I have pirate clans that are the equal of some small nations IMTU.
Think Exosquad pirates that moved on once jump drive was invented.
They play for high stakes, and so every operation is not just a cash grab- it's usually material and tech they cannot produce on their own, occasionally key people.
They operate an unparalleled intel and bribery operation.
That would be the hallmark of professional pirates, not an opportunistic smash and grab or swashbuckling raiding, but knowing precisely what they are going after when, line up the conditions, decoy or bribe LE/Nav, and in general have done a lot of human spywork before a single thruster is lit.
As such, bait ships are going to be tough to foist on them, they are likely to know about it and you'll only catch the 'B' team small fry that are the more opportunistic types.
And yes of course there would be a huge backend business with disposal of ships and goods, they would at times be a threat to doublecross pirates, but in general they are co-conspirators and would be part of the economy and enablers of piracy.
Consider the element of classic Caribbean piracy where they sold the goods to American colonies, particularly the Carolinas, where the local leadership would not only buy the items at low rates and profit but actually fete the pirates.
Local poor, low pop/tech colonies might be very interested in getting products they would never afford otherwise, view pirates more as Robin Hood figures helping against The Man, and be enthusiastic about providing support as long as the pirates don't hurt their trade directly.
A related area at least to me is the Oort cloud, a goto place for stashing ships, goods, bases, refueling and escape.
Time consuming refueling is less of an issue when you are on the lam and not able to stay ahead of the authorities' couriers, and the cloud would be a community of desperate strange people doing strange illegal things out there that might provide fuel and illicitly produced items, be just as desperate for key industrial items, and luxuries as well.
No way to patrol it, the planetary/interstellar polity would have to operate intel out there to even have a chance to engage pirates or illegal operations.
One of my intended subplots is that someone out in the Oort is producing APHE/exploding rifle bullets, outlawed on Earth since the 1870s, now being made and sold out there in the criminal community. I expect to either suck them into trying and stopping the trade, or that they will seek to get a supply for themselves.
