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Help please! I am taking my son to the beach for Spring Break and want to take him fishing and not have it be an epic fail :) Any suggestions on where to go, when to go, best equipment and bait to use, general tips? We will be staying at Gulf Shores Plantation so anything in that general area is even better!
Thanks so much!
Clueless Mom/Jen
Hire Pier#r (David Thornton) for a few hours and you will catch fish if there are any around.
What he said---
depending on his age,catching bait can be a lot of fun even for an old fart like me when waiting on a good bite to start
When the fishing is slow, hiring Pier#r is the way to go!
Orange Beach Surf Fishing Guide
Most 8 year olds do not have the attention span for serious fishing so if you go to the pier +1 on the bait catching (sabiki). 8 year olds want to catch, not fish. If you do not go to the pier rig up a fairly small hook on 10 lb monofilament about 18" below a 2 oz egg sinker stopped by a swivel. Buy dead shrimp and a rod holder (the kind you stick in the sand). Peel the shrimp and put a small piece on the hook (enough to mostly hide it). Cast it out in deeper spots near shore (between shore and the first bar) or if there is a cut in the bar where water flows out fish there. He will probably want to hold the rod at first and will think the pull of a wave on the line is a fish biting (a fish bite is sharper, but gentle "jiggle") then he will get bored and you can put the rod in the holder and wait while he plays, builds a sand castle, or flies a kite.
Be sure to use a small hook because you will catch more fish that way, smaller, but more. I remember when I was a kid, size had very little meaning. Have needle-nose pliers and a towel or glove to handle catfish or otherwise lots of hooks so you can just cut them off (they rust out fast, fish will be ok). You might also catch whiting ( a small drum, edible), pinfish (if the hooks are really small), ladyfish and hardtails. There a lot of other things you might catch, but those are the most likely.
Some times you will catch a fair number sometimes not - that's fishing. I wouldn't build him up too much. Fresh Market on Fort Morgan road has fresh bait shrimp a lot of times so you don't have to buy too many, otherwise head to J&M for tackle and frozen shrimp.
I have seen guys use supermarket frozen shrimp and will cast them just beyond the first set of breaking waves and catch what amounts to be bait fish for their more serious endeavors a little further out. Frednic is dead on. Small hook on a small rig will give just enough fight to an 8 year old who thinks he is landing a Leviathan.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all his money on tackle."
Thanks so much for all the advice. I think I will reach out to Pier#r, that sounds like the best bet. I would love for him to catch something but with an 8 year old you never know... he may be into it or he may want to play a game on my phone after 10 minutes? At any rate, truly appreciate the advice!
I'll be down there next week...weather looks terrible....sorry guys....bringing it down from the Midwest I guess. Since your out by Ft. Morgan I believe tacky jacks sells bait shrimp.
Me and the other dad fish for fun (and drink beer) while the kids layout and play (they do like to fish when we hook something) We catch anything and everything and enjoy it. We don't pier fish but probably should try it. for surf fishing....
Buy a few pompano rigs and/or whiting rigs. Use small chunks of fresh or frozen shrimp...you can drain it and use table salt to dry it out and it will hold on a hook longer. Use a 2-oz pyramid sinker on the end of the rig to hold bottom. 10-15# line. Pitch it in the surf just past the breakers this is usually where the 1st trough is on most beaches (you can also see water color change or send that boy out there and when it goes from his knees to his nose you'll know where it is). You can also tip the hooks with small pieces of pink fish bites....local tackle store Cut them small and it will help as a visual attractant and keep the shrimp on the hook longer.
In my experience you'll likely catch the following....whiting, surf cats, small black-tips and maybe a red or pompano...possible a ray or skate but that will be hard to land on light tackle. Watch your rods...you'll be amazed at how fast and far a surf cat can drag a sand spike and rod reel 100 yards down beach while you're grabbing a Corona.
Once we've had enough beer and sun we have to venture into the surf at least waist deep and we start fishing the 2nd sandbar. If you're out there you might as well take advantage of being "off-shore" and grab a big chuck of bait fish (save a few small whiting) and a 3/0 hook and 3 oz pyramid sinker and sling it out as far as you can while freezing your garbanzo beans off. Let line out and head back to the sand for another beer. You can expect to catch larger black-tips, reds and big skates/rays and Gawd knows what else.
Must haves...Good pair of long nose needle nose pliers (just buy some cheap ones from HD, you don't need stainless for one trip to the gulf). Heavy leather glovers for the cats, skates and rays. Small cooler for bait that you can pitch...you ain't taking that back in the car with you. Sand spikes for rods and something to hold a beer....sugar sand is fun to walk on but sucks to drink.
It's slow at work....have fun and enjoy the gulf...at least you're not at home