Just out of curiousity, why do saltwater tournaments permit live bait fishing while freshwater do not?  Also, it seems that most saltwater fish are caught with bait.  Are lures not that effective on saltwater fish?

I have never gone for big game fish on saltwater but have jigged for Bluefish and weakfish.  I have also used bait for Fluke / Flounder.  

A couple of people I work with asked that question to which I was curious too.

First off there are saltwater tournaments that are artificial only.

Many inshore tournaments especially for redfish require artificials.

Big game is another matter.

Catching a sailfish, marilin or tuna under any circumstances is a tremendous challenge.

Artificials are often used as "teasers" but the bait is typicially a dead fish (so technically is not "live" bait)

Then all those bottom feeders.  

How can you have a artificial only tournament for grouper or flounder?

It would be like using artificilas to catch catfish or carp.

Avid,

Thanks for the clarification.  The catfish / flounder analogy helped me.  I also didn't realize that there were artificial only tournaments.  I have been watching big fish madness on Versus TV network and most of the tournaments are bait (live or dead).  

A co-worker was pointing out that the bait monkey is not as pervasive in saltwater.  I then reminded him that bigger rods and reels mean more $$$.  Plus, you need a nice big boat to go after the big fish!

A co-worker was pointing out that the bait monkey is not as pervasive in saltwater. I then reminded him that bigger rods and reels mean more $$$. Plus, you need a nice big boat to go after the big fish!

Co worker is in the denial stage of  BaitMokeyitis.

yea id say your co-worker is in the denial of the baitmonkey, i bass fish 3-4 times a week and saltwater 3-5 times a month and have at least 3 times more saltwater equipment than bass fishing stuff, imo saltwater baitmonkey is much more abusive and expensive

but i have been in flounder tournaments where bait was allowed and used by probably 95% of all the anglers, but the few striper tournaments ive been in were artificial only

Your co-worker is absolutely wrong.

While it's true that bass fisherman have the largest selection of lures,

NOTHING compares to the money big game salty anglers spend on their passion.

Go to BPS and take a look at the Penn reels and all the downriggers, planers, and fighting chairs and assorted other mondo expensive gear.  You'll thank God your a basser and not into Marlin

...Which is why those big game charters are so costly. Sometimes you just pay for a 700 dollar boat ride...

The cost of SW fishing is almost directly proportional to the size of the fish and species you wish to fish for.

You can bottom fish for Grouper or snapper fairly inexpensively.  A decent boat rod and Penn 113 isn't anymore expensive than a typical bass combo.  Inshore stuff is the same way for Reds, trout, Snook, Permit, flounder and other inshore species as the seasons dictate.

It's when you start talking about 'hoo's, Marlin, Sails, Bull Dolphin, Kings, Big Tuna, etc that the price suddenly shoots waaaaay up there.  Not only are you going to sink a ton of $$$ into a boat and motors that can safely take you many miles offshore but the electronics on that boat will also set you back a small fortune.

I have a house in Lake Charles, Louisiana that is 1 mile as the crow flies from Calcasieu (Big) Lake, 2 ½ miles from Prein Lake, 5 miles from Lake Charles, and 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. This area is on the Redfish Circuit and I can tell you salt water tournament are more expensive to fish that fresh water tournaments. Manufactures write salt water on it and automatically raise the price 15% or more.

Price a Skeeter, Champion, Ranger, or Trition center console bay boat lately!

Most bay boats run dual outboards, y'all price outboards lately!

A typical bay boat can hold 80 to 100 gallons of gas at $2.40 a gallon!

Boat runs of 100 miles or more one way are not uncommon!

I have not gone King Makeral fishing in a few years now,as my back cannot take the pounding(back surgery). The price of fuel is another factor as most of my freinds and I have gotten smaller boats. Back a few years ago when gas was $1.50, we were spending 45-70 dollars a day a fuel and we were only going 10-18 miles offshore. Anyway getting back on topic, alot of inshore tourney's are artificial bait only but thefact is when it comes to the saltwater game, nothing beats live bait. For instance when fishing for King Mackeral it is almsot a given that a boat fishing with live bait will outfish a boat who only has frozen cigar minnows or is trolling plugs.

Tony