Heading down March 25th!!!

Me my wife and kids are heading down the 25th of march for our yearly trip down. My wife is originally from gluf shores. That is why we started to come down every year 5 years ago.And i have come to love it down there as well.We are even talking about moving down there one day. One thing that has eluded me though is a sucessful fishing trip while being down for our trip. I have fished fresh water all my life and have won several local bass tourmants... so I can fish but not had enough time to get the hang of saltwater fishing.So was wondering if any of you all would give me some advice on fishing the pier,surf,or places like little lagoon. I know it depends on what I'm targeting but like I said I'm still wet behind the ears when it comes to saltwater fishing. So when we are down there next week what type of fish should i target and what are some tactics or tips should I do? Whouldn't mind possibly meeting someone from this forum to make us some new friends and possible fishing buddies while we come down each year. Ps incase I didn't mention love it down there!

[size=36pt]Welcome CB[/size] :yippee:
I hope you can glean enough from searching through this website to answer most of your basic questions about tackle and tactics.
You are 'spot on' that much depends on the species being targeted, so the best place to start (IMHO ;-) is simply learning to utylize the tackle and tactics you already have and know while you are here.

The pier is a great venue to observe and ask questions and often to even catch some fish. LOL!

Hope this helps... :fishing:

:headbang:

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Welcome aboard the board CB!
Here is link to a kinda one-stop info thread. Also, like #r said, use the Search function the find specifics.

LOCAL TIPS, TRICKS and TERMINOLOGY for FORUM MEMBERS
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...-members-only/

I won't be down until Good Friday and am by no means an expert, but if you're still struggling I can meet up with you and share how I've been successful and show you how to rig up for the different species that are available.

Have a good day, Pez

[quote author=pez gallo link=topic=2938.msg26676#msg26676 date=1363886965]
I won't be down until Good Friday and am by no means an expert, but if you're still struggling I can meet up with you and share how I've been successful and show you how to rig up for the different species that are available.

Have a good day, Pez
[/quote]

you ought to swing by and pick me up on your way :poke1: :fishing: :headbang: ....except I have grand kid duty :cry:

The absolute best thing you can do is to hook up with Pier#r, who is a professional pier and shore guide. He is an expert on helping folks catch fish, and if I were him, I'd charge a lot more than he does---he's extremely reasonable. Good luck and hope I get to meet you on the pier.

Hire Pier#r. Its SO worth the money if you want to learn to catch some fish. It'll give you a big advantage on the learning curve. You can also check out some of the saltwater books they have at places. Pretty general knowledge but still very helpful.

Thank for all the help fellas. Know I might be asking too many questions... Lol But when we are down there next week what species should I be targeting? I've always wanted to catch a big king or bull red, but I've heard whether true or not that Bull Red fishing is best around mid to late November (just going on what I've been told) So if that is the case are we comming down too early to try and get my first king? Like I said since coming down there with the wife and kids so my wife can visit family and me to meet them I have grown to really love it down there with the area and people. (not to mention all the different styles of fishing I have yet to learn!) :fishing: I would love the chance to meet some of you all and #r I wouldn't mind possibly seeing about booking you for some lessions while being down there where everyone on here speaks Highly about you.

Thanks for the recommendations guys! :bow:
CB, if you wish to contact me just follow the link in the 'signature' below my message.

And just because October/November may be the BEST month for bull reds, it's not the only one ;-)
There were at least two caught yesterday along with those king mackerel. :banana:
Your timing may be about right to get a suitable spinning combo and take a crack at landing your first king or bull red. :headbang:

Thanks #r I have a penn slammer combo that I bought when I was down there several years ago I figured I would that rod and reel plus My set up that I use to catch huge Stripers in the summer time when they make their run in the hiwassee river to search for cooler water and to dine on trout. Will those two rods be enough or do I need to possibly bring one of my light weight setups that i fish for trout also. I will contact #r as soon as possible to see about details on planning getting together while we are down there.

Yeah, you definitely want a lighter rig too.

Well, I'm new to this forum. I'm going to try my luck fishing from the beach at gulf state park. Is it worth my time? I don't mean to hyjack your thread but we are after the same things so.......
I have a couple of long rods for soaking bait and I have been tying double drops and fish finders all winter because its less than 20 degrees outside right now.
This stinks, I mean it really stinks I live in Iowa now there are lots of pigs up here. I alway thought I would move further south then north. My wife and I are heading to TN for the closing on the house we own there. We can't pass up a quick trip down to the beach when we are that close. We will only be there on Good Friday and Saturday morning. Then we have to go back to the frozen north with all these DA......
Yankees.
See you on the SAND. Not snow.

:D

Welcome DtJDM! :headbang:

Quite likely fishing from the beach will produce whiting, pompano and possibly redfish or drum.
There are several nice beach bar points and 'holes' along the beach a ways on either side of the pier.
Hope it works out well for ya!

I have 50lb braided power pro on might big pole that I use for striper fishing should I leave that on and use a flora carbon or mono leader or take it off and respool with flora carbon or mono all my other poles that i will be bringing has from 12lb mono and under. Would like to have at least the right lines on my poles before I get there. I know I'll haft to stop at a tackle shop down there and get some weights and possibly some jigs and spoons to try out while down there. Love to use artifical but have no problem using live bait if that will get me on some fish time down. we will be staying at a campground that is just right off (I think) 59 bridge can't remember then name of the campground will post as soon as i can remember Lol

southport campground is where we will be staying. Anyone know if there is any good fishing there next to that bridge? seen where the water flows into oyster bay so would that place be brackish water?

i'll leave most of the advice to the locals but if you trout fish with the same type of spinning gear that i do, leave the trout rod at home. i'm from loudon county btw.

was thinking the same about that but I do still have some other light spinning reel that I will probably take and leave my expensive trout setup cause not for sure if it will handle the salt water and sand.

[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2938.msg26749#msg26749 date=1363919056]
:D

Welcome DtJDM! :headbang:

Quite likely fishing from the beach will produce whiting, pompano and possibly redfish or drum.
There are several nice beach bar points and 'holes' along the beach a ways on either side of the pier.
Hope it works out well for ya!
[/quote]
Thanks, I was going to do just that. I saw from the satilite map there is some structure there. I don't know how old the pictures are but they should have just moved one way or the other. I think it is cool that you can see structure like that. My son is in intellegence and it would be cool to get a real time photo of the beach. 8)
So there are some pomps? Does that mean there are some fleas to be found? I would love to hang a big drum of either color. I tied a bunch of double drops with flouro and pomp hooks with beads. I'm ready I just need to get there.
See you on the beach.

Hey guys, go to J&M Tackle on Canal Rd. and get advice from John's staff before buying up a bunch of stuff that you either don't need or won't work. The people a J&M as well as the locals on this site will give you good advice that comes from years of experience (priceless). I learned the hard way several years ago NOT to just buy up tackle because it looked good to me. I have a wall full of crap that I have bought over the years that I didn't need, especially pre made leaders and rigs that are too big and bulky and have too much hardware on them. Learn to make your own leaders and rigs for various situations (info available on this site). Also pay attention when #'r says to bring some "light" tackle. Big rigs are great if you are on big fish and know what you are doing. But it sounds like ya"ll are like me and just love to be successful, which is easier with medium to light rigs. I am no pro myself but have learned to observe before I fish and get advice before I buy. Good Luck!