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Well, we arrived Sunday evening and I've been catching LOTS of ladyfish and catfish in the surf. I'm having a blast but my wife wants me to catch some fish to eat. Will fresh cut mullet work in the surf for reds? Any other thoughts/ideas? I can also get live pinfish but figured mullet would be better. Really just want to catch some bigger fish and something to fillet. Thanks.
If you use live pinfish the catfish will stah away. Fresh cut not frozen mullet works great for reds.
Whiting will be right in the breaking surf, as in within 10-20' of the beach. Fresh shrimp or FishBites work. They are big but they are tasty.
Other than that, head to the pier!
I would use fresh, peeled shrimp, 1/2 in. pieces, #4 or #2 circle hook, least amount of weight needed. Whiting are terrific, you may get a flounder. CarlF is spot on about the Fishbites; we use them to catch pomps on the first sand bar. Good luck and smooth drags.
bodebum, what is the rigging for pomps with Fishbites, and what type of Fishbites?
We use shrimp flavor and crab flavor. Cut the ribbons to 1/2 or 3/4 in. long. Fish on the first sand bar, or on the slope of the sand bar, either the inside slope or outside slope. For Whiting, fish about halfway to the bar. One thing that really matters is find a location without a lot of swimmers. Traffic in the surf is a vexation to the fish. Good luck.
We use shrimp flavor and crab flavor. Cut the ribbons to 1/2 or 3/4 in. long. Fish on the first sand bar, or on the slope of the sand bar, either the inside slope or outside slope. For Whiting, fish about halfway to the bar. One thing that really matters is find a location without a lot of swimmers. Traffic in the surf is a vexation to the fish. Good luck. Oh, Carolina rigs are the simplest. Use the least amount of weight needed.
Thanks guys! Just visited J&M and got the lots of the same info. Great folks there at J&M! We are taking a six hour trip tomorrow morning out of Orange Beach. Hopefully bring home some red snapper. There are a few swimmers on the beach but not a lot, and I've been fishing at night some too. Lots of action at night. Gonna try some fishbites also. I'll let you know how it goes!
I'd try and get some live finger mullet if you can. They are the money for some of the good eating fish in the summer. Works for flounder, redfish, and anything else that'll eat them.
You guys were spot on. Got into the whiting within 10 feet of the shore on small strips of fishbites. I would get a bite within 60 seconds of getting the bait in the water. Lots of fun and now we've got something to cook. Thanks fellas!
Get some soy sauce and wasabi and make some sashimi with them, you wont be disappointed.
I guess you don't need a trip to Joe Patties(Pensacola) then for some fish to cook :D
Got a fridge full of whiting and red snapper. Cooking them up tomorrow. Sorry Carl, not gonna try the sashimi. Not a fan of wasabi. Still tearing them up in the surf with lots of whiting, ladyfish and a good sized black drum.
In a side note, I don't think I'm gonna be able to leave come Sunday. :(
Sounds like you have found the fish, have fun!
How big was the black drum? Up to about 24", they are pretty good eating. Much bigger and they start to get chewy and wormy.
I really like using corn flour for the breading, I can't get it up here at home (small town grocery store) but they have it down there I think its Rouse Market or something like that. It's not as gritty as corn meal, my family likes it better. I know what you mean about leaving, its harder to leave every time I go down there which is quite a bit. Glad your having fun and catching fish, wish I was there.
It was about 22"-24". My grandfather and I used to catch black drum up to 30+lbs in Florida. They're fun to catch!Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlF
I'm thinking I might head down to the pier if I can get the kids to go.
I love whiting so much that I will make a special trip to the Gulf when I know they are in shore good. Great eating fresh and I freeze a lot of them in single serving packs and anytime the wife is not in the mood to cook dinner she says "why don't you get a pack of fish out of the freezer" and then we are both happy because she does not like to eat fish and I do and she gets a night off from kitchen duty.
How do you fish with the fishbites? i'm assuming you just tight line wit a circle hook and a weight?
Yes, a small, #4, circle hook, on a Carolina rig, with the least amount of weight needed. Or you can put them on small jigs, or add them on to artificials.