Bait Stealers of the Neuse

1157 Views 5 Replies 6 Participants Last post by whitey, Aug 17, 2014

crabman00

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2014

I've made several trips to target Old Drum over the last couple years and have had a fair amount of success.
I noticed several of you guys recommend using cut mullet for bait. When we try that, we can't keep bait on for more than like 5-10 minutes, as the bait stealers will clean the hooks. What we've started doing is catching some of the bait stealers, pinfish and croakers, and using them alive for bait. Seems to work pretty good and we don't need to check our baits continuously.

I'm curious what some of you other guys do to beat the bait stealers, or do you just continuously rebait?

Gonna have to try the popping cork/swimbait method next time down. Sounds like one answer to the bait stealer issue.

Appreciate any tips.

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urbanmountainman

· #2 · Aug 17, 2014

I'm not an expert by any means,and I had the same issues your having. I didn't catch a red or flounder until I went to artificial bait. Whole live mullet didn't help either,just got bit off at the head.

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trigger22

· #3 · Aug 17, 2014

Best way to beat the bait stealers is the fish after dark. Second to that is to use fresh caught menhaden. BIG ones. The bait thieves don't bother them as much as they do the mullet and don't go telling everyone this

but they work better than mullet.

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c.lane

· #4 · Aug 17, 2014

Big menhaden and croakers or pinfish are my fav bait. I really don't like using mullet

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Scott Hobbs

· #5 · Aug 17, 2014

When big menhaden are in the river, they are the best bait. Big heavy cast net will capture all you need for a fishing trip. Even enough to chum with...

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whitey

· #6 · Aug 17, 2014

Bait stealers won't eat a mullet head...but the oldies will

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