Spadefish

[Seasetter]

Hey all.went to a reef a few weeks ago and it was loaded with spadefish.i tried small pieces of pogy but they weren't interested. What is the best bait to take next time I go?thanks.

 

[1eyefishing]

Jelly fish?
I've caught them on shrimp bits before...
I've heard they are good eating but they sure stink up a cooler full o fish.
I gave them away to get rid of them.

 

[Railroader]

Welcome to the forum...

Years ago, there was an old Philipino lady that fished the St. Simon's pier. When the Spadefish showed up, she murdered them.

Her bait of choice was those cannonball jellyfish. She'd cut a small bite, small hook, and snatch em from under the pier.

Very similar technique to catching sheep heads with fiddlers.

 

[Seasetter]

I heard about the jellies,but aren't always around.

 

[lampern]

Small pieces of clams or shrimp will work

I believe the limit on them nowadays is 20 fish per person

 

[Redbow]

What Lampern said but the cannonball jellyfish work best of all. Sometimes a very small piece of clear plastic on the hook will fool them.

 

[Sharkfighter]

Some days the spades just will not eat and other days the bite is wide open

like others said the cannonballs are best bait but chunks of squid work also. I heard wrapping the squid in cellophane works but never tried it. They are really good to eat but not the easiest fish to clean.

 

[Rabun]

I’ve caught a couple of those as bycatch but always threw them back. Had no idea they were good to eat. What’s the trick in cleaning them? Hardest fish to clean for me are triggers and sheepshead

 

[Sharkfighter]

I’ve caught a couple of those as bycatch but always threw them back. Had no idea they were good to eat. What’s the trick in cleaning them? Hardest fish to clean for me are triggers and sheepshead

They have these solid shoulder blades that take up a lot of their body

how NOT to clean a spadefish - YouTube

 

[Mexican Squealer]

Archery equipment

 

[Rabun]

Hmmm….I think I did right by releasing those. Just doesn’t look too appetizing
thanks for sending that link

 

[UncleIcy]

They are very tasty if you can fillet correctly. Sharp, flexible knife is a must. A tiny bit of brined (salted) shrimp on a fish skin sabiki rig will clean up. Gotta have the iridescent fish skin and a tiny, very sharp hook.

 

[jfish]

filleting isnt too bad if you have a sharp knife. sharp i mean sharp not close to sharp.

skin is thick.

when you filet the skin off dont press the knife down all the way keep it angled up just a touch to minimize blood line.