Yes. If a hardhead get you the last thing on your mind will be fishing. Its hurts like hell. Clean it real good and run hot water over it to take the sting out. You will need some Advil or pain meds but the next day you will be better. One got me in the hand and I had to rip it out. When doing this it was so hard to get out it stabed me in the belly. I know laugh its funny . I no longer touch them just shake them off with needle noise now.

Good info all around. I have known several people who got gangrene from fish wounds. Always wash wounds well and seek medical attention if needed. Yes Vibrio is a concern, but there are a lot of other bacteria's out there both in salt and fresh water.

One of the main things is learn how to handle fish and dont be afraid of them. A fish flopping around on a pole or in the bottom of a boat is dangerouse. Especially a hardhead or stingray. Someone needs to post a picture of how to grab a hardhead were they cant stick you. Im sure I will catch some this weekend and wil get a pic.

Stabbed in the belly? I feel so much better with my few hardhead sticks over the past month. I know better but get lazy.

Can you come fishing with us for comedy relief when the bite gets slow?

And then there's sharks...

Our sharks in Texas, in general, are not interested in eating you. However they will take the fish on your stringer. That's the reason saltwater stringers are so long, to keep you away from your fish. You don't want to be get bit by mistake while a shark is dining on the trout on your stringer.

Do not tie your stringer to you. Make sure you can let it go should the need arise. A big shark can drown you by dragging you by the stringer.

Also, don't put bait in your pockets. I heard a story of a kid getting bit because he had shrimp in his pockets.

Great post especially about the rod and reels. Anything you use in freshwater will work well for most saltwater applications. All I ever suggest is to up the line test to usually 12 lbs, and rinse, rinse, rinse after use.

Good thread.

how do u get tags for red/black drums?

You have one tag for one oversize red drum on your fishing license. If you use that one, take the filled out tag back to a tackle shop that sells fishing licenses and they will enter the info and print you a second one.

As far as I know there is no tag for an oversized Black Drum. There not worth keeping IMO anyway.

thasnks for the info

Great info noted! A few additional questions, im going on a 9hr charter tomorrow out of Port Aransas(this will be my first time salwater fishing)what spieces can I expect out of a 9hr charter? Also, I plan on doing some Jeddy and surf fishing the remainder of the weekend. I am taking my freshwater catfish setups(abu's/ugly sticks) my question is i want to target keepers for the frying pan, is the most effective rig for live/cut bait the pulley rig? And do I just throw it furthest I can and let it sit? I plan on using mullet(from the cast net) but have heard croaker, livebait piggies, ladyfish are good but best is Crab, any truth to this and how do you hookem? And where can you get them? Thanks again for the valuable info posted above and any insight you provide.

If you like your rods and reels, don�t skip the rinsing suggestions! I lost a couple of my better reels the first time fishing in the ocean due to this oversight.

Another pointer, my last time down I made the mistake of staying in the same spot way too long. If you don�t catch fish within an hour or so, don�t be afraid to move. Timing is too short to get stuck in one spot that isn�t producing. Also, I�ve had the best luck with fishing with whatever is in the surf. I.E. catch your own bait. Buying bait fish gets expensive FAST!

Someone correct me if I�m wrong but fresh water fish are generally spooked off by noise on top of the water but seemingly in salt water, the fish tend to investigate noises. Is this correct? I�m still a rookie in the ocean but this seems to be something I�ve picked up.

Anyone going to be on Galveston Island and want to hook up for awhile anytime between the 22nd and 28th? We are staying at the Islander East and I usually try to fish the area all around that. Surf fishing of course. Send me a PM

howdy yall,

i would add, try rinsing with some warm water to dissolve some salt in spool and re-lube with very light reel oil.

good point there. you must move if you did not get even a nibble for 1.5 hour. its ether the fish aren't there yet or they are in deeper water.

i have been fishing in the Galveston area for two years not but never use a clicker on my rig, so i cant say much about it.

i am going fishing on the 19th ,if the weather is in favor. i will let you know how it turn up.

i would suggest using a pulley rig with a live mullet. this rig has been good for me been catching bull red over 28+ in the past three weeks.

good luck fishing

I'm going to Surfside Beach this weekend and wondered the best place to fish from shore. Any tips? Pier is fine too. Thanks guys!!

Ok. I am going to open the can of worms here and say DO NOT EVER RINSE YOUR REELS DOWN WITH WATER. I know, I know. We have done it for years and its the only way to get rid of the salt. WRONG!!! I cant tell you how many reels I ruined by rinsing them down. What happens is the water sits inside the reel and oxidizes. It then reeks havoc on your internal components. Also it washes away oils and other vital lubricants.

I know there are many on here completely amazed at this post and could not disagree more. That's fine. I was in the same camp years ago. I couldn't keep a reel working and couldn't figure out why. I rinsed them down after each use. When I took one in to get it fixed one time the lady opened it up and said.....you rinse them down with fresh water? I said yeah of course. She said that is what's destroying them and went on to explain why the same way I did here.

I have not rinsed a reel since and haven't had any problems. Just open them up every now and then and wipe all the components with a clean oil soaked rag.

This is a great post - Thanks Austin!
I'm used to surf casting for stripers and bluefish in Massachusetts, and the Texas coast is a WHOLE other world! Especially regarding the use of soft plastics and fishing in lagoons and bays.

I'm totally new to this and this has gotten me off to a great start! Now I just need to figure out where to go. I'm in San Marcos and usually drive to the Mustang Island surf. But thats only because the surf is where I feel comfortable.