Pretty Basic Question

[Average Fisherman]

Forgive me for my constant barrage of fairly basic questions. Today's edition revolves around what I pull in with my cast net. I know what mullet, lady fish, shrimp, etc. look like. But frequently I'll toss out the net and bring in several flat, whitish gray, 1-3" fish. What are these, and when they are that small, are they a usable bait? If so, is it the same basic Carolina or double drop rig you would use fishing mullet?

[Montauk17]

Either pogeys or threadfin shad....they are good bait gotta use a small hook or it will kill them. I like to use a #6 treble hook. I much rather live finger mullet they are hard to kill and stay on the hook good.

[Catcher'sMitt]

Average fisherman, are they football shaped and have miniscule scales? if so Pogey. If they have larger scales and they have more rectangular shape they are herrings. Pogey is my favorite big trout bait, hook them through the eye sockets. they are difficult to keep alive. put them in a full 5 gallon bucket for a few minutes and then dip them out and put in a livewell that has freshwater flow and leave it on. You catch more with a recirculating pump, but it has to be a big well and you will get a lot of foaming.

Just about all minnows are good bait. least favorite are glassminnows and spots. Spots look like a Croaker but aren't half as good as croakers.

[Average Fisherman]

Small scales, so I'm guessing they are pogies. Do you fish them under a popping cork, or just Carolina rig them?