Saltwater Fishing Noob coming to Gulf Shores in late June....

Hi guys I've been lurking the last couple weeks trying to get as prepared as I can be before we head down to Gulf Shores the third week of June (21-28). I'm from Chicago and the only salt water experience I have is a headboot trip I took over 20 years ago. And yes before you suggest it, I've already booked some guide time with David aka Pier#er.

What tackle would you recommend for mostly pier fishing? I have a 6.5" medium rod that I will be brining with. I am going to be realistic and just try for pompano, sheepshead, and all the other smaller fish. Should I go with fluorocarbon or braid? What size/color/type hooks? Any recommendations on artificial (or is this a wasted effort?). Should I buy a pier net / gaf (that wont be used except for this trip. Any other noob advice or even just Gulf Shores info (good non chain food etc..) is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Mike

your best bet would be to target spanish and use gotchas, bubble rigs, strip baits, yo zuris, small el-ys with a wire leader 31 pound single strand( or smaller). #4 3x strong mustad treble. theres so many things you can catch and use to catch them with its just ridiculous. I'm sure pier # r will show you anything and everything you'll need to know.

As a novice from Mich I found J&M tackle shop a few years ago and they will be a great help with setting you up for what is biting. This is an awesome site with a lot of helpful people. There is a link on the side of this site.
The locals on the pier are very helpful and friendly. I usually will just watch what is going on to learn.

Southern fishin is right spanish is your best bet looney jigs,gotcha plugs,and strip baits. also the sheephead are a good idea carolina rig #6 khale hook 1 oz lead. both of those species can be caught on light to med action rods.

Most folks show up on the pier with rods too long, reels too big, line too heavy, and terminal tackle that would choke Moby Dick!
In clear, calm water smaller hooks and thinner line become more important;-)

6 1/2 foot is OK, but a 7 foot medium action rod and a 3000-4000 series reel with a smooth drag that holds at least 250 yards of 8 - 10 mono (or fluro) will do you well.
You can use that for just about anything ;-)
Braid might help if you plan to do a LOT of lure chunking for bigger mackerel.

No need for a gaff, and not even a net really as there are usually plenty of good folks around to lend a hand when needed.
All you should have to do is ask.

Tons of great info I really appreciate it. I'll have to hit up one of our local outdoor stores ( have cabelas basspro and gander mountain all within half an hour) for some new toys. Any rod/reel brand recommendations?

I can't wait to get down there it's obvious you guys have a great community. My group is Looking forward to fishing with you on June 23rd David. We've watched your youtube videos and read up your pier reports for June 2013.

Lots of good advice. Listen to David and go light unless you're after kings or bull reds. The sheepshead may be hard to come by that time of year. If you're drifting live bait for Spanish, use #10 trebles and 50# mono or 15# braided wire (I learned this from Pier#r). Good luck.

The Penn combos are good maybe wait until you arrive and go by J&M's on canal they will fix you up and spool your reel with the best line. Your going to go anyway so kill two birds with one stone

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

Tons of great info I really appreciate it. I'll have to hit up one of our local outdoor stores ( have cabelas basspro and gander mountain all within half an hour) for some new toys. Any rod/reel brand recommendations?

I can't wait to get down there it's obvious you guys have a great community. My group is Looking forward to fishing with you on June 23rd David. We've watched your youtube videos and read up your pier reports for June 2013.

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Go with a Penn Fierce 3000 spooled with 10 lb Monofilament in a bluish fluorescent color. (So you can see it). You can't beat them for the price and saltwater durability.

I'd go with a 7 ft medium action rod, something that has a fairly flexible tip.

Just some artificials would be a Yo-Zuri Cystal Minnow 3 1/2" and some 7 strand, non-coated wire leader, and really really really small, but strong BLACK swivels.

Also, some white Looney jig's would do you good.

You can buy 20 lb Flourocarbon and use it as a leader but for Pompano and bottom fishing, its really not necessary, but for Spanish Mackerel (or you can use 40lb. MONO), but it is needed.

