Unfortunately, since jettyfishing.com encompasses a large number of jetties over an extensive range of coastline, we are unable to provide up to the minute details of what is biting at any given moment for a particular jetty location.

Your best bet is to post your inquiry on the jettyboard and get an answer from other fisherpersons in the local area of interest to you.

If you intend to release the fish, the best way is to handle it as little as possible. Handling the fish removes the natural slime that the fish has covering its body. This slime is used by the fish as a natural defense mechanism to prevent bacteria and parasites from attacking the fish. When the slime is removed, the fish is succeptible to parasites, bacteria and infections.

When landing a redfish that is to be released, the use of a net is undesirable and not recommended. The net will wipe off a lot of the fishes natural slime coating and causes harm to the fish. The harm usually comes in the form of injury to the fins and tail of the fish, causing large splits in the tail which take months to heal. This decreases its ability to swim properly and escape predators rapidly when necessary.

A better approach is to simply grab the redfish by the lower jaw and hoist it from the water. You may have to get wet to do this, but the fish will face an improved chance of survival. Alternatively, use a set of lip grippers such as those shown below to secure the fish and bring it out of the water.

When releasing the fish, make sure it is able to right itself and swim away. The fish may have to be revived a little, depending on how long it has been out of the water. You can do this by moving it back and forth while holding it under water to pass water over its gills.

If the fish is not able to right itself and turns over on its back when released into the water, it will have to be vented to ensure its survival. Make sure the fish is unable to swim away before the venting procedure is performed since the procedure inflicts real injury to the fish.

A lot of people don't even realize that reds and other fish pulled up from deep water jetty channels and other deep water areas need to be vented before being released. The water is sufficiently deep enough that the pressure change from the bottom to the surface will cause the fishes bladder to become over-inflated and upon releasing, the fish will not be able to right itself and swim away, but instead will float off belly up until it dies or becomes food for other species. Way too many bull reds caught from deep water jetties end up floating out to sea on their backs during the fall run.

Most people use a fillet knife, but in fact, a large gauge syringe with the plunger removed is better. The proper way is to insert the needle at an angle between the scales just behind the pectoral fin and slightly above the center of the fin at the location shown in the pic below.

Fish venting brochure from the Florida Sea Grant.

Below is a video from Mote Marine Laboratories in Real Player streaming video format that demonstrates the proper procedure for venting and releasing a deep water fish.

Fish venting video from Mote Marine Laboratories.

Crabs work best when fresh. Smaller crabs, 5" or less, can be used whole. Larger crabs should be cracked open by removing and discarding the top shell. Then they can be broken or cut into halves or quarters. It's best to remove all pincers and legs regardless of the method used.

Mantis shrimp, aka sea lice, are often caught as by-catch by bay shrimpers and are often available at bait stores during certain times of the year.

Live mantis shrimp must be handled with caution. They possess a powerful 'thumping' action, used for defense, using their front appendages that can inflict serious pain and cuts to exposed and vulnerable flesh. Live mantis shrimp may be fished by hooking them through the center of the tail fan itself.

They can also be fished the same way as dead shrimp. Simply thread them onto the hook starting from the tail and up through the fleshy part of the tail section as shown below.

You need to use lures that can tolerate a fairly fast retrieve. Spoons work well. Bring them in just fast enough to keep them from 'twirling'. Maybe try the weedless type where the hook is on the top side. Mackerel will tear up the spoons if they are around. Even Kings will go after the larger spoons.

Mirrolure makes a neutral bouyancy lure that doesn't float or sink. Just stays where you leave it in the water column. You will often have decent luck with them...mackerel and trout.

Soft plastics with upward facing jig heads will work if you use them with a fast retrieve. You can't really work them on the bottom the way you normally would, but they can be productive at times.

Also, calmer surf helps with fishing lures. If you have 4 foot surf, controlling a lure is going to be somewhat difficult no matter what.

Use a small treble hook around size 4 to size 6 and hook the shrimp at the base of the horn on it's head. Make sure you avoid the dark areas inside the shrimp's head. These are vital organs and penetrating them with the hook will kill the shrimp. It will stay alive for quite some time this way. Take care when making the cast or the shrimp will be ripped from the hook and fly off.

You can find mole crabs by digging a hole in the sand at the very edge of the wash from the waves. Allow water to enter the hole, and swish it around. You should see mole crabs darting through the water before they quickly burry themselves in the sand.

Also, they can be collected in large numbers by attaching a wire mesh net to a common garden rake, and then raking the wave-swept beach.

First and foremost is the fish! Hold the fish out in front of you and fill the camera frame with the fish. Second is the fisherperson and they should be clearly in view holding the fish. Take the picture in tight with the fish and face of the person; no one cares about the feet of the person who caught the fish! Thirdly is the background. It's not so important, but action shots at the fishing location are more interesting than night shots in the yard after the fish has been on ice for 6 hours.