Thread: Texas Sharker going to Gulf Shores

Ok guys I need some help here.
I have been shark fishing Texas coast from Galveston to Padre Island National Seashore(PINS) for about seven years now. I have fished once before in Gulf Shores at the tip of Perdidio Key. I parked my truck under the bridge and walked down the long walkways with my big cart and kayak...ended up with two blacktips and the next night a nurse of all things. My main problem was BAIT.
I couldnt keep the blue fish on the hook or the ground mulllet, just went to mush. In Texas im always able to catch my bait and buy stingrays at most bait shops. I was surprised to find no shark bait or stingray!
Im willing to pay you if you have a hook up on bait haha. If you know of a marina that could help me out with fish heads?
How do you get your bait?

Also, ive been reading a lot abut the sand fleas are the go to for reds. Is there a place I can buy/make a scooper for them?
Thanks everyone

J&M Tackle for the sand flea rake and if they don't have the bait you are looking for, they can more than likely point you in the right direction to get it. I can't remember if they have any Bonita or not. You might want to look up on the ordinances about shark fishing from the beach.

You can usually catch lady fish under the pass bridge at night for bait.

Or buy some whole fresh/frozen mullet. J&M might have sand flea rakes too.

Ok thanks for the quick responses!

What size circle do I need for rigging the sand fleas?

Just go rack up on ladyfish at night from the surf near a pass using bright artificials.

They should bite up to a few hours after high tide starts to fall during the evening.

Hit the pier before sunrise and catch the morning bite out on the Octi (end of the pier), Kings & Spanish, Reds & Jacks, catch your own or beg the heads off others.
Lots of people don't want Jacks, those people are friends you never knew.
Then hit the shallows for Ladyfish & maybe some Blues, there are generally some rays too. Have a snatch hook ready in case some pods of Cownose rays swim by.
I've had zero problems with Bluefish staying on the hook while sharking, my largest sharks have all been on fresh Blues.
Mullet is very good, snatch'em, net'em or buy'em fresh.
Bobo are around but very hit-n-miss, most bait shops have frozen Bobo & Mullet.
Take a ride over to Pensacola, most bait shops over there all carry various frozen shark baits, Cownose/Southern rays, Bobos and Spanish.
Hit the sport boat docks with a $10-20 bill and beg/buy their heads/carcasses.

Very good info here thanks!

Thats ^^^ a fat one for sure.

My PB
11'5" Great Hammer
Caught in Pensacola on a fresh Bluefish.

HELL YEAH! Im waiting for the day to catch a hammer. They are pretty rare where I grew up around the Galveston TX area, but a lot of guys pull them in further south in Padre towards Mexico. I know they are speed demons but once you hook one as big as that over 10ft they seem to struggle and often die during the fight. Either way that is my most favored shark and congrats on a 11 footer! The amount of time and effort put into catching something with such size and girth OFF THE BEACH is magnificent