Heres a link for a really good rig for bottom fishing and an outstanding rig for Pompano:

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...-rig-how-8134/


And when you get down here, I'd DEFINITELY stop by J & M and tell them what you want to be doing, and they'll literally and figuratively "hook you up" haha. :p Everyone on the pier (or most everyone) is glad to help a newbie when you come down so just ask around when you get on the pier. If you see someone that looks like they know what they're doing, ask them what they're fishing for, we are very happy to share information :)

Hiring Mr #r is one of the best moves you could make for a Newbe....he will show you right the first time, no trial and error....One thing I would suggest is a cooler with wheels and rod holder attached whether perminate or not....I have seen them attached with ratchet straps that seem to work well and can always be used at home(the cooler) for ball games or anything else out door events....the pier is long and carrying everything is a pain, and you'll need a cooler anyway for your fish your going to catch, unless don't plan on keeping( what a shame if you don't) , even a 2 wheel dolly works...pull the handle up and load it up, a couple bungees and your good to go

Might think about carrying your new equipment back home also. So if you buy while you're down make sure you have room to get it home. Or you may have to leave someone there.

Thankfully we are taking 2 vehicles down, a sedan I'll be renting and my parents 2013 Durango which will fit everything (including my kids! Gotta love a 1000 mile drive with just the wife). Space should not be an issue. I think I will take all of yor advice and go to J and M the day we arrive. Any thoughts on wether we shod save some money and just get the pier permit/license versus getting pier/full saltwater? As I have said before this is all new to me. Is there much difference between surf fishing and pier fishing?

thanks again


mike

if you plan to fish anywhere else you will need the full salt water license, that is all your choice....depends where your staying too, if right on the beach that would be close....I don't care for the beach fishing personally, the sand is so fine it gets into everything and hard to rinse out..... and just love the pier and people, what you can see over the water is so different then standing level with it on the beach
my drive is 850 miles

You need a cart of some sort with rod holders to get everthing out there and back. Cooler, tackle, box, aerated minnow bucket, etc. I usually come that week every year as well. Flounder, specs, and spanish will be the most plentiful that week. A few whiting and pompano will still be around in the surf. Spinning tackle with a Carolina rig with #12 fluorocarbon will suffice for any of the above.

We are staying in the cabins on Shelby Lake at the state park (definitely getting a freshwater license). Gonna have to track down a cart, might just use the kids wagon...

I spent the biggest part of my first day just watching and asking questions. the locals are more than willing to help if you are willing to listen.

A cheap hand truck from Walmart makes a good cart, and you can use it to move stuff around when back home. I am still using one I bought back in 1991.
Bring a good sharp fillet knife, needle nose pliers and buy a rubberize orange fish cleaning glove from J&M, almost all saltwater fish has sharp fins, gill plates and teeth!
If you have kids, fishing from the beach with a light Carolina rig & fresh dead shrimp is hard to beat, when they get bored, they can go swimming or build sand castles.
If you want to fish for kings, buy a 2-piece rod, makes traveling easier.
I haven't fished Lake Shelby but it is stocked with shellcrackers, bluegill, bass & catfish. Also there are redfish in there. There is also now a pile of eel grass along the shorelines, I bet the outer, deeper edges would be the place to catch bluegills & shellcrackers.

I use the red fold up wagon from SAMs club. Put my cooler and tackle in it. I made a rod holder out of plywood and PVC and bungee cord it to my cooler. Works good because it folds up for traveling.

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

We are staying in the cabins on Shelby Lake at the state park (definitely getting a freshwater license). Gonna have to track down a cart, might just use the kids wagon...

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This one was used once and is for sale. It has an 800lb capacity and can be used for gardening, firewood and working around the house. I am coming down June 22-29th or you could pick it up in Athens, Alabama (right on I-65) on your way down.

So what's a shellcracker? I recognize all the other fish types besides it. Does fishing in alligator waters change anything?

Great point about surf fishing while kids play. I had not thought about that!

Cart rat looks very nice but I would have no way getting it home. We don't even know if we can fit the kids wagon.

Redear Sunfish Mike...
Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) - Freshwater Fish Facts

aka Shellcracker ;-)

Aah we just call them sunfish up here... How big do the panfish get done there? Any get to be slab size?

I've seen two pound crappie come out of those lakes (but that was some years ago).
We have at least 15 native sunfish species in lower Alabama Sunfish Species - Freshwater Fish Facts
About half of which attain 'slab' size ;-)

Wow you guys have a nice variety of freshwater fish AND you get salt water as well I'm jealous! Of course you guys also have things that would also eat you if they have a chance which we do not... and more snakes... and hurricanes... Okay, maybe I'm not THAT jealous.

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

Wow you guys have a nice variety of freshwater fish AND you get salt water as well I'm jealous! Of course you guys also have things that would also eat you if they have a chance which we do not... and more snakes... and hurricanes... Okay, maybe I'm not THAT jealous.

