Next Friday. I have never had any luck at all and only caught a few under size specs on shrimp. This if I use my cast net and catch some mullet and use them for cut bait I will have a good chance for something bigger? I hear big reds start coming close to shore in October. Any quick tips for surf fishing?

Also will have my kayaks. We will be right across the street from Christmas bay. Any tips there as well?

I sure would appreciate it. My son is off to school and I will not see him much anymore and would love to make some memories. As he has gotten older, hanging out and fishing is not as fun as chasing gals and hanging with his pals.

Cut bait in the surf will catch catfish and that's about all. Live bait is much better. Finger size is ideal, but anything between 2" and 8" will catch. Take your cast net to the bay and target some grass beds, or little tidal inlets over a bridge or marsh. You should find mullet, shrimp, and possibly perch and croakers. All of them will work great in the surf.

Go to Lowes/HD and get a piece of 2" PVC pipe and cut in half. Sink those into the sand for your rod holder, and you can tie your bait bucket onto them.

The best bait I've found for bull reds and black drum is fresh cracked crab. There are some good youtube videos showing how remove the outer shell. To catch them, tie on a dead mullet and leave it ankle deep in the surf. After a few minutes you'll see something moving the line around. Drag it slowly up onto the beach and get it with a bait net, or even the cast net.

My preferred rigging is a fish finder rig, which is basically a carolina rig. 1 or 2 ounce egg sinker over a swivel and tied to a 2-3 ft leader. With this you can either leave it out there in the rod holder, or retrieve it as desired. If there is too much current for it to sit you can switch to a pyramid sinker. Use a bead so the weight doesn't jump over the swivel. Circle hooks for any natural bait.

The only time I've had luck with trout in the surf is when I see birds working. I like to keep a rod with a zara spook ready to cast under the birds. Not unreasonable to catch a fish every cast when this occurs.

Surf looks like garbage right now, better plan on spending time in the marsh.

Coff, thanks that is just what I needed. Appreciate the time you took to post.

Pat, hope it clears up and the surf settles. If not kayaks in the bay. I reckon a live shrimp or mullet under a pop cork will work

Contact my son at Bite and Fight Angler. I talked to him a little while ago, and he said he tore them up this morning. He said he caught them on his soft plastic baits that he makes. Told me that he got it all on video, too. He has a Facebook page, YouTube channel, and I think an Instagram page, too.

He was fishing somewhere around surfside, I think.

Tell him his Pops sent you.

JR

Here’s a link to the video that Justin shot on Sunday. Sure makes me want to take a trip to go fishing with him!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v2_3zWM1PPQ&feature=youtu.be

The reds were all around his kayak a couple of times.

JR

Surf looked good yesterday. I have a house on Christmas bay pm me and I will give you some spots.

Thanks guys, I sure do appreciate it. scr I will reach out to him. Those Texas Roach color baits looked good!

Bite and Fight Angler owner, my son, told me today that one of his customers caught a snook on the Haymaker this morning. Boated a nice flounder, too. Both on a Haymaker. I’ll post a photo or video as soon as it’s available.

JR

Thanks scr. I am not familiar with the area and assume "the haymaker" is an inlet or big oyster reef or such?

I have looked for a map of the bay.

Also bad news. My son started a new job and they need him friday and monday. He will have to drive down friday eve and come back sunday eve. So basically we have a much shorter time to fish together. My wife and I will make the best of it although it would be nice to spend more time with our son. We see him so little now.

I went to BPS and bought a penn 2500 series spinning reel and put it on a nice 7' med-hvy rod I had. 30 lbs braid with 20 lbs fluoro leader. I am so stoked. Also have my bait casters. As long as they do not get wet and I clean em good after I get home they should be OK.

Hey does your son have a brick and mortar store or just sell online? I would like some paddletail swim baits.

My son’s soft plastic lures are named for boxing jargon. Bite and Fight Angler is the name of his company, and the Haymaker is one of the most popular lures.

I use the Haymaker to catch bass on, too. He has one customer that won second place in a bass tournament by fishing the Haymaker.

Watch the video.

JR

THanks SCR. appreciate it.

Here’s the snook my son’s friend caught on a pearl Haymaker. Pretty fish. Fat fish. Cool shirt and gloves.

Bite and Fight Angler

JR

NICE!

Never caught a redfish or a snook. I assume they are not nearly as frequently caught.

Redfish are usually easy to catch, when they're going, we've caught them on a rubber dog turd. Generally it's not the how but the where.