Fishing Spots

[moganman]

I'm assuming you wouldn't want to wade fish. Most people who start don't jump into wading. For a pier/bank fisherman I would recommend a used Abu Garcia baitcaster. Something like the 5500 or 6500 model. A 7ft medium/medium-heavy action rod will suffice. That's the most economical and efficient way. If you want to wadefish like me then its a bit more pricey. One combo averages about $350-$450 for me because I get custom built rods for the light weight design. It really helps when I fish long tournaments or do all day wades in the winter months.

As far as baits, fishing for black drum, sheepshead, croaker, redfish, and other big fish, dead shrimp, shad, mullet, and cracked crab works wonders.

Depending on depth and tidal movement and current, I would suggest using between 1 and 2 ounce lead weights. I like the Carolina rig. When I used bait about ten years ago I used circle hooks for crab, mullet, and shad fished on the bottom. Regular J hook for dead shrimp and treble for live shrimp. Now all I catch are mostly trout and the occasional redfish and flounder because I only use artificial lures.

This is more for wadefishing but it applies to all fishing and it is essential to watch what's going on in the water. If you see bait jumping, more than likely they are running from a predatory fish. They don't typically jump for leisure. If you see bait especially nervous bait, focus on that area. There's been many times when I was fishing and saw a shrimp or mullet or shad jumping and freaking out. I'll cast my topwater bait right where the bait is jumping and twitch it one time and the fish takes it. The fish will not stay around long where there's no bait to feed off of. There's other signs besides bait jumping but that comes through having an experienced eye for it. Bait fishes produce bait slicks that come from regurgitation of their algae and micro organism diets. They don't have a smell that Ron referred to and are typically larger and longer than game fish slicks.

My most promising method of finding fish is through slicks. They smell like watermelon or freshly mowed grass. Redfish typically give the watermelon smell while trout give the freshly mowed grass smell. They smell almost the same but there's a slight difference that is noticeable through time on the water. This means that game fish are in the area bait is I'm the area and they are feeding or have already fed. One thing I notice about a lot of fishermen is that they try to fish right under the slick although the tide and wind has pushed the slick from its original formation. It's important I pay close attention to where it originated. Most game fish slicks start at about 3ft in diameter and rapidly increase to over 20ft. Don't fish under a 20ft slick because the fish are probably 200 yards away. I know it's a lot of info but there's a lot more and it comes through experience and reading. Good luck

[barberking12]

I'm assuming you wouldn't want to wade fish. Most people who start don't jump into wading. For a pier/bank fisherman I would recommend a used Abu Garcia baitcaster. Something like the 5500 or 6500 model. A 7ft medium/medium-heavy action rod will suffice. That's the most economical and efficient way. If you want to wadefish like me then its a bit more pricey. One combo averages about $350-$450 for me because I get custom built rods for the light weight design. It really helps when I fish long tournaments or do all day wades in the winter months. As far as baits, fishing for black drum, sheepshead, croaker, redfish, and other big fish, dead shrimp, shad, mullet, and cracked crab works wonders. Depending on depth and tidal movement and current, I would suggest using between 1 and 2 ounce lead weights. I like the Carolina rig. When I used bait about ten years ago I used circle hooks for crab, mullet, and shad fished on the bottom. Regular J hook for dead shrimp and treble for live shrimp. Now all I catch are mostly trout and the occasional redfish and flounder because I only use artificial lures. This is more for wadefishing but it applies to all fishing and it is essential to watch what's going on in the water. If you see bait jumping, more than likely they are running from a predatory fish. They don't typically jump for leisure. If you see bait especially nervous bait, focus on that area. There's been many times when I was fishing and saw a shrimp or mullet or shad jumping and freaking out. I'll cast my topwater bait right where the bait is jumping and twitch it one time and the fish takes it. The fish will not stay around long where there's no bait to feed off of. There's other signs besides bait jumping but that comes through having an experienced eye for it. Bait fishes produce bait slicks that come from regurgitation of their algae and micro organism diets. They don't have a smell that Ron referred to and are typically larger and longer than game fish slicks. My most promising method of finding fish is through slicks. They smell like watermelon or freshly mowed grass. Redfish typically give the watermelon smell while trout give the freshly mowed grass smell. They smell almost the same but there's a slight difference that is noticeable through time on the water. This means that game fish are in the area bait is I'm the area and they are feeding or have already fed. One thing I notice about a lot of fishermen is that they try to fish right under the slick although the tide and wind has pushed the slick from its original formation. It's important I pay close attention to where it originated. Most game fish slicks start at about 3ft in diameter and rapidly increase to over 20ft. Don't fish under a 20ft slick because the fish are probably 200 yards away. I know it's a lot of info but there's a lot more and it comes through experience and reading. Good luck

i couldnt say it better myself. but i am a big fan of spin cast reels

[40GallonsOfDoom]

Fishing Spots

Thanks! That's a lot but its better than getting not enough.


