anyone have any reports on the fishing around the 20 mile marker (big shell) area? planning a trip after christmas. also if anyone knows how bob hall pier is doing? never fished it but son wants to fish it. he's only 11 but he heard they catch sharks off it.

The fishing should still be pretty good. I was down a few weeks ago and will be heading back next week(I think). We fished big shell and did VERY WELL. We fished the edge of the third bar and caught trout, reds, Spanish mackeral, Bluefish, lady fish and jack crevelle. We caught all fish on artificials(jerkbaits). Yozuri 3d minnows and lucky craft pointers slaughtered the fish. Make sure you fish the second or third gut but the second gut was awesome. Look for clear large pockets in between the bars and you should do well. If you pay close attention, you will notice a difference in the waters. If the pockets were sandy, we usually would keep wading down the shoreline till we found a nice clear one and usually they would be holding tons of fish and you would catch almost every cast. If bait fishing, your best bet would be to get some mullet and carolina rig them. This will allow you to catch all the fish mentioned above. If searching for pomps, you will need shrimp. Shrimp will also hook you into a ton of whiting. GOod luck
One more note, if the water is dirty at the 20 mile marker, keep driving till you find CLEAR water. Good luck
Sharks can be caught and I did see a big one in the second gut right by my leg while I was wading. I got a little frightened but I was not on the menu. Jack crevelle or bluefish would make great bait or a bonita if you can buy one at one of the bait shops. A few of the blues we caught had chunks taken out of them.

thanks for the report that helps alot. we're going on the 27-29th.i hope the fish are still there. i'll look fr the clear water and again thanks.

Great report P.P.

Dirty water up close and weed till you get past the high banks, (big/little shell). Once you get past the 30's it clears up.

Sharks up to 6'8" last weekend from the camp I was in.

The water is nice down south, but the weather is going to change this up coming weekend. I would watch the weather before heading to far down.

HOW DO YOU GET TO BIG SHELL?

ROBERT

drive down the beach till you get there. You will notice the shell or sand differences on the beach. Actually, you can feel the difference as you drive if you are driving on the water line. Make sure you do not drive near the dunes, if you do, you will get stuck, there is no doubt about it. I have seen quite a few dumb people in big 4wd trying to have fun but they always get stuck. It also usually takes a few cars to pull you out if you get deep. Good luck. Make sure you get on at SPID as there is a bunch of post that will keep you from going south if you get on at bob hall.

THANKS PIEPUNCHER. I HAVE FISHED DOWN THAT WAY BEFORE, BUT NEVER AT THE BIG SHELL. HOW FAR IS BIG SHELL FROM PORT MANSFIELD? OR IS IT CLOSER TO CORPUS?

You can't get to big shell, little shell, high banks, or what ever you want to call it, from Port Mansfield. You have to go through Corpus. Get on SPID and head south. It dead ends into PINS. Head south (the only way to go) on the beach. Reset the odometer as soon as you leave the blacktop. Big shell as of now starts around 17.5 miles down the beach, and lasts to around the 30mm. But you don't want to fish big shell right now. It's full of weed. Keep heading south...upper 40's and 50's to you see cleaner water.

One way to tell you are in big shell is the noise coming from your tires. It sounds like your driving on a gravel road instead of sand. There is more shell than sand.

BYOB (bring your own bait) it's hard to find right now in the surf.

My .02, thats all.

TB

Has anyone been all the way to the jetty at the Mansfield channel since the new year? how'd you do? what did you fish with?