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Hey Y'all - I'm new to the sport (very new), but absolutely LOVE it. Have been out to Orange/Perdido Beach area many times, but never fished there before. Is it worth bringing my set up (or getting a new saltwater set up) for shore fishing in the mornings? I was also checking out fishing at the pier... I know it's colder, so wanted to make sure. What (if anything) do think I can expect to catch... and what set up should I use?
Thanks in advance.
I am a tourist and the local people have better knowledge but:
If you look down the home page you'll see a Q&A section. Open that up and there is a sticky called, What's biting when from Pier#r. look in that post and find the chart.
I have came down for a week in the winter the last 5 years and the fishing has been about 50/50. Some years really good and a couple have been a bust. Last year I caught some nice whiting and saw several Reds and Pompano caught by others off the beach. I will be down the week after New Years and I will fish and hope for the best.
In the end, you never know unless you go!
Welcome to the forum, read and search the back post and almost any question you have the answer can be found within. It's a great group of people with an amazing amount of knowledge.
Yes, definitely worth bringing some medium spinning tackle. The whiting should be biting well on the beach, maybe pompano too. All you need is a 6-7' medium spinning outfit with 8# line, a Carolina rig with 1/4 to 1/2 oz sinker, short 12# leader and a #4 hook. FRESH dead shrimp chunks (1/2") and some pink fish bites. Depending on the surf and water clarity, whiting will be from at your feet to on top of the first sand bar. Pompano tend to be on the front edge of the first sand bar & out.
On the pier, good change the Spanish will still be here and redfish too. If the bull reds show up, you might need stouter gear.
This is great info - thanks! Since this'll be my first time, and it's a new hobby, I'm just going to use my current set up which is pretty much what you described. It'll only be 3 days of fishing... I'll just wash off any saltwater and hope things are ruined for when I come back to NOLA and fish in the bayous again :-)
Cheers
CarlF is spot on. Usually, newbies use way to heavy of gear. Setting your drag and following the fish is what is needed most. The best plan is watching everyone else for a bit to see what's working that day/ hour, then don't hesitate to ask. We're all willing to help out.