Sent from under a rock.

[40GallonsOfDoom]

Can you give me some pros and cons on the Abu Garcia's he mentioned and the spin cast reels? I have always just had the old Zebco 303's and similar reels.

[RonR.]

I'm assuming you wouldn't want to wade fish. Most people who start don't jump into wading. For a pier/bank fisherman I would recommend a used Abu Garcia baitcaster. Something like the 5500 or 6500 model. A 7ft medium/medium-heavy action rod will suffice. That's the most economical and efficient way. If you want to wadefish like me then its a bit more pricey. One combo averages about $350-$450 for me because I get custom built rods for the light weight design. It really helps when I fish long tournaments or do all day wades in the winter months.

As far as baits, fishing for black drum, sheepshead, croaker, redfish, and other big fish, dead shrimp, shad, mullet, and cracked crab works wonders.

Depending on depth and tidal movement and current, I would suggest using between 1 and 2 ounce lead weights. I like the Carolina rig. When I used bait about ten years ago I used circle hooks for crab, mullet, and shad fished on the bottom. Regular J hook for dead shrimp and treble for live shrimp. Now all I catch are mostly trout and the occasional redfish and flounder because I only use artificial lures.

This is more for wadefishing but it applies to all fishing and it is essential to watch what's going on in the water. If you see bait jumping, more than likely they are running from a predatory fish. They don't typically jump for leisure. If you see bait especially nervous bait, focus on that area. There's been many times when I was fishing and saw a shrimp or mullet or shad jumping and freaking out. I'll cast my topwater bait right where the bait is jumping and twitch it one time and the fish takes it. The fish will not stay around long where there's no bait to feed off of. There's other signs besides bait jumping but that comes through having an experienced eye for it. Bait fishes produce bait slicks that come from regurgitation of their algae and micro organism diets. They don't have a smell that Ron referred to and are typically larger and longer than game fish slicks.

My most promising method of finding fish is through slicks. They smell like watermelon or freshly mowed grass. Redfish typically give the watermelon smell while trout give the freshly mowed grass smell. They smell almost the same but there's a slight difference that is noticeable through time on the water. This means that game fish are in the area bait is I'm the area and they are feeding or have already fed. One thing I notice about a lot of fishermen is that they try to fish right under the slick although the tide and wind has pushed the slick from its original formation. It's important I pay close attention to where it originated. Most game fish slicks start at about 3ft in diameter and rapidly increase to over 20ft. Don't fish under a 20ft slick because the fish are probably 200 yards away. I know it's a lot of info but there's a lot more and it comes through experience and reading. Good luck

You sure know your stuff. Love the spec trout pics!!!!!!

[RonR.]

Can you give me some pros and cons on the Abu Garcia's he mentioned and the spin cast reels? I have always just had the old Zebco 303's and similar reels.

Zebco is a good starter reel. They have a Zebco 733 reel that's pretty good for saltwater and a larger 808 model. I have 3 733s on 7' medium action Uglystix light rods. At Academy the 733 is around $20 and the rod is $40.

Garcia is a good starter open face reel. When you cast baitcasters you have to keep your thumb near and lightly touching the spool as you cast and the line is comming off the spool. It takes practice, but once you learn they are nice. If too much line comes off the spool too quickly you can have a birdsnest.........alot of fishing line all tangled up. That's when you see someone casting and the bait snaps quickly back at you (a backlash). You usually say or hear some choice words right afterwards. LOL You can get it untangled with a little time and patience. Baitcasters are easy to clean and maintain. The line comes off pretty straight off the reel, in otherwords it doesn't twist coming in like a spinning reel does.

Moganman is right, you can spend alot of money pretty quickly on your rod and reel. I have a Shimano Chonarch SF baitcaster that I paid about $200 10 years ago on a custom Billystix spiral rod that set me back $350. What I use now mostly is a Shimano Saros 4000 spinning reel on a Billystix 7'2" medium fast action rod with micro guides. Got the spinning reel for Christmas from my daughter and her hubby and just got the rod for my birthday. The rod cost me another $350.

Spinning reels are very easy to use, just like Zebcos. You can get some with quickcast which allows you to put your index finger on the line and release the bail (the metal curved piece that juts out in front of the reel) all in one motion. I had an older Garcia that had it and have a Shimano that has it. At Academy they have some with that feature in the aisle near the reel and gun counter.

