Proper Gear?

Heading down from Michigan for a week's vacation on Orange Beach starting April 2. I am bringing my fishing kayak for some possible fishing near shore. I also plan on fishing off the beach and piers. I would like to know what type of gear I should bring. Mostly I fish for bass where I live so I have large collection of jerkbaits, spinner baits, crankbaits, soft plastics and hooks, etc. Do the fish inshore bite on any of these types of artificial lures? I have 7 ft medium and/or medium heavy rods--assuming these are fine. I don't want to bring 10 tackle boxes so I would like to consolidate into the main lures used in Alabama. Also, what type of line should I have spooled on. Normally I would use 12lb flouro or similar pound braid with leader. I am also willing to fish with cut bait of some type. I have used squid before when fishing off the beach for small sharks/rays while in Florida. Is this common there too? I have also seen others use frozen shrimp from the grocery store for sheephead. Is this common? Just looking for some advice of what to bring.

Thanks for any and all help given.


--Tight lines!!

Welcome to Forum King of Jerk. You are at the right place to find all the answers to your questions. These questions have been asked many, many times, by many fishers. Myself included. Check out the Search button in the upper right, and post some queries. Other members will also have answers to your questions. Best baits are live shrimp or fresh shrimp, skip the frozen shrimp. And skip the squid, unless you are going off shore. Good luck to y'all and smooth drags. Be sure to post some fish pics, good, bad or whatever!

Thanks for the help. I will check out the searches.

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Originally Posted by King of Jerk

Thanks for the help. I will check out the searches.

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There's a wealth of information here in the archives!
Whatever the topics (rigging, baits, tackle, etc) are, you'll find the answers that will help you be successful!

In my experience with cut bait, frozen grocery store shrimp and squid I catch about 30 hardhead catfish for every pompano or redfish. For a novice you can buy no better bait than peeled fresh dead cut in small pieces or whole live shrimp. You will need an aerated bucket to keep them alive. The frozen stuff is smelly and mushy and won't stay on a hook very well. If you have some basic DIY skills then build a ghost shrimp pump (YouTube) and use them in the surf.

Thanks. That pump looks easy to build and a sweet way to get cheap bait. Are Ghost Shrimp pretty much anywhere in the sand along the waters edge or is there something you need to look for specifically to know where to locate them?

You will see what appear to be mini volcanos of sand just off the beach in shallow water and they go all the way out past the sandbar. A reasonably calm surf, clear water and a low tide make gathering them easier. They will almost always get washed around in the surf so having a small net is real handy and having a kid to scoop them up is even better. Sometimes they are only a few inches deep and other times they are deeper than your pump. I usually slurp 3 times in the same hole before moving to the next one. You have to work fast since the hole refills with sand really quick.

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

You will see what appear to be mini volcanos of sand just off the beach in shallow water and they go all the way out past the sandbar. A reasonably calm surf, clear water and a low tide make gathering them easier. They will almost always get washed around in the surf so having a small net is real handy and having a kid to scoop them up is even better. Sometimes they are only a few inches deep and other times they are deeper than your pump. I usually slurp 3 times in the same hole before moving to the next one. You have to work fast since the hole refills with sand really quick.

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Any pointers on the best way to hook them so they don't depart the hook when surf casting?

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Originally Posted by Dasabigfish

Any pointers on the best way to hook them so they don't depart the hook when surf casting?

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small red thread, or small copper wire through the EYE of the HOOK. Then carefully secure the gs to the hook with a few wraps.