Heading down to Surfside beach July 5-7 with a couple other families and looking for a little advice. We got a rental on the beach a stones throw from the jetty. First question is bait. I had planned on picking up live shrimp, and some cut mullet, possibly some croakers for the sharks.

What's yalls bait of choice as well as the best bait shop in the area???

Second is the fishing from the beach better, worse, or the same from the jetty??

We will be mostly targeting reds, jacks, black tips, and pompano, but any fish on the line is a good time.

Third whats the rig of choice, I have gone crazy making rigs and now its time to decide a strategy. Already made are red drum rigs, dropshot rigs, fish finder rigs, pulley rigs, and top water poppers. Made with both 20 lb, 50 lb, and 80 lb (steel), and a couple with 135 lb steel.

We are using surf rods between 9 and 12 feet in length.


Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

It depends on the water color. It's now sandy down there. There are several bait shops just across the bridge.

good luck

When we go down there i just take my bass rig with 30 lb braid and a gold johnson spoon with the treble or a chrome rattle trap. Fishing is usually good the first 2 hours after first light.

If you want trout, where depends on wave height and water clarity. If the waves are high, but the water is clear, go to the jetty and you'll be able to get away from the rough breakers. The beach would be better if the surf is calmer and clear. Popping cork rig w/ live shrimp or shrimp imitation plastics work well along w/ topwater plugs early and late. Croakers good for bigger trout on Carolina rig. Can catch pompano also on live shrimp.

If you're fishing for shark and bull reds and drum, and jacks, then the rougher surf may be in your best interest. The beach or jetty would be good options. The rigs you mentioned for that type of fishing sound good. Cut mullet and/or whiting are a good bet. Croakers can get em too.

SaltGrass or Bridge Bait are the two bait shops that I have used most often. There are a couple others in the same vicinity.

I'll be in a rental down there the week after so post up a report so I can get a scouting report.

Good Luck!!

Thanks guys

Looks like we have a possibility of rain now, damnit

Do not worry about the rain. It never lasts long this time of the year.

Good im way too excited to be stuck inside

What's the technique behind trout down there? Artificial lures? Medium light gear?

Med/light gear is good. Bass tackle basically. Live shrimp or Shrimp imitations like DOA or TKO under a popping cork, Live croakers carolina rigged or under a cork. Topwaters like Spooks or Mirrolures early in the morning or late in the evening. Rat tail plastics like TTF Troutkillers. Chartreuse and pink colors are good. Water's gotta be clear and calm for best results.

Bought a fishing kayak last weekend, so it may get interesting

Try a tko tandem shrimp under a popping cork. I tried it lastweekend in Texas city did pretty good it looks weird but it works because it looks like shrimp swimming together.

Well we got hit by the weed coming in the tide so fishing went to the pooper, but still had a good time with family and friends

If the seaweed hadn't gotten so bad you would have been into reds with the higher tides and bigger surf. Better luck next time.