Shiner Fishing in Florida

[Grim_Reaver]

As of this year, I've been doing a good amount of saltwater fishing (mostly on the MS gulf coast) and as of the last few trips we've been slaying speckled trout and reds on popping corks with shrimp. This got me thinking about using shiners for bass back home in FL. Could the same tackle be used for shiners (15lb braid main line to popping cork, 10-12lb mono leader to 2/0 kahle hook)?

[NHBull]

Last time I was there with live bait, it was 50lb braid, no leader.

[N Florida Mike]

They would break that leader when they go into cover. You at least wouldn’t be able to pull them out of it going that light. 

I use 25 pound test mono and can’t remember one ever breaking off. I use a circle hook so the fish will usually get hooked in the corner of the mouth. But if you set the hook like you do with a Kahle hook, it usually won’t result in a hook up. Once the fish has taken the bait, I count to 10 as I locate where the fish is, as I get close to 10 I let the fish tighten up and as it gets almost tight, I gradually lift and reel. Not a violent hook set. I cannot remember ever gut hooking a bass with a circle hook.

I also run the shiner with or without a cork depending on the situation. How would you tell without a cork? You’ll know! A bass will nearly always run off quickly with the shiner. Line will start peeling off much faster than it did when it was just the shiner.

I love live bait fishing! Nothing wrong with it if laws are obeyed!

[Grim_Reaver]

I have a flipping/frogging set up with 50lb braid, 20lb mono leader from snook fishing, and also have circle hooks from 2/0-4/0. How would you recommend I set up and what size shiners do you typically use?

[N Florida Mike]

I would get rid of the leader. Tie directly to the braid. In a clear lake I personally use a 2/0 so it doesn’t ruin the action of the bait. The more stained the water the bigger hook you can get away with imo. I just get more action with a smaller hook because I fish fairly clear water bodies.

I would use any size shiner you can catch. Usually the bigger the shiner= bigger bass. Believe it or not though , I have caught a 3 pounder on a 10 inch+ shiner. They don’t call em big mouths for nothing! 

I hook mine through both lips starting with the bottom lip. You must cast them gently or they won’t last long. 

I would also not recommend the commercially raised shiners. They are usually silver instead of gold color. Bass don’t like them near as well.

[bigbassin']

50lb straight braid is the standard like everyone else has said.  Personally I always use 16lb Mono on a MH 7' rod, I've never had an issue with breaking off that I can remember.  3/0 J-hook.  This is probably location dependent.  I'm typically drifting live shiners over eel grass flats so I'm able to keep my bait just over top of the cover.  On lakes like Rodman, I've always heard the key is to let your shiner swim several feet under the hyacinth so I could understand why you'd want straight braid for that.

 

If you're comfortable feeling what your bait is doing on slack line and you are fishing sparse cover or matted cover that the shiner won't get tangled in swimming under, I'd recommend free lining the shiner.  I'd use a cork if it's really windy to push the shiner over a flat or if you're fishing around wood cover and need to know exactly where you're bait is at.

 

[SC53]

What Mike said.  20-30# should be enough unless maybe in the heaviest cover.  I like to drag a shiner behind the boat while lure fishing. Bobber will help keep it near the surface but a bi* bass will chase it there a lot of times. I remember a time fishing Rodman where all we did was free line them behind the boat with just enough spool tension to prevent backlash. When they hit, they just speed up.  Engage the reel and get it on.

[Don51]

Not my thing. I get bored easily and need to cast and move around. But shiner fishing definitely produces big fish! Good luck!

[SC53]

Not mine either Don. Haven’t fished a shiner in probably 20 years. I’m an artificial guy myself but dragging one while casting can be productive. 

[Grim_Reaver]

Thanks for the replies guys! Definitely has given me a better understanding of shiner fishing.

[Sam]

Fished the Disney waters with a Disney guide and we used live shiners.

 

A strike on almost every cast.

 

Son nailed a 4.5 nice lady.

 

Grandson had fun reeling them in although he would not touch them.

 

I vote for shiners for fun.

[gnappi]

I use 20 lb black braid, no leader. It works for me. 

 

[Oregon Native]

Hmmmmmm....maybe one of these days....have never used a shiner or minner.....but then I'm from out west!!

[Dwight Hottle]

This fish came on a shiner during a super cold front in Florida. 

 

[Oregon Native]

20 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

This fish came on a shiner during a super cold front in Florida. 

 

Now Dwight...big fish...sunny day...a northerner down south.  You should be the toughest son of a gun down there.....shorts...no shirt....flip flops.  But then you could be acclimated already????  Nice fish....