Hey guys,

I have been in Port A since Monday on vacation with no luck I have fished Redfish Causeway in several spots and the south jetty. Unfortunately no boat, but have been thinking about renting a kayak.

It seems like everywhere I fish, my bait is jacked by smaller fish just pounding it to death. I have tried with a popping cork, without, lure, heavy gear with cut bait seems to get stolen by crabs.

Help?! What tactics can I use to try and catch some decent fish?

AC

I have always done well on the south jetty using lures. i prefer an outgoing tide, then walk all the way close to the end. For me, starting about 100 yards from the end all the way to the end always produces. Try gold spoons with a short steel leader to see if the Spanish Mackerel are around. If bait sits still, it will get gobbled up by less desireable fish pretty quick. Also might want to try the surf (drive at least 3/4 mile south of the jetties) if the wind and waves aren't too bad, or the sargassum. Daylight and dark are best for catching them shallower and more accessible. Spoons, Gulp shrimp, DOA shrimp etc on jigheads. Topwater if it's calm. You can usually lighten your rig and go with smaller hooks and catch some whiting during the day in the 1st or 2nd gut, tehy are good eating too. I guess it really depends on what your target species is.

Thanks for the info!!! I am targeting trout, drum mainly but up for anything. A local told me to use small crabs instead of shrimp.

use some blue crab for big black drum. make sure your gear is heavy enough though! also you can use ghost shrimp for sheepshead, those are some good eating fish too!

you can also use gold or silver spoons and pick up some Spanish.... good for eating and sharkbait.

Thanks guys! I learned the hard way that one of my reels was not up for the challenge. Fishing has started to improve, have not caught any crabs to use for bait yet though.

caught some skipjack (or ladyfish?) to use for bait. They were fun to catch all the same!

If the water is clear in the tide, wade out to the 2nd or 3rd gut on the beach. I have had some awesome trips on shrimp on popping corks with shrimp or artificials.

And go to Juans for Dinner. Get the Steak.

The water is nasty and there is a [censored] load of seaweed! They are blading the beach and making huge piles from it, which I have never seen here before.

I will check out Juans! We went to The Beach & Station st Grill, it was awesome!

Went out tonight and caught a bunch of gafftop and helped a guy out with a ray he caught. Also loaded up on some mullet for tomorrow morning, accidentally hit the entire school, was aiming for just to the side of it, damn near could not get my net up!!!! But, everyone on the pier came over and I emptied the net so everyone could get what they wanted