Hi! I'm visiting Corpus Christi for 2 months. I have no boat so I'm focused on wading and/or fishing from shore, piers, and jetties.

However, while I have freshwater fishing and wading experience, I have very little saltwater experience.

Could I ask any of you for some insights on where to try at this time of year, plus any other tips––i.e., what fish to target, what pound line to use, mono or braid, lures to get, any other info to get me started?

Thanks so much!

ganz, tell us what you'd like to catch and what kind of tackle you're using. That'll give us a baseline to work with. Wading the flats for reds and specks will require different tackle and techniques than fishing the piers or jetties for bull reds.

Jim,

Originally I thought I'd wade fish, since I have experience wading rivers for smallmouth bass up north. Not the same thing I know, but I figured some of the skills and knowledge might transfer over. I like the idea of catching trout and even reds in a manageable size.

But then I read about piers and jetties, so I'm not limiting myself to wading. I'd like to try it, but shore, piers, and jetties would work too.

I thought I'd start with lures, simply because live bait probably requires more equipment than I can easily carry while wading or walking. But I'd try live bait if needed. For now, though, I have a 6 foot medium action rod and daiwa spinning reel with 12-lb mono on it. I have some 1/4 oz jig heads with soft plastics (i.e., saltwater assassin 4 inch paddle tails in a couple colors). I'd pick up other lures as needed (i.e., spoons, cranks, topwaters, etc).

I found another thread in this forum "For all of you new to the salt" that gave some helpful info, so I have a place to start.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Re-spool your spinning reel with 15# braid, then use an FG knot to attach a 20# mono leader. I like long leaders, about 10’. That way you can trim it several times as it is frayed by rocks and toothy fish. That will be sufficient for most of what you are after when wading. Eventually you’ll probably want a saltwater spinning rod that’s 7’ and has a long fighting butt. And your reel won’t last long if you are using it regularly in the salt. Every now and then is fine as long as you clean it, but salt water always wins over time.

Also get a Zara spook in white/chartreuse and throw it any time you have birds in an area.

Also you definitely need a pair of aluminum pliers and a nova grip. And if you want to keep anything, a long stringer with a float.

Good info. Thanks!!

If you're new to the FG... I would avoid it, there is a steep learning curve with getting it and the Rissuto finish correct and even still it has failures. It wasn't designed for inshore casting.. it will work... if you don't have micro guides just use a uni to uni and actually you're 12 mono is fine. I use 12 lb mono for years and if you're mostly topwater fishing or throwing other treble hooked lures then mono is absolutely fine.

I agree with using a Zara spook though or it's saltwater cousing the one knocker... Actually reds and trout will hit just about all your bass stuff, granted you'll have to replace hooks after a couple of trips, perhaps they'll make it through the whole two months if you rinse then and let them dry after each wade. Any small chuggers or dog walkers will do fine.

Gold weedless spoon, bone spook junior, get some 1/8th oz heads and some paddle tail soft plastics.. DSLs are pretty good. I make a bait for weedless but I'm not here to sell it to you.. Let's get you started first.

for wadeable areas look at Wilson's cut there are flats both sides of that.

if you want more information about where to fish ... email me at tobin@troutsupport.com

Thanks all for the info! Lots to think about and try in 2 short months.

I look forward to posting a report with a photo of my first fish in the coming days or weeks!