the shrimp
Not keeping the bucket out of the sun while you fish
Adding too many shrimp to the bucket, especially with an aerator.
Advice For Longer Lifespan
Keep the water temperature fairly consistent. Not hot, not cold, but something close to the surface temperature of the waters where you fish.
Don’t put other fish in with your bait shrimp. Fish like shrimp as snacks.
Use a bait shrimp bucket that you float in the ocean. It will help keep the temperature in the bucket consistent and add aerated water to the bucket.
Don’t buy your shrimp the day before you go fishing, instead, buy them on the way to go fishing so that you keep them in a bucket for the least amount of time possible.
How To Keep Shrimp Alive Without a Livewell
Unless your Livewell is small, do not use it for keeping bait shrimp alive. You will spend a lot of time hunting for the shrimp and if you catch other bait fish you will have nowhere to store them. Keep the Livewell for fish and use a bait shrimp bucket for shrimp.
It may seem like a hassle to fish with live shrimp. There is a reward of sorts though. Live shrimp are very keen on avoiding predation. They will hide from the smaller fish that steal bait and live shrimp. That means that your bait is going to stay on the hook longer and your odds of hooking bigger fish are better.
