Not been down there, well 50 years ago. What is a good color for plastics to catch trout?
Can I use crappie jigs for Sheepshead? Should i try the jetties or fish the canal? Gulf side or Channel, which is better? I"m normally just a bass fisherman but want to try my hand at saltwater. Maybe even try fishing in the surf out from the Ocean Village hotel. There is is a bridge over the canal there it might be a good place for Sheepshead?
Any input would be great. Thanks in advance.

do you have a boat? surf was flat yesterday and looked real good. the jetties would be my suggestion for sheeps. as far as color for trout, it depends on the water, but i've heard it a thousand times" any color is good as long as it's red" good luck.

I try to go down there once a year. I'm no expert by any means. In july it seems like the backwaters start getting a little to warm and the bite has slowed for us. I really like to wade the surf for the first and last light of the day this time of year. We have had some good days fishing the backwaters a little earlier in the year or in the fall.

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I have plenty of red and red/white stuff in my bag. Thinking I will wade the surf with swim baits and zara spooks then move to the backwater for specks. Hit the jettie midmorn for some sheeps. Is it better on the beach side or channel side?
If all else fails just sit on the beach with beer.

Fished there this weekend on the Jetty and it gets crowded. Really crowded. Unless you don't mind the crowds but it was a bit too much for me. I cant tell you how many times people cast across my line

My favorite soft plastic colors for trout all have a chartreuse tail. Black/Chart, Pearl/Chart, Glow/Chart, Plum/Chart, Rootbeer/Chart... you get the picture. As for the topwater plugs, I like Super Spook Jr's in Chrome, Bone, Red/White, and the big trout especially like a Heddon Spook One-Knocker or a Rapala Skitter Walk with some pink or chartreuse on it.