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You mean you guys DON'T have federal bureaucrats?
It must be paradise ;-) lol

C'mon it's not like the President is from Illin... oh wait. Our pain up here comes from the 6% state income tax, the 10.5% sales tax and the fact that my 1100 sq ft house which is 40 miles from Chicago still has $4,500 in annual property taxes AND cost me 160k at the bottom of the recession (prerecession my neighborhood was over 200k each). Also our state is broke.. so fun times. I would love to move but I do have a good job and with all of my wife's and mine family being here makes it tough. I personally would love to move to the coast and avoid the winter (this year we had almost 70 inches of snow and and average temp of 18 degrees...)

I will never complain about my $950 property tax again.

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

I will never complain about my $950 property tax again.

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That $950 per quarter right...? Illinois is one of the most expensive states to live in. I also didnt mention gas over $4/gallon today when I filled up in the outer burbs... How is the cost of living down there? There has to be some benefit for being up here right?

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

That $950 per quarter right...? Illinois is one of the most expensive states to live in. I also didnt mention gas over $4/gallon today when I filled up in the outer burbs... How is the cost of living down there? There has to be some benefit for being up here right?

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Our storm insurance kinda levels things out cost wise if you own a home. But, you don't have to deal with snowbirds who haven't yet discovered the turn signals and the spring breaker invasion every year.
No offense, but 3 lanes in one clip with no signal in heavy traffic; Michigan tag! Sadly it is not that unusual.

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Originally Posted by FinChaser

Our storm insurance kinda levels things out cost wise if you own a home. But, you don't have to deal with snowbirds who haven't yet discovered the turn signals and the spring breaker invasion every year.
No offense, but 3 lanes in one clip with no signal in heavy traffic; Michigan tag! Sadly it is not that unusual.

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I'm not a local but man this is spot on! Not to mention they drive 5mph under in the passing lane....

You mean small home owners don't get this benefit? Why Taxpayers Will Bail Out the Rich When the Next Storm Hits - NBC News

Don't worry us Illinoisans know how to drive unlike most Midwesterners. If anything we are to heavy footed...

How are the pier crowds in late June? We get in Saturday June 21st and need a place to go to dinner any good local seafood joints ie not the ones all the tourist go to.

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Originally Posted by SNAKE

I'm not a local but man this is spot on! Not to mention they drive 5mph under in the passing lane....

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My favorite Far Side cartoon was a picture of three doors in hell individually labelled "Murderers", "Rapists", and "People who drive slowly in the left lane."

You get to freeze thy arse off, live in the same state as our President, Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson and hunt some of the biggest woodgoats in the country.

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Originally Posted by frednic

My favorite Far Side cartoon was a picture of three doors in hell individually labelled "Murderers", "Rapists", and "People who drive slowly in the left lane."

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It's like they drag race at 35mph lol. Tempts me to pass them both in the middle turning lane, but we all know that ain't safe :)

Sea N Suds for a moderately priced fried feast. The others I like are tourist spots-#1 Cosmos-great local seafood and sushi. #2 Cobalt-great seafood and an awesome view, best breakfast buffet around. #3 Flippers, #4 Lester's, #5 Ginny Lane at the Wharf. Keep in mind some of these places will cook the fish you catch if you filet them and serve with sides for a lot less than their menu prices.

Checked out Sea and Suds and will definitely make a visit there.. Is mayo a normal hot dog topping down there? WEIRD!

Mayonnaise on a hot dog....... I'll pass.

Yah almost as bad as Ketchup on a hot dog..

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

Sea N Suds for a moderately priced fried feast. The others I like are tourist spots-#1 Cosmos-great local seafood and sushi. #2 Cobalt-great seafood and an awesome view, best breakfast buffet around. #3 Flippers, #4 Lester's, #5 Ginny Lane at the Wharf. Keep in mind some of these places will cook the fish you catch if you filet them and serve with sides for a lot less than their menu prices.

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There is a new Sheriff in town! Big Daddy's has just opened in Gulf Shores across the street from Tacky Jacks. It is just as good as the Fish River location, but way closer to home.

I live near the Cabela's in Hoffman Estates and each year I go to GS I make my first stop J&M.
Great people and you can get the right set-up you need for the pier with their help and for a good price.
As long as you are making the trip and plan to fish the pier either bring or buy a set-up for kings, reds, or jacks.
One day of watching those be caught and you will be glad you did.
After a day of being on the pier you can always buy what you think you need the rest of the week.
Fishing up here doesn't have the excitement you get on the pier even if it is the guy next to you hooking up.