A mudminnow is named by the habitat that it prefers, which is soft muddy bottoms in the coastal areas
of South Carolina. There are many different varieties of mudfish that range in size. The mud minnow is a
prized bait for anglers because it is excellent for catching many of the most popular inshore gamefish.
Just what are mud minnows.

What Does A Mudminnow Look Like

Many people ask the question, what are mud minnows? Mudminnows are found in the Mummichog family. The mud minnow is brown or olive green from the belly up with vertical stripes along both sides of the fish. A mud minnows stomach is typically orange or yellow. When it comes to size, they are on the small side but can grow up to around 6 inches. Of the types of minnows in South Carolina, the mud minnow is one of the most widely used by inshore anglers.

It is essential to know that mudfish south carolina are different from mud minnows. Mudfish are bowfin and share similarities to a gar.

What Is The Habitat Of Mudminnows

When it comes to a mudminnows habitat, they can be found in a wide range of places, including grass
shorelines, creeks, brackish waters, salt marshes, and primarily on muddy bottoms. The mud minnow is
also capable of surviving in freshwater. Beyond South Carolina, mudminnows are also common in North
Carolina and Georgia.

Why Do Anglers Like To Use Mudminnows As Bait

Inshore anglers prefer to use mudminnows as bait in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia
because they effective on some of the most highly sought-after gamefish. Speckled Trout, Redfish, and
Flounder all love to dine on mud minnow bait and prefer them to live shrimp.

How Do You Catch Mudminnows To Use As Bait

When it comes to how to catch mud minnows, mudminnows can be caught in a couple of ways. The two methods are equally as effective.

Cast Net

The first method is by utilizing a cast net. A cast net is a net thrown by the fisherman and expands to a
circle before falling into the water draping over mud minnows. Because the net must sink to the bottom
where the mud minnows are, be sure only to throw it on soft mud seafloors to avoid snagging it on
oyster beds and losing the net. In just a couple of throws, you may have a full bait bucket.

Minnow Trap

A mud minnow trap is best if you’re not in a hurry to acquire bait. Place a dead fish which is the mud minnows bait that ranges between four and eight inches in the trap and drop it in shallow water. The water must be deep enough to have the entrance to the enclosure beneath the surface at all times. Remember you must take changing tides into consideration. Tie the trap off to a secure object and let it sit for three hours. More times than not, you will have a trap filled with mud minnows.

What If You Don’t Have A Trap Or Cast Net To Catch Mudminnows

Fortunately, most bait shops carry live mud minnows. Call around to local bait and tackle shops in your
area and inquire about live mud minnows. Make sure to bring along a bucket to store the baitfish.

How Do You Keep Mudminnows Alive

The whole purpose of live bait is that it should be fished alive and you will achieve the best results with a live mud minnow. Live fish attract more strikes. Utilize a bucket and portable bubbler, otherwise known as an aerator. The bubbler is run on batteries and emits air into the water to help keep the mudminnows or other baits alive. Bring along spare batteries or make sure the air pump is well charged.

How Long Will Mudminnows Live In A Bait Bucket With An Aerator

When properly stored, they can live in a bucket for up to two days. However, they are best to use within
a couple of hours because they may not survive for more than a few hours in a bait bucket depending on
air temperature and other conditions.

The Next Time You’re Fishing Try Mudminnows

One of the most often overlooked baits is the mudminnows because most anglers are more familiar
with live bait shrimp. When fishing with mud minnows the mud minnow is like candy to flounder, redfish, and sea trout. To save money, throw or cast net or deploy a minnow trap to catch mudminnows. They can be fished beneath a float or on the bottom. Make the switch from shrimp to mudminnows.