Need Some Advice From You Saltwater Guys

[Jake P]

Im going on a little vacation to south Texas to see some of my wifes family for a couple days and then were going to south padre for 5 days after we leave Mcallen. I plan on fishing the salt while were there, but i have no clue on where to start. I have a 3500 size reel i plan on using but i need to get a rod to go with it. I dont even know what type of fish i can expect to catch ?

So i need some suggestions on line size, rod size and lures. I will be fishing from shore. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks yall!

[Bassn Blvd]

Will you be fishing the Gulf or inland waters? The easiest way to catch some sort of saltwater fish is a simple hook, weight and fresh dead shrimp or squid. A m/h spinning outfit with 10-12 pound mono is very versitile. Slide a 1/2 to 1 ounce egg sinker on your line and tie on a swivel. Attach a 2-3 foot, 15-20 pound mono leader to the swivel. Tie a 1/0 or 2/0 hook to the other end of the leader. That is the most basic rig.

I can be of more help if you were going for a specific species. Your best bet would be to go to a local tackle/bait shop nearby to where you will be staying and ask them for advice. I'm sure they will hook you up.

[Jake P]

Yeah I will be fishing the gulf. Il probably grab a mh rod and 12 lbs yo zuri. I will ask around when I get there and see what's up. Thank you sir!

[BassHunter954]

Sirsnookalot can answer any questions you have you should pm him his thread is in this section under thought my snook was nice. Hes a big salt guy.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm not familiar with shore fishing in that area, at least the predominate species and times of year when they are running. Bassn covered the basics perfectly, nothing to add to that, except I'd prefer 15-20# braid over 10-12# mono, but that's a personal choice. If you plan on beach fishing with bait I'd make a rod spike (rod holder) from a pvc piping, take a towel so you don't place your reel in the sand, sand is the #1 liability for your reel.

If you plan on using artificial, I'd stick to the basics, you do not need any thing else. Spoons, topwater plug, 1/2 oz bucktail (a bass jig would work too) and soft plastic flukes on a 1/4 oz-3./8 oz jig head. I have caught many on Zoom flukes as I have on ones designed for saltwater. I'm only guessing because of the way it is here, most species just come and go, they do not hang around structure unless you are next to a jettie or pier. I always watch the water and sky, that gives a good idea of what's going on, bait breaking, birds circling and feeding and most important FINS. Keep on the move, walking and casting, it may dead in one spot but 200 yds away the action could be good, you just never know. I've had times where I've gone several weeks without a strike on the beach and I've had times where it's a fish a cast.

[Jake P]

What is the reason for the egg sinker, swivel and leader?

[SirSnookalot]

What is the reason for the egg sinker, swivel and leader?

The sinker rests on top of the swivel and won't slide down to the hook, the sinker will enable a further cast. You can "free line" (no weight) if you choose, that's usually done with a live bait.

[Jake P]

So should i use the sinker and swivel even if im using a fluke on a 3/8 oz jig head? Or any bait for that matter? Or is that just for lighter baits to achieve further casts? Also, when retrieving is it similiar to bass fishing, or just cast and retrieve? Again, i have only been to the ocean twice and have never fished for anything in salwater ever so forgive me for the ridocolous questions. Just want to cover all my bases. Do you fish the super flukes or magnum flukes? Thanks for the answer yall, i appreciate the help.

My brother in law lives 30 minutes from the island and is going to meet us there. Apparentley he went to school with one of the guys who works for a guide down there so hopefully he can hook me up. He said he was down there a couple months ago and caught a 3ft shark shore fishing. May seem like nothing to yall but i would be pretty stoked since im never around the ocean.

Is there anything yall can recommend i take with me that i might need for slatwater fishing? anything i shouldnt lip out there other than the obvious shark?

[Bassn Blvd]

Use the egg sinker when you're using cut bait or live bait. You can also free line your live bait (without sinker).

When using the Flukes like SirSnook advised, you don't need the egg sinker. The only weight you need with the Fluke is the jig head.

[SirSnookalot]

When using lures, fish it just like you are bass fishing, there really is not much difference. The guide would be more benefit than me, he knows the area and the species. Let me give you a word or 2 on caution, even an 18" shark can take big a chunk out of you, sharks have no bone skeleton, it's a cartilige and can turn around 180 degrees. There are many species of fish you do not want to touch, they have spines that can give you a terrible infection, like a skip jack, squirrel fish, surgeon fish and countless others. I always wear sandals or shoes and step on a fish (or hold them with a towel) before I remove a hook, even small fish.............I learned the hard way. My health and safety comes before the preservation of any fish.