Big Bend Florida Sportsman Guide

Fishing Tactics

Spadefish

Spadefish, How to Catch Them. by Capt Ken Roy

After reading the blurb put out by the State, I can certainly change the "may nibble on Jellyfish tentacle" to feed heavily in Jellyfish of various species, including the Portugese Man-of-War.

Spadefish swarm to the Chum Churn but even when they are swarming on top, they are not easy to catch. Small, light wire hooks work best because they are easily hidden in the bait and do not affect the bait's sink rate like heavy hooks do.

Light Fluorocarbon leaders work best. I get far more bites on 8# test Fluorocarbon than on 8# mono. Most days, Mangrove Snapper swarm to the top with the Spadefish.

All most any cut bait works but as mentioned earlier, Spadefish are as wary as Mangrove Snapper and will shy away from a bait that is hanging on a tight line or sinking faster than your chum.

Cannonball Jellyfish are supposed to be primo bait. Unfortunately, they are not readily available here. I have watched Spadefish mobbing several species of Jellyfish as they drift on the tide.

Spadefish are easier to catch on slow and even slack tide than on fast tides.

Any spot that has a large number of Spadefish on it generally attracts Cobia also. Spadefish are also primo Jewfish bait. Be prepared to loose a Spadefish to a Jewfish from time to time.

The really is not a lot of meat on a Spadefish but they are mighty fine eating. The meat has sort of a greenish tint when raw but cooks up nice and white.

Prepare to be amazed by their fight. They are tough customers on light tackle. If you haven't caught a Spadefish, by all means, catch a few.

Identification