I know this subject has been posted a million times but I am going to post again for myself. Headed to port a next week and want to have a productive trip. I have a full arsenal of artificials and would like to be productive in the surf and bay as well. I plan on attacking both very hard. Any tips, spots, current reports would be more than appreciated. Please PM me if you don't want to post your spots for everyone to see. I have never really had one of those trips that is memorable so I am hoping to do so this time. I have also never actually caught a red fish so I am hoping like fire that I can find one. I have downloaded maps of the bay, tide charts, and certain areas that look promising but any advice that anyone can give me would be more than appreciated. I don't mind parking and walking, wading, or whatever. If someone helps me get a red I will even pay them a little money for their advice. I know that sounds crazy but I have been trying for years to get a red with no success.
So if someone can basically give me direction to my trip it will mean the world... When to hit the bay... When to hit the surf. What to use. I will be forever grateful.
I will be there from the 29th of July to the 5th of August so feel free to join and I would love to tag along.
Thanks again guys, this site has been great.

I admire your tenacity. This post reminds me a lot of me. When I was still cutting my teeth on the place, I spent a lot of time at Charlie's Pasture chunking DOA Glo shrimp and small 1/16 oz speck rigs (home made) with panfish assassins and 2 inch glo shad tails. Caught a lot of small trout this way on the wall at night under the lights. Horace Caldwell Pier is one of the most friendly places for the land-bound angler to get good. Fish in the middle of the night with locals. Don't potlick them. Respectfully fish a safe distance away from them and try to duplicate what they're doing. Do not accost them with questions and advice. They're there to catch fish-that's it. Bring a pier net, and politely suggest that you'd be happy to help net a big fish with your net.

A triple swivel rig with a 2 ft 20 lb flouro leader tied to a 2/0 kahle hook and a 4 inch leader for your 1-2 oz pyramid sinker is a good rig for the bottom with live bait. You're wasting your time with dead shrimp and squid. Cut ladyfish is effective.

Fish shallow to deep. Think like a fish. Be willing to abandon your game plan for what is catching fish. Pay attention to what you see in the water. No bait/no fish but too much bait/no chasing is just as bad. Look for signs of feeding fishing.

Spend lots of time out there. Dedicate yourself to constant learning/improvement. Learn to throw a cast net. Fish a moving tide. Make your own leaders, and don't waste your time with double drop hardhead catchers. Use quality gear. Tie good knots, and use sharp hooks. Have a good set of pliers. Use extreme caution while handling catfish, rays, and sharks. Don't fish more than 2 rods at a time. Take notes, and read fishing reports.

Throw topwater.

Awesome reply man, I really appreciate the tips and encouragement. I will report when I get back. I have more doa shrimp than should be legal in all colors along with everything else. I have a great pair of waders so I plan on wading every inch of the bay.
Thanks again man

We came down here this past Subday... We got here later and found the Surf is beat up pretty bad but we managed to catch 3 big specks and 2 giant lady fish broke off a UFO and we just lost a few other fish for what ever reason. Watched pelicans bombing bait slowly coming down the surf and just grabbed our stuff got out to the 2nd sandbar and theew white paddle tail flukes and my buddy was throwing a 1/2oz rattle trap.. We went and fished along 361 on the Aranas pass side of the ferry and caught some small trout and lady fish right before dark Monday evening again on small paddle tail flukes..we had to drive home for Tuesday but will be back Thursday to try again. We are driving down right now and I'm on my phone so this is short but hope it helps a bit.

Thx b_vandy for the tips. I leave Friday and will be there for a week. I just realized you are from Sherman also. I see some of your Denison dam posts occasionally but didn't realize we were from the same area.
Man, I would like to hook up and fish with you if you have free time. I plan on doing a little bit of everything and would love to learn anything I can from you. Let me know if that's cool with you.

Man we just got back down here about 15 mins ago..I really donot know alot aboutthis place the surf has always been my go to down here wade out to the 2nd bar and start chunking. We use 3-8oz jig heads with super flukes , paddle tails and gulp shrimp In new penny.. And zara spooks if the surf is real flat. We will be here till Sunday morning lord willing the surf will calm enough to get back out there and not get the [censored] kicked out of us lol..

Charlies pasture, man I have not heard that name in years. My uncle use to take me there as a kid. GREAT MEMORIES!

Give Port Bay a look too. Its great for kayaking, but you can access it to wade also. Should get you a red in there!

I just shared my Florida coast experience here:
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ti#Post11746016

PM me if you want me to share my research with you.


Good luck and have fun.

There's a channel on youtube called Texas Fishin Tips that gives a weekly wading and kayaking fishing report.. You might want to give it a look.

Port A beat me up for years, finally I started taking the Jetty Boat over to the north jetty out of Woody's at 06:00 am. I'd use a silver spoon and usually fairly close to shore on the island side I'd find schools of trout. Nowadays with Gulp shrimp I'd probably try 3" New Penny under a popping cork with a 1/16-1/8 oz long shank jig head with corkscrew. Around 2' under bobber but you'd have to experiment.

I boat fish now but look back on those days and wonder when I had more fun...

EDIT: No way! I don't want to be young and poor again.

Fritz423, I want to second what you said. We took a charter out yeaterday from Woody's. He said that North Jetty, where the water, Jetty and shore meet has always been good. The correct pushes bait fish in there and it's always been productive. He also said the surf off the end of the same north Jetty should be productive for reds right now. We caught specs yesterday.
Thanks to Ralph out guide. I learned a lot about inshore fishing for specs, black drum and reds.

Fritz423, I want to second what you said. We took a charter out yeaterday from Woody's. He said that North Jetty, where the water, Jetty and shore meet has always been good. The correct pushes bait fish in there and it's always been productive. He also said the surf off the end of the same north Jetty should be productive for reds right now. We caught specs yesterday.
Thanks to Ralph out guide. I learned a lot about inshore fishing for specs, black drum and reds.

I know this answer is too late for your trip, but I will give this tip to you for future use or for anyone else making the trip. Go to the SaltWater Line tackle store on hi way 361, a few blocks south of Cutoff Road, ask Robert, the owner for tips on what to use and where to go. He fishes regular and is quite good at it and does not mind sharing info. He realizes that it is good for business.