LAB bite?

Howdy guys,

It's been ages since I've tubed, and I'll be heading out this weekend in the early morning. Do any of you all have any words of wisdom for the sandie or spottie bite? I'm not a picky guy, but I've never really caught anything bigger than 10" in that harbor. I've seen reports of nice models, but they seem to evade my grasp most of the time.    Thanks.

-IF2L

I don't know where your launching from, but look for structure, if you have a fish finder, if not stick to working the docs and pilings. Spotties and Sandys are always there, most of the time. I like tossing 4-5" baits, swimbaits or creature baits are always good. Rigged them on a 1/2 oz lead head and work those docks hard. 90% of the time you'll get picked up on the drop or on the first couple cranks of the reel. Good luck and post a report of how you did.

For seem reason I've always had better luck at night at the LAB. The key is to keep moving.

wiseguy wrote:I don't know where your launching from, but look for structure, if you have a fish finder, if not stick to working the docs and pilings.  Spotties and Sandys are always there, most of the time.  I like tossing 4-5" baits, swimbaits or creature baits are always good.  Rigged them on a 1/2 oz lead head and work those docks hard. 90% of the time you'll get picked up on the drop or on the first couple cranks of the reel.  Good luck and post a report of how you did.

Thanks Wiseguy. I usually prefer to throw T-rigged 3.5" worms as the general population of bass can inhale that size lure. I'm planning to launch from 68th street and the plan is the work near the sportfishing docks and north later in the day. Report for sure.

.:LOLLY:. wrote:For seem reason I've always had better luck at night at the LAB. The key is to keep moving.

I've noticed that too. Much of the reports of larger fish I've read are usually caught at night. I recall reading one from Lokey last summer of some good sized spotties caught during the day, but other than that any fish over 12" was usually reported at night or in the whee hours of the morning.

You would be surprised what some fish try to eat. I have caught plenty of tiny sand bass on 6" swim baits. You just have to have variety. Sometimes they want small swimbaits and sometimes even something like bumping it up to 1" bigger makes a world of difference.

.:LOLLY:. wrote:You would be surprised what some fish try to eat. I have caught plenty of tiny sand bass on 6" swim baits. You just have to have variety. Sometimes they want small swimbaits and sometimes even something like bumping it up to 1" bigger makes a world of difference.

True. I've had some tiny bass munch down on my worms.

As you're working the docks and pilings, have one rod on the holder with a DS worm (fools bait) or a 3" BH swim bait city shrimp color.