Avid Texoma Striper fisherman looking for advice. It’s been years since I’ve surf fished. We be will be staying at house with a private pier and may surf fish some. Planning on using spinning reels with 30lb braided. Any tips would be appreciated. Soft bait, topwater? Figure on live and frozen shrimp. Will bring cast net.

Sounds like light ish tackle. What's your interest? Bulls or just slots and trout etc etc.?

You're striper gear will be fine for the bulls for sure. 30lb with moderate size reel holds plenty line for runs. Med heavy rod probably better suited for it than a med action. But otherwise you should be fine. First place I'd be is the south port A jetty if the wind allows.. get as far out on it as you can and fish the beach side with cut mullet, cut menhaden, or live or dead crab. 5/0-7/0 circle hook and a pyramid weight 2-3 oz or more depending on wave action. Inside the channel is different story.. can loose lots of terminal tackle. But that said there are ways to do it. Bobber stop a live shrimp or live crab 20' off the rocks in 10-12' of water and let it drift with the current.. you'll pick up a bull or two.

have fun

Welcome to the forum.

When are you going? Watch here for the wave forecast. You might find the pier will provide some solid fishing. Nights can be really good for trout on a pier. If you're going in the next couple of weeks live shrimp is ok but will get eaten almost immediately by piggy perch. I would stay away from frozen shrimp unless it's last resort. You can buy fresh dead shrimp at most bait houses that's much better than frozen. Even dead shrimp will get eaten fast by the piggy's. I second what TroutSupport said on the mullet, menhaden and crab. If you're going before long mullet won't be a problem to catch with your cast net. Just find an area that is shallow where you can walk out into the water some and you'll find lots of mullet. Cut crab is also solid (best to cut it in quarters). Drop your cut crab straight down off the pier next to the pier posts (or pilings) to catch black drum and Sheephead (both solid on the table especially Sheephead). You can buy crab at bait houses too.

Stay away from frozen if you can with crab being one exception to that rule.

Add at least a 5' piece of 25-30lb. fluor or mono leader for pier fishing or 50-60 lb for surf fishing to your braid. You need the line to be able to stretch and withstand abrasions better than what braid provides.

Also make sure you wash off your reels with fresh water at the end of each day or after you get back from fishing.


Be safe.