I’m Jealous! I’ve been trying to get there for the last 4 years. Cant travel far at the moment but someday I’ll get back there. Please keep us updated!

 

Will do man……!

 

good luck! take lots of pics and do some shark fishing!

 

Hey 9 LEFT what’s the best time for shark fishing? Best bait?

 

I'll be doing the same drill in February before we head to Marathon.
Just adds to the anticipation, don't it?

 

Nice……!

 

Good luck man!

 

Thanks man……! 🎣🤘

 

Doing a tally of terminal tackle, had to order a few items. Hopefully good for the week! 😎

 

Try some green beads too! Trout seem to like them.

 

I cut this one off the beach in South Carolina last year… I just have a 10 foot PENN surf rod with a PENN spinning reel… I think my main line was 80# braid with a 10 foot long 40# mono leader.

 

Excellent thanks 9! I remember that pic!

 

for the bait, I just caught a Whiting and cut the head off

 

Yep. That's the perfect bait right there.

 

I usually end up getting packs of frozen Mullet and cutting in chunks. Maybe I need to start catching and using some fresh bait! 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

yeah, the mullet is great with the smaller rigs for catching smaller fish…. The first couple years that I started surf fishing in South Carolina, man, I could entertain myself all damn day with small rigs and frozen cut mullet..... I also learned that the sharks really don't mess with the frozen mullets… Especially any sizable shark... you're mostly just gonna catch Whiting and smaller stingrays all day long with the mullet

so use those small chunks of mullet on a smaller hook to catch yerself nice bait fish, poke it with a knife so it's bleeding, and Chuck it out there… right before dark...The sharks will tear it up

 

Hey Rods, check the local seafood stand if there is one. They will have fresh mullet for bait and it's usually way cheaper. Will last for days if you keep it cold. I always get it there along with fresh bait shrimp. I was down in Ocean Isle earlier this year, got two pounds of fresh bait shrimp for a whopping 5 dollars. Lasted me all week.

 

Thanks Crankbait I’ll check that out. Seems the couple bait shops I go to are usually out of fresh Mullet!

 

Gonna bring a lighter setup with me now also to try and catch some bait!

 

Oh and good luck! Didn't have much luck this year surf fishing but did manage to get this one off a head boat.

 

Oh and good luck! Didn't have much luck this year surf fishing but did manage to get this one off a head boat.

View attachment 560001

Wow nice man……! 👊 Oh, what is it? Lol

 

It was a gag grouper. Unfortunately didn't get to keep it. Rules say 2 per boat. I caught the third one. . It was still a fun fight I won't forget. Caught plenty of other stuff for a few meals. We caught so many American red snapper it wasn't funny. Bet the boat caught over a 150 of them. They weren't in season so they all had to go back. My arms were shot by the end of the day. Lol

 

if you really want a good time... catch a ladyfish... that's some of the most oily, bloody fish I've ever used and the sharks tore that thing up within 10 minutes of me, throwing it in the water...
I caught this one last year right off the beach, using a small rig and a piece of cut squid... so now you know what a lady fish looks like.... and no, I have no idea how to target those fish… I was just screwing around throwing pieces of bait out just to see what I could catch..... then I chop it up and use it for shark bait....

this was by far the most effective shark bait I have ever used

 

if you really want a good time... catch a ladyfish... that's some of the most oily, bloody fish I've ever used and the sharks tore that thing up within 10 minutes of me, throwing it in the water...
I caught this one last year right off the beach, using a small rig and a piece of cut squid... so now you know what a lady vision looks like....and then I chop it up and use it for shark bait.... View attachment 560002
View attachment 560003

this was by far the most effective shark bait I have ever used

Nice, thanks……! I’m learning a lot today! 😁

 

When we go down to Florida (Fort Myers area), we catch lady fish on just about any artificial lure we threw. But a swim bait/paddle tail on a jig will catch them all day long if they are around.

 

Lady fish will eat about anything, but spoons are hard to beat. I use Kastmaster's 3/4 or 1 oz. Blue fish also make great cut bait. Rays are good bait also. I would get rid of any terminal tackle with snap swivels, sharks will straighten out snap swivels. Pyramid or sputnik sinkers hold much better than egg sinkers. You will want some heavier weights on a lot of days. Some days it takes 6 oz sputnik to hold. Those 4/0 hooks are Ok for small baits. I use 10/0 for sharks so I can put a bigger bait on and still have the hook exposed. I make my own leaders with 7 strand 220 pound stainless steel. 80 pound braid main line. Low light or dark at high tide is the best bite. Have fun and send us some pictures.

 

Appreciate all the input guys, lots of great info……! 👊

 

Prepping for the salt water to, gulf of America though....gulf shores Alabama fishing the pier the month of October. I make my own leaders ,jigs and other things....
Have fun and catch some fish

Anchors for trolley fishing

Pier gaffs

Most mods are done

Jigs

King mackerel

 

Prepping for the salt water to, gulf of America though....gulf shores Alabama fishing the pier the month of October. I make my own leaders ,jigs and other things....
Have fun and catch some fish
Good luck down there and send us some pictures.

 

2 falls ago on panama city beaches pier
Didn't catch but was requested to gaff it....45.2lbs my personal best gaff job sure felt it once leaving the water for the 30ft trip up

This trip, Back to my home pier(where I got my salt water passion) gulf shores Alabama

.

 

Great! Now they’re calling for high surf warnings because of the Tropical Storm/Hurricane off shore next week! Might be some tough surf fishing! 🤨

 

As long as you're not fishing off the front porch of where you're staying, it should be a good trip.

 

Can always go on the sound side, still lots of sharks, red drum, and trout.

 

Yeah Crankbait I’ve been reading up on fishing the sound side, never fished it!
May be my only option if surf gets that rough!

 

Love those trout.That is if I can’t get Pompano.

 

Yep and love those Red Drum on the grill!

 

Usually storms bring in some exotic fish at least in the gulf ,not sure about the Atlantic

 

Shoot, I hope it doesn't hamper your trip too much. I fished in a tropical storm about 10 years ago, and that sucked. I still went though. I had the entire beach to myself!

 

Yep gonna make the best of it either way. Last year we had 8-10 foot surf all week, still fished it.
Only ended up with a few Flounder but like you said, had the beach to myself except for fishermen.
Unfortunately no Flounder season last year and I’ll be gone by the two week season this year! 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

Storms. We’ll all hope it misses you.
Worst senario, tons of rain!
Then, the surf will get trashed from high waves, & the inlet waterways will get way too muddy with too much fresh water running out the creeks & rivers.
On one of our trips, we drove through a hurricane on the way down, & couldn’t fish any of the inlets & backwaters,,, everything was too muddy.
We only got to fish the last 2 days,,, & wouldn’t you know it, that’s when all of the mullet came in close to shore!

imo,,, don’t ever go to The salt without a throw cast net, umbrella nets & crab traps.
When everything else fails, there’s always a ballll to be had, & a meal to be caught,,,,, off a dock!