New here, and I am a tourist

I know you guys don't like my kind when we show up, but... HERE COEMES AN ARKIE, WOOO PIG SOOIE!!!

Sorry 'bout that. Heading down to stay on the lagoon next week mid week thru the weekend. I am hoping to catch a few (anythign really) off the dock at the condo, but might venture out to the pier (if I get brave). I had a buddy tell me that with the cool weather next week, the lagoon might start loading up with reds, specks, and everything else by the WE, could this be true? If not, I figure I will be happen sipping a few suds and reeling in a few catfish, and whatever else eats my Arkie baits.

:drunk

The lagoon should start turning on soon. I will def be trying it this weekend. Don't worry about being a tourist, experience is the best teacher and everyone has started out not knowing everything about fishing. Don't be afraid to ask questions on here. Good luck

As a fellow "tourist" I can only say great things about the people and the information given out on this forum. Like Snake said, if you have a question, just ask.

welcome lmbarnett from a fellow tourist, when I come....but some don't hold it against us http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...isc/giggle.gif watch, ask and learn....as stated.... we all are learning, just at different stages in the process

Here comes another Arkie in mid Oct, have fished the pier in florida but never gulf shores
just joined the board
Hi everyone I'm Bear

As far as inshore specks, a friend with a house on the bay says they are starting to show up a bit at night.

perdido key ICW has been getting them the past week or so at a special dock

I was mistaken on the condo location, so instead of the lagoon, we are right next to Perdido Pass. Got a dock to fish from right across the bridge, The Caribe. I hope they have lights, as big as the marina is they should.

Top water for specs?
DOA under a pop-cork for reds?
Carolina rig for flounder?

How has the crabbin been this fall so far?

LOL, a rookie mistake as you haven't yet had an opportunity to learn the geography of the area.
Don't worry about it!
You will be in an even better location as Perdido Bay is finally getting 'right'.

What I've seen (from a distance) the Caribe dock is lighted, but I didn't see any lights actually shining in or on the water.
But it should be a great spot for redfish, flounder, specks, mangrove snapper, bluefish and ladyfish.
IF there are no lights on the water try a 'glow' 1/2 or 1/4 oz DOA (at night or dusk)depending on the strength of the current.
You likely want to 'bounce' it off the bottom for best action.
The popping cork thang may work early and late in shallower water?
During the day you may want to switch to a 3" Gulp shrimp on a 1/4 to 1/2 oz jighead and just drag or bounce it along the bottom near the docks and shadows.

Either way live shrimp and small LYs or bull minnows (drifted in the current) should do well at daybreak. After sunup try putting them on a Carolina rig on bottom.
Also jig a small (1/2 to 3/4 oz) silver spoon for redfish near the docks if you see small LYs schooling around ;-)

The crabbing should be at peak now as the females are in the surf in the best numbers we have seen in 3 years.

Good luck! Welcome to the forum (and God's Country ;-)
And let us know how it goes...

Welcome aboard Barnett, hope you have a good trip!
I have never fished the Caribe's or Colbalt's docks, but be aware they are both private property. I don't know if they allow public fishing or not.

Surely someone on the forum has fished there; what's the word on accessibility?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pier#r

LOL, a rookie mistake as you haven't yet had an opportunity to learn the geography of the area.
Don't worry about it!
You will be in an even better location as Perdido Bay is finally getting 'right'.

What I've seen (from a distance) the Caribe dock is lighted, but I didn't see any lights actually shining in or on the water.
But it should be a great spot for redfish, flounder, specks, mangrove snapper, bluefish and ladyfish.
IF there are no lights on the water try a 'glow' 1/2 or 1/4 oz DOA (at night or dusk)depending on the strength of the current.
You likely want to 'bounce' it off the bottom for best action.
The popping cork thang may work early and late in shallower water?
During the day you may want to switch to a 3" Gulp shrimp on a 1/4 to 1/2 oz jighead and just drag or bounce it along the bottom near the docks and shadows.

Either way live shrimp and small LYs or bull minnows (drifted in the current) should do well at daybreak. After sunup try putting them on a Carolina rig on bottom.
Also jig a small (1/2 to 3/4 oz) silver spoon for redfish near the docks if you see small LYs schooling around ;-)

The crabbing should be at peak now as the females are in the surf in the best numbers we have seen in 3 years.

Good luck! Welcome to the forum (and God's Country ;-)
And let us know how it goes...

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words and advice from the master angler http://www.gulfcoastfishingconnectio...c/thumbsup.gif

Fished a spot real close to the Caribe last Friday night and it was loaded with Mangroves. We fished about an hour before dark till dark and got close to our 2 man limit. Most were barely legal but had a few that were pretty nice for inshore. All caught on live shrimp but as hungry as they were I think anything would of worked.

If you have a boat/kayak, there's some decent lights to fish not far from the Caribe. Hope this helps!

Your grubs on a jighead will work for flounder. Small rattletraps and small bass assasins will catch specs and reds. Find you a lighted dock-the brighter the better and fish at night. Be sure to rinse your reels after every trip to get the salt out.

You are coming at a great time of year for Perdido Bay and for the pier. For the night fishing at your condo pier I recommend waiting until late and it gets quite on the pier. I have done great with many types of small artificials fished erratically under the lights. Also live bait under a cork often delivers. Stand quietly and watch for flashes in the water as the specks or white trout are often visible when making feeding slashes at natural bait. Vary the speed of your presentation. Most people on the state pier are friendly and helpful. Don't miss it.

Not sure I wil be able to venture out in a boat, as the Wifey won't allow kayak the rack on the Honda. :bang

Will go to the marina and grab some skrimps and put 'em on the old Catfish rig (Caraolina rig), and see what the castnet will bring in... last year I caught a 2" flounder, unfortunately, it was a little undersized, so it got released back into the lagoon.

I sure am getting excited to head to yall's part of the world. Fishing, beach, kids running around, wife running around, Good beer not available in Arkie-land, 7 days no work, good weather forecast, WOOOOOO!!! DANGIT BOY!

:drunk

I would like to thank PurpleNGold, your tips were spot on, but all the mangroves but 2 were under-legal :(. I did land an 16.5" flounder to boot. Along with about 345,478,342 undersized mangroves... Maybe not that many, but I got 5 dzn skrimps so far and most produced a mangrove, sheepshead, or flounder (most under but still fun).

THANKS GUYS,
An Out 'O Stater
Matt

I had a blast catching fish. I forgot to mention. I love catching , not keeping. Keeping is a bonus.

I forgot to thank everyone that offered tips for me while I was at the Gulf this week.