First timer coming wednesday.

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This what I have been doing. I am tired of looking at a 6" hole in the ice and catching gills and crappie. Will be in GS for a week . The weather is looking good.Done lots of ocean fishing in the cape cod area . Never caught a red or speck and looking forward to getting out and tossing some lures or bait.Probably will rent a couple of yaks for myself and the 15 year old to fish in bays ,rivers and any other backwater spot we can get to. Old dog at fishing but this will be a new experience. Any help and advice is more than welcome. Will be bringing some 7' bass rods spooled with 20 -30 lb braid. Is mono better for this type of water?

http://gulfshorespierfishing.com/gen...rst-king-fish/

Poke around, you'll be amazed at what you find on here. :poke1:

Nice bluegill!

The water in the gulf is not hard enough to walk on, but do wear a PFD in the yak.

15pt,
Welcome to our group, let us know how you do.

That gill was 11". I have a spot where that is not uncommon. 10" gills are regular there. Always wear the PFD on big water.Everyone says that J&M will give me all the info I need. Are they the only people that know anything there?

Gills that size are much easier to clean ,than the ones I usually catch ,but big or small they are one of my favorite fresh water fish to eat !

No, of course not. This board is filled with an encyclopedia of fishing expertise. But the owner, (board name JohnG) and his folks know the pier very well. They are very often on the pier and if not, they receive daily updates on what's happening. They carry, literally, everything you need for pier fishing. That said, there are numerous other options for finding what you need. The pier has a tackle shop and there is a place in OB called Top Gun as well as Wally World and others. I don't do all my shopping there, but there are some things that you can't easily find elsewhere or maybe something you need advice on.

According to the grapevine, Top Gun folded.
Anybody know for sure?
I don’t always buy new tackle, but when I do, I go to J & M!

Is mono better for this type of water?
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theres been plenty of posts about braid and mono. but yes mono is better. wouldnt go over 20# test.. i like 15# momoi

I saw your whos who post. im 15 and have some buddies i fish with down we'll talk to your son and give him some pointers. send me a PM or text me when y'all come down 251-600-9963

braid is way stronger than mono pound for pound. but people on the pier dont like it cause if someone hooks a fish with braid and they dont know how to work the fish down the rail they end up cutting every bodys line with the braid. if you want to use braid on your reel use it as backing.

Yeah braid is GREAT for getting more line on a reel.
But it is extremely limp (compared to monofiliament) and loosly drifted can create the worst tangles a fishermen have ever seen.

Yea,TG is closed but Dan has it up for sale.Other stores in the area is Sam's and Mo Fishin in Orange Beach.

Wow. That's a lot of inventory to get rid of if they can't find someone that wants to continue operations.

Wow thats crazy. When I first started fishing I shopped there because they were cheaper. But now I shop at J&M. It may cost a couple bucks more, but way better customer service and knowledge at J&M. Worth the couple extra bucks. TG didn't care too much about the customers.

anyone know what they are asking for the store as a complete upstart or any of that? my dad is nearing retirement and that is right up his alley... ill take whatever info you can give!

[quote author=firemansam link=topic=2682.msg24275#msg24275 date=1361216173]
anyone know what they are asking for the store as a complete upstart or any of that? my dad is nearing retirement and that is right up his alley... ill take whatever info you can give!
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[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Here is contact info and web address for Top Gun

http://www.topguntackle.com/

Phone: (251) 981-3811
Fax: (251) 981-3812
Email: info@topguntackle.com

Address: 25405 Perdido Beach Blvd, Suite 16A
PO BOX 1250
Orange Beach, AL 36561

In the post pinned at the top of the page is a "local tips and tricks" thread. On the first page is VikingGuy on fishing for trout which is quite good, but there is lots more.

I would add for most smaller fish (reds, trout, etc.) that although it is a pain there is something to be said for getting live shrimp and an aerator. Fresh chunks of just-barely dead shrimp (not whole live shrimp) will work at times when nothing else does. When I come down to fish I usually have to make as much out of limited time as possible -- don't spend hundreds on a trip and tackle, and then try to save pennies on frozen bait -- that makes as little sense as people who put $1.99 line on a $600 reel.

Thanks Fin!

Thanks guys, I am not sure if I will fish off the pier. I don't have the right gear for that and I am not real fond of being in a tight spot with other guys all trying to do the same thing. Have done that a lot fly fishing in Missouri and Arkansas. We really want to hit backwater spots from a yak or wading. Not sure if that will be worth the time.

[quote author=15pt link=topic=2682.msg24312#msg24312 date=1361237357]
Thanks guys, I am not sure if I will fish off the pier. I don't have the right gear for that and I am not real fond of being in a tight spot with other guys all trying to do the same thing. Have done that a lot fly fishing in Missouri and Arkansas. We really want to hit backwater spots from a yak or wading. Not sure if that will be worth the time.
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Whatever you do down there will be fun -- like any fishing "they" sometimes are over-yonder from the first spot you stop, so don't be afraid to try different spots. Be sure to check out the inlet jettys too. But I hope you also find a bit of time to walk out on the pier as part of your scouting of spots for the future. I think compared to the combat fishing at the Missouri trout parks, the pier will seem almost unoccupied this time of year. After all the pier is over 1500 feet long, which means six foot stretches for 500 anglers at a time.

as far as the shore fishing you can spend a few bucks and hire pier #er as a guide.