I learned to use the spinning reel with the quickcast feature. My new Saros I have is old school where you have to use 2 hands to cast. Go to youtube to see some instructional guides--it's still very easy to use. When the line comes back in on a spinning reel it usually twists coming back in unless you use a swivel to connect your leader. It's pretty near impossible to get your line tangled. Depending on whether you are right or left handed, you can move the handle to either side of a spinning reel. Baitcasters have the handle on the right side.

Other things you will need will be a good pair of fishing pliers, a tackle box to put leaders, weights, hooks in........a stringer (i like the ones with the float on it....I have one made by stinkypants), a knife to cut bait, a filet knife to clean your fish, a net, an icebox, a live bait bucket on 5g bucket with a battery powered aerator (for live bait...also get a small dipnet if using the bucket to avoid getting your skin oils inthe water)......... I usually have some mosquito spray and sunscreen in my tackle box.

When you wade like moganman all this stuff has to be able to go mobile, be lighter and be able to be attached to you. They have waderbelts, fishing jackets, personal floatation (a must!!!!), waterproof bags for your cell, camera.....

I have waders and wear stingaray boots to gig. In the old days my buddy and I used to go barefoot or wear our tennis shoes with shorts during the summer. LOL

The best thing about fishing for me is the peace of mind I get being outdoors and on the water. It calms me. Most of the fish I end up catching I release anyways.

[40GallonsOfDoom]

I have some Vibram 5 Fingers that I wear in the water. :)

[moganman]

Good stuff Ron. I've been wading for 15 years and never wore a life vest. Almost drowned in the surf one day trying to swim to 3rd bar. Water was too high so I never touched bottom. Got exhausted and fortunately I had my styrofoam tackle box float. I had to lay on top of it. Finally got back and I was dizzy for about an hour. I wasn't taking the chance going out there with that float but I still have flashbacks because it was a frightening experience vi just don't wade areas alone if I'm not familiar but a life preserver is a safe way to wade. I don't think I'll ever use them.

[40GallonsOfDoom]

I'm fat enough to float.

[moganman]

That's the problem with the surf. The tides there rip and it will float u deeper and deeper lol. Problem with people drowning in the surf is that they try to swim perpendicular to the bank when it should be slightly less that parallel. When I almost drowned I had to swim over 100 yards from my original wade.

[40GallonsOfDoom]

Yeah in the rip you just let it pull you and swim kinda sideways. When you get out of it you can just ease on back in. I'm good at the swimming, just not the fishing. :)

[johnnymisty]

Ive never cared much for the abu garcias though their good reels i prefer to use shimano reels fav one is the curado

[moganman]

Same here, but shimano is more expensive and for a bank/pier fisherman, a spinning reel or a bigger bait caster holds more line for bigger fish. Shimano specializes in low profile fishing gear

[johnnymisty]

Same here, but shimano is more expensive and for a bank/pier fisherman, a spinning reel or a bigger bait caster holds more line for bigger fish. Shimano specializes in low profile fishing gear

Ya i still use my curado everywhere though and for big game i have a pen 320 gti on a 10' surf rod

[RonR.]

Good stuff Ron. I've been wading for 15 years and never wore a life vest. Almost drowned in the surf one day trying to swim to 3rd bar. Water was too high so I never touched bottom. Got exhausted and fortunately I had my styrofoam tackle box float. I had to lay on top of it. Finally got back and I was dizzy for about an hour. I wasn't taking the chance going out there with that float but I still have flashbacks because it was a frightening experience vi just don't wade areas alone if I'm not familiar but a life preserver is a safe way to wade. I don't think I'll ever use them.

Very scary. I know exactly what you mean. You go out and think, "man what a great and beautiful day" and the next moment you realize you might die on that same beautiful day.

I was out bodyboarding almost 3/4 way out between Terramar and San Luis Pass. I was on the 2nd sand bar catching some waves. I noticed 2 fisherman swimming back in from the 3rd sand bar. One guy had his rod in his mouth and was swimming for dear life and gulping water. When I yelled and asked him if he needed help he couldn't answer me so I knew he was in trouble. I swam out to him and floated my boogie board out to him. He grabbed it and I pulled him back in to the 2nd sand bar using my wrist strap. He thanked me profusely and said his bluejeans were super heavy and making it hard for him to swim. Another minute and I think he would have gone under.

Another time I was in Hawaii and snorkeling (without fins) and got into a rip current. I didn't panic and tried to swim against it because swimming with it and parallel to it would have taken me to a shallow area with razor sharp coral and barnacles. It took every thing I had to swim against it for about 10 minutes to get to channel marker. All the time I could see my wife sitting under the umbrella on the beach enjoying her book. I was thinking about how I didn't want my daughters and wifey finding out how I went and drowned myself on vacation. I could think of worst ways to go though.