How to Cut Pinfish (Shiners) for Saltwater Fishing

Whole Shiner Ready to Cut

Perhaps you have heard it said that fishing is easy….. It’s the “catching” that is difficult.

And the right bait is often the key to success.

Saltwater fishing particularly offers a unique challenge as well as a seemingly endless variety of trophies both edible and wall-worthy. What bait works best to capture such as the elusive red drum, spotted sea trout, mackerel, tarpon, bluefish, cobia, or flounder – to name a few?

Some swear by live pinfish, known colloquially as shiners, wriggling enticingly beneath a cork. Others rely on shrimp, small crabs, or artificial jigs and lures.

Another option that factors in scent as well as the appearance of an injured bait fish is “cut bait.”

Crafting life-like bait can be tricky. Here are a few tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need:

Sharp (fillet) knife

Small rod and reel or cast net (optional) for catching bait fish

Instructions:

Step 1

Catch or purchase live pinfish/shiners.

Pinfish, or shiners, can be caught using a lightweight rod and reel or pole, with a small bit of bacon on your hook, as well as gathered with a cast net, or purchased from a bait-shop or marina.

Step 2

Begin Cutting Just Below the Head

Begin, using a sharp fillet knife or other suitable knife, by making a cut at the head of the fish.

Step 3

Cut Close to the Backbone for a Large Meaty Bait

Cut lengthwise down the top side of the fish from head toward the tail. Cut close to the backbone, keeping as much flesh intact as possible to render a meaty piece of bait.

Step 4

Cut Tail through Middle of Fork

Make sure to sever the tail in the center of the fork. This retains a lifelike looking tail for each piece of cut bait.

Step 5

Make a Cut along the Belly of the Fish

Repeat the cut on the belly side of the fish. Leave the exposed entrails attached, or toss them. Either works.

Step 6

Remove the First Couple of Sharp Fins

The fin of a fish can be extended and spread, presenting a swath that can entangle your hook. Clip the forward couple of pieces of fin to alleviate this problem.

Step 7

Shiner Cut into Three Parts

Here is a fish cut into parts, showing the new back-fin bait and the belly bait.

Step 8

Insert the hook through both scaled sides of the bait, at the top end. The bait should resemble a wounded fish when trailed through the water.

Optionally, for the belly side of the bait, you can insert the hook through the top end, front to inside.

Step 9

Using small jerks and tugs on the line, keep your bait moving in the water. This helps to maintain the illusion of a struggling fish, and also keeps your bait from being nibbled by small fish lurking on the grass bottom.

Reel in occasionally, to check that your bait has not become laden with sea grass or ragged and shriveled from small fish nibbles.

Step 10

Enjoy your catch!

This article is an excerpt from Nature Coast Ways, A Simple Guide to a Tidal Coast Vacation

Photo Credit

Peggy Strickland