Just like most other hobbies or professions, fishing has layers upon layers of skills that you not only need to understand, rather master, as time passes. As such, today, we’re going to be delving into the ins and outs of the knowledge required for you on Pinfish, pinfish trap, Pinfish bait.
In this article, you’ll not only learn about the Pinfish itself, but also how to catch Pinfish, and the optimal bait for Pinfish (even that they are baited themselves)!
What are Pinfish, their Size, and Location!
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a pretty common saying, and does have its merits; however, in this case, if you’re led to believe certain traits for the Pinfish from the name, then you’d be correct! On average, Pinfish can grow up to 4.5 inches, making them a small species of fish.
These are saltwater fish and can be found in the subtropics. If you’re unsure of these areas, they consist of the coasts of North America and Mexico, including certain other areas.
Where to Catch Pinfish?
While Pinfish may be known as ‘bait-fish’ , you’ll still need to bait them in, in the first place! So, where is it that you can find Pinfish ? Let’s dive into a comprehensive look at a few common places to find them!
Around Structures in the Water:
These are one of the most common spots to find Pinfish. Since Pinfish are so small and succumb to predators easily, they tend to hide around structures within the sand. This causes rings to form around these structures, due to the Pinfish coming out at night to feed. You’ll also notice that the presence of seagrass in these areas are important (as will be made obvious in the next point).
Around Seagrass:
Yes, we’ve already made it obvious, haven’t we? Along with the presence of seagrass, comes the capability for these small fish to obtain a place to hide! Not only that, it also offers them tons of varieties of food to find. If this is where you’re looking (smart idea), skirt around the edge of the seagrass, and you’ll find the Pinfish!
Bait Store:
Unless your expertise and time allow you to find Pinfish comfortably, this is also an advisable choice to make. Your expenses on the Pinfish will depend on the area or store you’re looking at. However, this is an ideal choice if you’re in a new area or have little time on your hands.
The most important thing to remember when looking for Pinfish in your area is that they are saltwater fish! You can not go up to a river and assume you’ll find any. Not to mention, they are very fond of seagrass, so if you find that in your vicinity, you’re definitely catching some Pinfish!
How to Catch Pinfish?
If you’ve indulged in the idea of fishing for a significant amount of time, you’ll know there are numerous ways you can catch fish. Whether it be Crawfish or Betta fish, there are always many means to one end! So, let’s dive into the different ways to catch Pinfish!
Pinfish Traps:
Just like other species of fish, Pinfish have traps that can be used to lure them in, and keep them in! The traps are designed to have an opening on one end, allowing for the fish to swim inside freely, but then get stuck without any way out. This is one of the best methods to catch Pinfish, and later in the article, we’ll look deeper into how they work!
Cast nets:
If you’ve got a school of Pinfish just swimming around you, throwing a cast net onto them will ensure you a pretty hefty catch! How do you get a school lining up behind you, you ask? Well, spread the bait in the water around you, and allow for the Pinfish to build up. Once you’re certain there’s enough of them, then throw out your net! This works best in seagrass, and for optimal performance (and your safety!), in waters as deep as 4 feet maximum.
Hook and Line:
Ah, the basics! No matter where you’re fishing, you can never go wrong with a hook and line! Just get some bait on your hook and cast your line. Unlike some other fish, you’ll find Pinfish to be much more frequent in catches!
With such optimal and efficient methods of catching Pinfish, you’ll never have problems getting enough! You could be fishing for sport or profession, and these different methods will help you vary your catch rate based on it. However, if you’re looking for the highest yield and easiest way, then you can never go wrong with traps!
Trapping Pinfish!
Now, traps are the best to use if you’re looking for a large catch in as little time as possible. However, it’s not always the same.
As we have already discussed, traps are basically cages that allow the Pinfish to enter from one end, and then disallow them to leave. Thus, trapping them. However, you must be cautious with where you place your traps. They work best in grasslands (seagrass areas). Since the land there is more often than not flat, you won’t have to worry about your traps being damaged.
Baiting Traps:
We’ll get into the nitty-gritty bits of what the ideal bait for Pinfish is, but let’s look at how much you need in the traps now. Plan out beforehand how long you intend to leave your trap out for. This also depends on the area you’re fishing in.
