How to catch Atlantic cutlassfish

Atlantic cutlassfish feed in 68–88°F water and bite best at 74–84°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 6 waters.

5 pts · trophy at 40"Feeds 68–88°FBest 74–84°FIn season nowFishing pierPass / inletChannel edgeBridge

About

A silver ribbon of teeth that swarms the piers, jetties and lighted platforms from Texas to the Carolinas in late summer. Caught for one reason: it's the king mackerel bait.

How to fish it

A small jig or Gotcha plug under the pier or jetty lights at dawn and dusk; wire or a long-shank hook. Freeze them flat for king season.

What it eats

small jigs and Gotcha plugscut shrimpglass minnows

Live bait for it

Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.

Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.