First post! This okie will be down to fish Sep-1st.

Hey guys and gals. This okie will be headed down to fish the first of September thru the 10th. Never been there but I am so pumped. Any recommendations from yall on what species I need to peruse will be greatly appreciated! I'll be staying on the gulf side in ft Morgan. I've been stalking this site for 2 weeks trying to figure out what gear I need to bring and what fish will be biting. I have all kinds of gear but don't want to pack too much or too little for the 12 hr drive. I'm lookin forward to this trip so much! My wife says I'm obsessed with fishing but she just don't understand. I appreciate all of yalls input. Tight lines brothers!

Welcome to the Forum, Kdavis. If you have been stalking, then you have seen some suggestions for using the Search feature. It is your most valuable resource to help you have a successful fishing experience. We bring medium light, light, and ultra light tackle for surf fishing, which serves us very well. You have plenty of time to study past posts and determine what your goals are. Good luck, and smooth drags to ya.

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Originally Posted by Kdavis

Hey guys and gals. This okie will be headed down to fish the first of September thru the 10th. Never been there but I am so pumped. Any recommendations from yall on what species I need to peruse will be greatly appreciated! I'll be staying on the gulf side in ft Morgan. I've been stalking this site for 2 weeks trying to figure out what gear I need to bring and what fish will be biting. I have all kinds of gear but don't want to pack too much or too little for the 12 hr drive. I'm lookin forward to this trip so much! My wife says I'm obsessed with fishing but she just don't understand. I appreciate all of yalls input. Tight lines brothers!

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These guys here are awesome, but give them a little more to work with. Are you wanting to fish the surf, or the pier? Are you concerned with edible fish? Do you prefer live/fresh bait, or artificial action?

Since you will be in the Ft. Morgan area, research Dixey Bar, and yes, that is the correct spelling.

I will be coming down for my 2nd shot at surf fishing the same week that you will be there. These guys made my first trip very successful, having helped me catch around 20 species of fish.

Be sure and post up your results! Many of us non-locals fish "vicariously" through the posts of others.

Bodebum I have seen a lot of advice that I have definitely wrote down and I want to say thank you to all that provide this website so people like me can learn more about this way of fishing.

Backwoods your right I kinda left everyone hangin. So here it goes. I love to fish and the challenge of catching fish is what drives me. So from what I have read I have the gear for surf and pier. I love action fishing as most do and love to use artificials but not at all opposed to using bait. It would be awesome to catch table fare fish but catching fish in general is awesome too. I figured I could bring all my stuff and catch something but technique and certain locations and species orientation I'm lacking experience in. I'll have a blast no matter what. Even kicking around bringing my kayak and gig to change things up if pier or surf fishing is slow. If you need any more info from me please ask. Thanks for all your help!!

The water is still going to be summertime hot---I think you would be smart to keep bluefish toward the top of your list since they will still be around, and hopefully some Spanish. Your bass tackle in the 10#-12# class will do well for them with lures and bait. Maybe a little heavier line if you use bubble rigs. (My favorite bubble rig is a stiff 7' rod with a 4000 Shimano and 20# braid. You can cast a mile and since you're reeling straight back in, you shouldn't have any problem with the braid getting tangled---just cast straight out.) Best of luck and welcome to the forum.

I wouldn't bring too many lures or terminal tackle from OK, since a shopping trip to J&M Tackle in Orange Beach will be one of the high points of your trip. Those are good folks there, and they know what they're talking about.

Get out there early!

Sometimes I think trying to explain our passion for fishing to the ladies is like them trying to explain to us what it's like to be pregnant. In both cases, we all know what's going on and what caused it, but the experience just ain't transferable Bless them for putting up with us.

Thank you haywire for your info. Didn't think about bluefish. I'll have to stop and get some bubble rigs but been collecting different color straws from restraunts here in Oklahoma. Again thanks for your input

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Originally Posted by Kdavis

Thank you haywire for your info. Didn't think about bluefish. I'll have to stop and get some bubble rigs but been collecting different color straws from restraunts here in Oklahoma. Again thanks for your input

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In my never to be humble opinion, surgical tubing works better than straws (some will argue). It holds up better. Best colors seem to be bright green/yellow or floro orange/red. Wish I could help you on the pier, but I expect I won't be far enough into recovery from shoulder surgery by then.

Ok I'll definitely get some tubing. Thank you

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Originally Posted by Kdavis

Thank you haywire for your info. Didn't think about bluefish. I'll have to stop and get some bubble rigs but been collecting different color straws from restraunts here in Oklahoma. Again thanks for your input

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The last night of my trip last year, I must have gotten into a large school of bluefish. I caught the first couple on fresh shrimp, then started using them as cut bait. I couldn't keep up with how many blues I caught after that. I was running 3 rods and had at least one fish on at all times for 3 hours. Had I been keeping them, I would have quickly run out of cooler.

That sounds fun!

Kdavis These guys have you on the right track Your trip time should be a good time for Spanish and Blues on artificial baits primarily bubble rigs I too love to catch fish on artificial and you'll have the time of your life with a bubble rig and a schools of Spanish and Blues Get out there at daylight and you shouldn't be disappointed I've been hanging back as it's just too hot for me now and I've been working on a new condo but I'll be out there during your trip and will be glad to help you Almost can guarantee we'll fill your cooler Last September I limited on Spanish mackerel 17 days in a row and was home by 8:30 You should have a great time Looking forward to fishing with you I'm excited for you for I know what's in store for you

Dan S II, that's awesome news!! I can't wait. Ill have to look you up when I get down there and we go. I'd love to fish with you that'll be fun.

In spite of what you might hear those Blues can be pretty good eating. I personally slice open their belly as soon as I catch one and thow it in a bucket of salt water to bleed for about 10 minutes. I then move it to the ice chest and make sure it is thoroughly chilled before I filet it. This process causes what blood remains in the fish to coalesce along the outer side of the filet next to the skin in a narrow strip the lenght of the filet. I slice out that blood strip and dispose of it. I have had many people tell me they did not like Blues but when trying some that I had cleaned in this manner they admitted it to be pretty good. I bake or fry the filets.