surf fishing beginner

Hi!! im new to this website. Im also relatively new to slatwater fishing, but i love fishing of any kind. Im just as happy watching a bobber or rod tip as i am chucking artificial lures.

Im coming to gulf shores in september (i'm usually down at least once a year) and possibly in march. I have no boat, but I love fishing from the beach. I've used a store bought surf rig, with the pyramid weight on the bottom and two hooks above it leading to a swivel. I caught a bunch of what looked like tiny redfish (but I'm not sure if thats what they were). I also caught a pompano that was 2-3 pounds. At the time i had no idea that it was a pretty nice sized fish, or that 1 usually equals more, so threw him back and went inside :wall:

Any advice on rigs or bait would br awesome. I'd also REALLY like to catch a shark, if anyone knows a good area. Even a pup would be freakin sweet!!!

Welcome to GSPF.com

You can find some great surf fishing all along the coast in September, or change it up a bit and slam the Kings, Jacks, Reds and what-not from the pier. Other great spots are Perdido Pass, Little Lagoon Pass, Fort Morgan and more.

I'd suggest ditching the store bought leaders and making your own, which will be lighter and less visible.

No, no shark fishing nor landing of sharks on any State Park beach.[/b]
http://www.alapark.com/parks/pdfs/Ru...egulations.pdf

Quote:

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(f) It shall be unlawful to fish for sharks or use any type of shark fishing gear on
any Gulf State Park Public Beach or on the Gulf State Park Saltwater Fishing
Pier. It shall be unlawful to land or to attempt to land any shark on any line
originally cast from said State Park Pier or Beach.

---

You can shark fish at most public beaches if you're smart about it, i.e. not doing it next to a busy swimming beach, in front of Hotels/Condos and/or making a huge stinking chum slick. Common sense and decency go a long ways to not being bothered.
Miles of open beaches with little activity, especially in areas where access is limited or unknown except to the locals.
Back in 2008 this was put into effect, http://www.aonmag.com/article.php?id=1450&cid=182
I do not know if it was ever rescinded, so technically it could be still against the law... I don't know for sure.
Again, common sense and being subtle, not much difference between heavy duty surf gear and shark gear.
"Officer I'm fishing for Bull Reds or whatever else will take my cut bait."

From the beach, tossing into the gut or just over the the bar, you're more likely to hook into small-medium sharks.
Casting over the bar and/or yakking baits into deeper water you've more of a chance for medium-large sharks.
You can target small to medium sized sharks, which would be a bit easier to safely handle for two people who have a decent clue as to what they're doing. Do you have a buddy and do you both have a clue?... Not being a jerk, being serious.
If you've never seen it done a few times, or better, actually participated in landing sharks on the beach... You better be damned careful, cause you can get bit, injured by the sharks fins/abrasive skin, tangled/cut in the leader and etc.

Ideally you need a few sharking tools in your toolbox.
A friend or two with common sense and clue as to what they're doing.
Rod&reel combo & right terminal tackle.
Fighting belt and harness, a small fighting belt is very helpful on small to medium sharks, a belt/harness combo for medium-large.
Tail rope, much safer than grabbing by hand, better control and easier to beach.
A couple types of dehookers that are long enough to keep your digits/hands away from the sharks toothy grin.
A bolt cutter, if it can't be dehooked, cut the leader very short or cut the barb to remove the hook.
If your meat fishing a gaff can be helpful.
Sharking at night, good headlamps to see what you're doing and light for better pics.

CPR needs to be done in a very timely manner to ensure a healthy shark, this takes at least two people working together as a team.
As soon as it is in the shore surf, leader, tail rope, beach, dehook, tag, pics, back to water and revitalize/release.

Killing needs to be done quickly and humanely, e.g. sever the spinal column.
And to prevent the urea from spoiling the meat, the shark needs to be immediately and thoroughly bled, butchered ASAP and the meat needs to be put on ice.

Want a good personal fishing guide?
Call Pier#r aka David Thornton, and see if he'll guide you on sharking the beach?
He is highly recommended for all shore,jetty and pier fishing and I heard he knows fishing as well as most people know breathing.
http://www.gulfshoresfishing.com/Pie...hing-Guide.htm

Damn good post Chilie, very well thought out and informative.
Been fishing at the fort recently??

Chuck

[quote author=CJW link=topic=2560.msg23165#msg23165 date=1359580631]
Damn good post Chilie, very well thought out and informative.
Been fishing at the fort recently??

Chuck
[/quote]Thanks.

Went to the Fort at the beginning of the month.
The water was like gravy, weed was thick and the fishing sucked.
Was going to go this Saturday, but what with this storm, I think I'll pass and wait for better water.
That and all the rivers are still in flood and dumping a lot of crud into the Bay.
:boohoo:

Cliff Notes plz!!!

Just kiddin Chile!

How would i go about "changing it up"?. I've only actually fished off the pier once, dropping the same style rig off the side, and never had much luck. Looking at the pictures im obviously doing it wrong.

Fishing the beach, all you need to catch whiting is medium spining tackle with a caroline rig (1/4- to 1/2 oz weight, short 12# leader and a #4 hook) and some fresh dead shrimp. YOu may also catch some pompano or redfish. Might want to try pompano jigs for the pomps.
Beef up your rig a little, put on a small crab or finger mullet and your chances for a redfish go up.

If you are fishing the pier, same rig in the shallows for the same fish. Flatlining (hook only, maybe a split shot) live shrimp might also produce specs or pompano.
Fishing out on the end, tie on a bubble rig or a gotcha/mac jig with a 50 mono leader to your medium spinning tackle, and you are in business for spanish macs.

chillirelleno i see what your saying but that just seems like alot of work to catch something that smells like PEE. not trying to say that there anything wrong with shark fishing but id rather catch pompano,bull reds,or whiting. way better to eat too.

Shark is just as good. You have to do that though to ensure that the meat does not get tainted.

Chile,

We fished The Fort today. Water was soupy as expected after the storm yesterday. A couple dozen hardheads and a three foot spinner shark was it for the day. No one else hard-headed enough to fish the point this morning from what I saw. We're probably gonna hoof it down the gulf side in front of the house toward the Fort in the morning. The water looks better there at the moment. Saw several pods of dolphins right in the surf all day, one with a very young one with them. Another fabulous day on the beach.