FS Digest

I've been trying to find mud minnows lately for some flounder fishing down in FL but I am struggling. I was wondering if anyone had any tips. I can usually find a few here and there when I am cast netting but I'd like to find a spot to leave a few traps. Also I am kind of stuck to the shore accesses only since I don't have a boat or kayak. Any tips would be appreciated!

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by BaKaMundi

FS Digest

I'm in NC but I catch all of mine in traps in the little canals on the side of the road or the "pools" in the marsh grass along the road that get flooded during high tide. Just look for shallow water spots. The canals are usually around 1ft deep at low tide and 3ft at high. I usually put out 2 or 3 traps and can have 4-5 dozen. Sometimes more. I use a tent stake to make an anchor point if there is nothing to tie to.

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by sk8ter107

FS Digest

Thanks for the info. How long do you usually leave your traps for before checking back on them? And what do you usually use for bait?

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by BaKaMundi

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

Mud Minnows spend most of their time in quite shallow water, so sight casting works well. Walk the water line near any of the areas they are known to frequent. When a Mud Minnow is spotted throw the net over them. They will most often be found in school so if one is spotted, there are most likely more around.

How to Catch Mud Minnows;

Mud Minnows are one of the most popular and most effective baits for Redfish, Flounder and Mangrove Snapper. They are often easy to catch and are very easy to keep alive, here is how to catch them.

Location

Mud Minnows get their name because of where they like to live. They prefer muddy bottoms, but are also found over sandy bottoms. Mud Minnows are frequently found around oyster beds, mangrove line and even boat ramps.

Equipment

Mud Minnows are most often caught using a cast net, however trapping them can be even more effective.

Any cast net that has a small enough mesh size (under ½” ) will do. Size can range from 4’ up. Of course, the larger the cast net the better the chance of catching mud minnows.

For traps, any minnow trap that can be bought at bait shops would work well.

Techniques

Cast Netting

Mud Minnows spend most of their time in quite shallow water, so sight casting works well. Walk the water line near any of the areas they are known to frequent. When a Mud Minnow is spotted throw the net over them. They will most often be found in school so if one is spotted, there are most likely more around.

Trapping

In an area that has very little tidal movement place the trap in shallow water, with about 1/4th of the trap exposed. This will put the trap in the depth that the Mud Minnows spend most of their time.

In areas that are tidal place the trap at low tide using the above technique. Mud Minnows are most active at low tide so placing the trap in the preferred depth at low tide will help insure a larger catch.

Tips and Tricks

When trapping experiment with different baits.
Cut fish and shrimp heads work well.
Low tide is the best time to cast net mud minnows



http://www.floridashorefishing.com/how-to-catch-mud-minnows


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Raw Dawg Ron Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Walk shore lines and cast a net in shallow water and drag net to shore first then check for baits.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

In NJ we usually trap them. Bunker aka menhaden aka pogies is the preferred bait. Blue claw crab and fish racks also work as does white bread.