Flame I ve never seen a florida bass, but I ve fished often northern bass with live bait.
I can t gurantee my method will work for you too, but here is a blast.
I don t use cork or balloon, I tie a 3/0 circle hook directly to the line, then put a minnow/shiner/goldfish by mouth, passing the hook from below to above. Sometimes I cut the tail fin a little. I cast it where I think the bass is and, if there is, the attack comes almost immediately. You see the line go rocket, but you don't have to pull the rod fast as if you had a normal hook, but slowly raise it and the hook will set itself.
