On vacation two years ago (in FL), I had no clue what these fish were. I wasn't sure if they were a sunfish or a different species ofcrappie. I remember them pounding a specificlure but I can't remember off the top of my head.

If I remember what it was, I willdrop you a PM Chuck.

I really remember these things being a BLAST to catch though. Boy did they ever fight hard!

Yes sir..ounce for ounce they are the hardest fighting fish I know of..They are delicious too..much thicker than a bluegill.
A couple year ago I bought some "Guaranteed Crappie Catching Jigs" ...I caught no crapie but did manage to catch one red ear...The jig was very small..red head and green feathery body. IF the weather permits I'm going to get some red worms and get a meal tomorrow.No school tomorrow..YES!!
I haven't fished specifially for shell crackers in 3 years..I've always gotten side tracked with the HNI Bass Tournament..

Ive caught them at my campground on a 1/16oz White Rooster Tail. I had it from trout season and was trying to catch a few Bass with it.

Sorry Chuck,
I meant shellcracker, not pumpkinseed, buddy. I get them confused all the time. The same lures apply to both. Also, if there are still crickets for sale down there, try them. They love crickets. I dont know if you have seen the bettle spin with the feelers coming off of the body or not, but those have outfished the regular ones here, at least 5 to 1.

http://www.bettstackle.net/pdf/betts05-06lures.pdf
They are the ones ont he first page called grunts. They work exceptionally well for any knid of bream around here, even caught some crappie on them.

Chuck we fish a pile of "pan fish" through the ice. Expain how you want to fish them and maybe we can help. I use a shimpo tiped with a wax worm, cleaned about 30 of them last weekend. But I am pretty sure it is going to be tough to find ice in FL.

I have no trouble catchin gthemm..I raise red worms just for the occasion..under my rabbit cages..I was just wondering if anyone was successful with lures...I've done very well catching their cousin ..the bluegill on
Panther Martins
Fly rod poppers
small white rooster tails
beetle spins.

BUT Red earrred..I've been very unsuccessful on artificials.

I see you dont want to use live bait, cant help you.

Hey Tee..I apreciate your replies buddy. and yes I will use live bait..I love fighting and eatting those..It's just that all these years of trolling and spinning for other species..you would think I'd occasionally get a shell cracker..

It was when i was trolling Panther Martins tha tI discovered tilapia bite them too.

and it was when i was trolling Hal Flies { Lead heded jig}for crappie that I discovered stripers {Sunshine Bass} love them too..

all replies are greatly appreciate..
C7
This would have neen th estate record tilapia..BUT I ate it..[:@][&:]caught on a Rooster Tail..they normally don;t bite anything..

yeah i have caught them trying to fish for crappie and trying to catch bait for flathead fishing. i have caught them on worms and on crappie jigs