The pinfish is abundant along the east coast of the United States down through the Florida Keys. Anglers have the opportunity to catch pinfish which are known to be scrappy fighters.Not only are pinfish fun to catch, but they make excellent bait for a variety of saltwater gamefish. I have used pinfish to catch gamefish on numerous occasions. If you’re using pinfish for bait, here is what eats pinfish. 

How To Catch Pinfish

Without question, pinfish are caught in a multitude of ways including rod and reel in addition to throwing a cast net. With that being said, here are the techniques for catching pinfish for bait with a rod and reel or cast net. 

Rod And Reel

One of the most fun by time consuming approaches to catching pinfish is by rod and reel. Undoubtedly the technique is simple. I recommend bringing along the kids to get more lines in the water to fill the bait bucket quickly. 

I prefer panfish hooks tipped with a piece of shrimp either beneath a small bobber or on the bottom with a split shot. It should be noted pinfish are notorious bait thieves. Always be prepared for the bite. Lastly another option is a pinfish trap but this requires even more time.

Cast Net

Without a doubt, the cast net is the fastest way to catch pinfish. Pinfish congregate in large schools, making them for one, highly visible and secondly, easy to target with a cast net. 

I locate schools of pinfish by keeping my eyes on the water along the shoreline. The schools of small pinfish tend to swim near the surface of the water. For this reason, I position myself in an area that I can toss the net without obstruction, including objects and plant life above and below the surface of the water. 

When a school of pinfish is located, toss the net over the center of the school. Importantly, allow the net to sink before pulling tight. Lastly, do your best to avoid handling the bait. Instead, drop the pinfish into the bait bucket directly from the net. 

How To Handle Pinfish

Pinfish are called pinfish for a reason. The dorsal fin is loaded with sharp spines. The sharp spines inflict painful wounds to the hands when improperly handled. 

When handling a pinfish to remove it from a hook or rig it as bait, I recommend holding the fish from the underside. Avoid touching the top of the fish all together or wear thick gloves. Importantly, a good tool to prevent touching the fish is a dehooker. A dehooker quickly removes the hook without needing to hold the pinfish. 

What Inshore Fish Eats Pinfish

If you’re wondering what eats pinfish, the list is long when it comes to inshore fishing. The most notable inshore fish that dine on pinfish include redfish, ladyfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon, flounder, and more. 

When fishing inshore with pinfish, I recommend locating and catching small pinfish. Without a doubt, pinfish in the 2 to four inch range is ideal. Oversized pinfish will reduce or eliminate strikes from inshore gamefish therefore, it is critical to take into consideration the size of the bait. 

What Offshore Fish Eats Pinfish

Offshore angling with live pinfish catches a wide range of species. Therefore, when it comes to what eats pinfish offshore, the species include amberjack and a wide variety of grouper and snapper. 

Notably, live pinfish are dropped to the bottom compared to freelining them at the water’s surface. For this reason, lead weights are necessary to reach sub surface reefs and wrecks. 

Without a doubt pinfish used offshore must be larger in size. The ideal size for offshore fishing with pinfish ranges between four and six inches. Large pinfish prevent bites from small grouper and snapper compared to targeting only the biggest fish with bigger pinfish. 

One of the most highly sought after snappers is the red snapper. Anglers during red snapper season which is short in the Atlantic Ocean waters, load up on pinfish.

It should be mentioned that before heading out offshore fishing, ensure to catch ample bait. Running low on pinfish will cut a fishing trip short unnecessarily. Trust me, when the bite is hot, you will go through a substantial amount of live bait. 

Now You Know What Eats Pinfish

No matter if you’re an inshore or an offshore angler, live pinfish are a top choice for bait. Remain inshore for sea trout, redfish, flounder, snook, and more, or drop the bottom on reefs and wrecks for snapper and grouper. I use pinfish consistently and can attest to the fact that they are an excellent choice when it comes to targeting gamefish. Load up the baitwell by rod and reel or a cast net.