Ribbonfish?

[Tuftsfisherman]

Has anyone been hooking into ribbonfish? I'm debating whether or not to take a day out of my vacation next week to fish for them from a party boat instead of another day on the beach for pompano.

[Username28]

Why ribbonfish?

[gruntking]

my favorite the bite is hot hot hot asains as far as the eye can see glow sticks for miles

[kblue]

Can you catch ribbon fish from a party boat? Probably in small number.

I only caught them in pier or inlet jetty.
At the moment, water temp is too high. You can catch ribbon fish at jupiter inlet or further north ( very slow this year). The best time in Jupiter Inlet is 2 hours before and after low tide at night. Also, the bites are so picky specially when water is calm at clear-sky night. Ribbon has a good eye and you will have to use live bait...

Did you know ribbon fish bites while standing-up?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsedhJNGgK8


Kblue

[kblue]

Why ribbonfish?

Try to taste one...

[Username28]

Why ribbonfish?

Try to taste one...

Catch one and prepare it for me, and I might. But I am not going to go out and try and catch one.

[tears143]

You can catch them at Jetty park and Sebastian Inlet... why go on a party boat to target them.
JettyPark would love you! :-p

[Username28]

JettyPark would love you! :-p

[Tuftsfisherman]

I want to catch them because they are terrific when fried. I've only caught them as by-catch while fishing on party boats, that's why I thought to go out on one. I'm gonna be down around Melbourne and might try the Sebastian pier one night, though I usually spend 90% of my time on the south beach to avoid the crowds. Glow sticks for them? How do you fish a glow stick?

[tears143]

I have only seen one caught at Sebastian, so I don't know if they are there a lot. You should try jetty park first imo.

I am not sure how you would fish for them as well. I just know that they are there at Jetty Park and Sebastian.

[tears143]

I know exactly what you mean Jetty... I see people keeping illegal fish, using them for bait.. etc quite a few time. It pisses me off, when they do that. They are basically stealing from you and me.

And good job on calling the FWC.

[Tuftsfisherman]

Holy cow, that sucks Jetty. I see the same thing up here when fishing for squid- there's like 200 people on a dock the size of the one at jetty park, squeezing in shoulder to shoulder mugging the crap out of each other. Regardless, I've caught countless snapper/redfish when I was down in FL, but just a couple of ribbonfish, and I remember they were both beautiful to look at and great to eat, so if there's any around, I'd love to know how I can catch one.

[ringonose]

my favorite the bite is hot hot hot asains as far as the eye can see glow sticks for miles

that's funny chit

[Baitfish]

I want to catch them because they are terrific when fried.

As thin as those rascals are, wouldn't that be like a piece of fish jerky once you fried it up?

[Tuftsfisherman]

The ones I caught on the boat were about 5' long and almost 1" thick. You chop off the head and gut it, chop off the last 10" or so, and you steak the body into 4"x4" squares. After that, just put some salt, dip it in flour and pat the flour off, and pan fry them, not deep fry. They are absolutely fantastic.

[BEOWULF]

Yep, I tried it, it's true. However, it was way too bony for me.

[diggin4grouper]

so if there's any around, I'd love to know how I can catch one.

your basic rig for them is this glow stick ( can be bought at tackle shops ) - swivel - wire ( 6 - 8 inches ) - 3/0 treble hook , live greenie ,bunker , or mullet ... when fishing for them you will feel the bump or you will see them dart out and snatch the bait let them have the line , if you feel them come off the bait just leave it there they will be back , when your sure they have ate the bait just reel it in dont pull or yank as they will come off , and when you get them to the top of the water in one swift motion pull it over the rail or boat , watch out for the teeth and the tail which has a few barbs that will cut you !

and if you have a boat right now out going tide on the Stuart causeway is the way to go , about mid way between the bumper and the seawall on the west side seems to have the best numbers

this is at sebastian when we were catching them last month for king fishermen

[diggin4grouper]

I heard they were down there by the 1000s.... just saying

its to the point that you cant keep any thing thats alive on the surface for snook , mullet , bunkers , greenies , ballyhoo, shrimp it dont matter if its on the top of the water its going to get smashed . and these big suckers have a reverse gear and can pull hard , we have seen like 20 rods go in the water from them in the past 2 weeks , thats why my poop dont get leaned on the rail unless it has a bungee cord attached to it lol

[Tuftsfisherman]

Thanks a lot for the tips Diggin! I didn't realize that they were catchable from shore. I'll be down in Melbourne for Thanksgiving break and will definately use a night to look for em. 3/0 treble is a huge hook, do you always use big live bait? Does the type of bait matter?

It's interesting that you say they pull hard - I saw a youtube video of a bunch of them in an aquarium and they just floated lazily there, lol.

[diggin4grouper]

Thanks a lot for the tips Diggin! I didn't realize that they were catchable from shore. I'll be down in Melbourne for Thanksgiving break and will definately use a night to look for em. 3/0 treble is a huge hook, do you always use big live bait? Does the type of bait matter?

It's interesting that you say they pull hard - I saw a youtube video of a bunch of them in an aquarium and they just floated lazily there, lol.

not really that big of a hook for what your catching , the bait as long as its on top and alive they will hit it ,

[krash]

Thye makes good Kingfish bait

[diggin4grouper]

Thye makes good Kingfish bait

yeppers and makes me a little bit of money , selling them 10 to 15 bucks apiece lol