Lively Fishing With Dead Baits

There's a visceral intrigue approaching giddiness each time an offshore angler drops a live baitfish to the bottom. Vulnerable forage restricted by a lead weight - this is gonna ring someone's dinner bell. True, livies will no doubt lead to a big rod doubled over.

But so will dead baits.

OK, tossing those flats of frozen sardines, Boston mackerel, menhaden or squid into the cooler isn't nearly as titillating as pursing a castnet full of baitfish into a livewell or shaking a set of baits off a gold hook "sabiki" rig. However, those deceased baits are much more than back-ups. In most cases, this should be your first choice.

For clarity, no one's suggesting we nix the live...