How to Catch Ribbonfish

Seems like there is always a kingfish tournament right around the corner. Probably the most highly sought after bait for tournament winning fish is the ribbonfish. Also known as Atlantic Cutlassfish or belt fish depending on who you talk to.

Around tournament time you can easily pay over $15 for one fish, which can get very expensive, very quickly. I will show you how to easily catch ribbonfish and have fun doing it.

What is a Ribbonfish?

Known to most anglers as ribbonfish, the atlantic cutlassfish is an eel-like fish with razor sharp teeth and a tail like a whip. Widely regarded as the best slowtrolled bait for smoker kings.

It is very important to handle these fish with care as they can bite very quickly and slice through skin very easily.

There is an enzyme in their mouths that stops blood from clotting, so if you get bit, clean it with fresh water and cover with a cloth to stop the bleeding. If you follow basic precautions though, this will not be an issue.

They suspend vertically in the water column usually near the bottom and wait for food to come by. The strike is vicious and may at first feel like you snagged something as they try to slither backward toward the bottom to enjoy their meal.

Where to Find Ribbonfish

Can be caught on just about any pier or jetty, with the Jacksonville pier on the east coast of FL being among the best.

While they can be found in inshore waters, the larger ones are most often found in or near the surf over soft bottom and around structure.

While not necessarily a schooling fish, they do tend to be in the same area. If you are not getting bites where you are, try moving 20 feet until you find them. Once you do, its time to load up.

Ribbonfish Lures

Using wire leader can sometimes dramatically cut down the bite rate, but at times will feel necessary. After all, it does not make a lot of sense to spend $50 in lures to catch a few baits. Even a graze of the teeth will sever your line.

Ribbonfish can be caught on just about anything shiny, but these are what I prefer to use.

Gotcha

A popular metal plug made by Sea Striker. Do not be fooled by the many imitations, they all fall apart or spin in the water. You can find the real deal here. Use the smallest size you can find, head color does not matter, but silver body definitely works best.

Cast out and jig as you retrieve or drop straight down between pilings until you can not see it any longer and simply bounce it up and down. If you get no bites for a few minutes, move to the next set of pilings and repeat until you find them.

Spoon

Kastmaster or something similar is the best option because it is heavy enough to cast very far and stay down while fishing from a pier. Just cast out and reel VERY slowly.

If you can find where the low point between the sandbars is, that would be a good place to start before moving up and down the pier until you find them.

Lipless Crankbait

The super silver ones, with or without rattles are deadly when the ribbonfish are hanging out away from the pier. They have a much higher hangtime than other lures and put out a ton of flash.

I recommend the Rat-L-Trap brand because of how shiny they are.

Cut Bait and Bobber

This works best at night, around lit areas. Attach a bobber or float 3-4 feet above a small hook with a bit of wire trace. Above that about a foot, attach a small split shot. Now simply drop it down into the light and let the bait dangle underwater near the edge of the light.

The best bait for this is actually small slices of other ribbonfish. Their sides are so incredibly reflective that they almost seem metallic.

Other than that, small pieces of fish or shrimp will also work well.

Can You Eat Ribbonfish?

While many people would not even consider it, ribbonfish is quite tasty, though very bony and difficult to clean. The meat is white and flaky, ideal for tacos or fish sticks. It is mostly eaten as sushi and highly sought after in Japan

Recommended size to keep for eating is over 3 feet long. The fillets will be big enough that you wont be disappointed after cleaning them.

Alternatively to filetting them, you can gut them, peel the skin and cut off the fins. After that, cut them into squares and cook whole. Once they are cooked, the bones will pull right out, just like eating a panfish.

Ribbonfish Recipe

The simplest way to eat these would be to simply bread and pan fry them and enjoy with or without a sauce of your choice.

If you are competent at making sushi, they are excellent for that.

Or try this delicious carribean fish stew recipe:

Ingredients:

1 tsp Grated Ginger
1 tsp Black Pepper
3 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
1 Tbsp Thyme
2 Bay Leaves
1 Bell Pepper, Sliced
1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper(optional)
4 Tomatoes, Large Diced
1 10oz Can Coconut Milk
1 Cup Chicken Broth
Chopped Cilantro (optional)

How to Cook:

In a single pot on medium heat, quickly sautee the ginger and garlic until soft.
Next add peppers and tomatoes and cook for about 2 minutes.
Now add everything else, including the fish, but reserve the cilantro for later.
Stir gently and cook over low heat for 45 mins or until the stew has thickened slightly.
Salt to taste. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and the bay leaves. Top with cilantro and serve with rice.

Summary

Use something small and shiny around ocean structures such as piers or jetties while moving around until you find them. When you do find them, stay in that spot. Ribbonfish tend to pile up in the same place due to food or current relative to structure.

Wire leader is highly recommended, though use the lightest gauge you can get away with. And make sure to bring a cooler filled with ice!

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