If you’re used to fishing in that spot, then you’ll know what each trap gathers up. So, based on how long you’re leaving your trap out, put in bait accordingly.
Sometimes fishermen leave traps out for a few hours, whereas other times, they are out for a whole night! Since Pinfish are small fish (prey fish), they’ll be fast to move and nibble on the bait fast.
Usually, for an expedition for a few hours, you can place 1 or 1.5 pounds of bait in your trap. However, if it’s for a whole night, look to place around 3 or 3.5 pounds of bait.
The temperature of Water:
Temperatures of the water not only factor how many Pinfish you’ll find but affect more so how your bait works! How so?
The idea of leaving the bait in water is to allow the smell to spread throughout the water, attracting fish to it. However, once you’ve stored bait, it will be cold and will need to be thawed out a bit. So, during the colder seasons, let your bait stay out for a couple of hours first to let it thaw. Don’t leave it out in the house, though, or else you’ll be greeted to a foul stink!
During more amiable temperatures, however, you most probably won’t have to worry about the bait having its potency, and can leave it out for about 30 minutes before placing it in the trap.
Trap Placement:
We’ve already talked about where you ought to find the best yield of Pinfish; however, placing your Pinfish at the right spot also affects it significantly.
Let’s say you’re placing three traps simultaneously within each other’s vicinity. If one of your traps does well normally, it might not do the same on this occasion. Why? Since there’s so much bait within a small area, the school of fish will divide themselves into smaller groups and go for different traps, because of it being easier for them all to get the bait.
However, if you’re experienced in an area, and know where to get good yields, place multiple traps with a significant distance between each of them, and place them in! Not only will your traps do well, but you’ll multiply the amount caught by the number of traps you have.
The amount of information on traps provided will not only help you understand how to use them but to do so very efficiently! It’s best to remember certain traits of Pinfish, and the climate at the time, to ensure you get the best rate for catching them!
What Eats Pinfish?
We’ve been saying how Pinfish are one of the best baits available, but why? Let’s find out!
It is common for anglers to use Pinfish as bait because most fish actually love them! If you’re planning to catch Trout, Pinfish is an excellent choice. Flounder? The same thing, use Pinfish. Basically, the number of fish (and even birds) that don’t like Pinfish is lower than the amount that does like Pinfish!
What Makes Pinfish Such Great Bait?
Pinfish are a significant bit of bait for a few reasons. Most fish you can think of will most definitely love the taste of Pinfish, making them very valuable as bait. They are also a very hardy type of fish, making them better bait. The best thing about Pinfish, however, is that they are found in abundance, and you’ll rarely run out of them!
So yes, Pinfish are an excellent bait, and you won’t face many problems when you’re using them to catch your preferred type of fish! However, one thing is important to keep in mind. Pinfish are very slippery and always try to fish to the bottom of wherever they are. So, a clever trick used by many anglers is that they cut the spine of the Pinfish, and this assures that in case they do go loose, they can never swim away.
Are Pinfish good as Food?
Just like most other fish, Pinfish are edible and most definitely tasty to eat! However, as we’ve already discussed, they are tiny in size (4.5 inches). This makes them rare in terms of being food; however, if someone wants them, they are definitely good food!
F.A.Q!
1. Is Pinfish better than other types of bait?
Unless you are fishing for a specific species of fish that requires a different bait, then more often than not, yes! Pinfish will be better than most types of bait. However, it’s best to always research on what you’re fishing for!
2. Can you sell the Pinfish you catch?
Just like other fish, yes! However, you must always sell it through the proper channels. Sell your Pinfish to a wholesale dealer. In the case of wholesale retailers, they must sell it through other retailers who are licensed. It’s best to check information on your local area, and be up to date on this stuff before you do it!
Conclusion:
As mentioned before, we have concocted this article to not help you with catching Pinfish, but realizing all the other perks that come with it! The traits of the Pinfish make it a great bait, while also being good food! We hope we’ve helped you gain all the knowledge you’ll need on Pinfish and helped towards your mastery of fishery!