Reading this post brings back some good memories I lived in Corpus C. for five years and used to frequent Bob Hall Pier in Junior High. Later as an adult I used to fish San L.Pass before the hurricane took it out.

I now live in DFW and I'll give yall a great tip I learned from a local down in Galveston. I went to S.L.P. Pier pre hurricane in the fall of 2001. The guy I was with grabbed a box of squid on our way in to catch bait. I thought the squid was bait.

He instructed me to use a drop shot rig on a standard fresh water rod and reel, small hook, small piece of squid,&
a small weight. The squid stays on the hook better than shrimp.

After about 20 hardheads you catch a sand trout, 20 more hardheads you get another sand trout. He then scaled the sand trout and cut it into chunks. We put those on bigger rigs with cirle hooks, surf weights, and wire leaders.

What happened after that was the best pier fishing I've seen. We caught bull reds, sharks, and gaf tops that would blow your mind. Nobody on that crowded pier caught more or bigger fish than we did except a guy who caught a 6ft. bull shark.

If you haven't used sand trout cut bait (remove the scales), then give it a try. If you get too many people messin' with you, tell them it's mullet.

I couldn't tell you how many fish we caught that night way over 100. At day break a school of spade fish moved in and small strips of sand trout with the skin on small hooks filled our second cooler full of them. Pound for pound that has to be the hardest fighting fish I've ever caught. I have never seen a 2 lb. fish strip drag at will on 15 lb. test in fresh or salt water.

I didn't intend to write a novel here but I miss the salt. I just wish I knew how good sand trout was for bait sooner than I did. They're not bait stealers, they're bait.

Tight Lines.

If you try this use a long leader above your rig of at least 70 lb. test at 50 ft. You will need it. The pier poles will cut you off in a heart beat. A pier net is a must.

man on man bobtx1950, your reports are killing me only a week and a half before the school year end and the pier I will go! hopefully the water temp. dosent drop to much I would like to get into those tasty drum!

Well Surf I hope you lots of luck . One good thing their are no dam hardheads or baby gafttops to nibble your bait up . Be sure to take a sweater or coat it does get cool on the water .

Wait just a minute there mister, you stated that you caught POMINO at the pier. How big was it and is this common to catch POMINO there? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW, love to eat POMINO,

these were pompano (spelling) 1 was 3 lbs the other 2 2 lbs . These are not rare here . Biggest I ever caught was around 4 1/2 lbs . Seen 1 that was over 5 lbs. I think the state record is about 6 1/2 lbs . They fight like minuture Jacks . Sorry about spelling I'm not sure of it . And Yes these are great eatting . PS so are angelfish if you can get enough of the little sobs

yes you can catch pompano!
i have caught more this year than any other year!
my biggest was around 4 pounds!
and like bob says they fight like jacks I though it was a jack until I landed it!

I though POMANO come in to the shallow around summer time. I guest Florida water and Galveston water different. Same ocean, very interesting. Any other location (s) beside pier can you catch these great eating fish? Last time we went to the fishing pier, we $36 dollars and can't even catch a fly. I guest we are not good at pier, or we just doesn't know the spot to fish at the pier. One day, I will have to meet up BOBTX and go fishing, if his ribs get better.

Here some pictures of our trip to Seawolf Park 3rd weeks of November!!

http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv10107iz4.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv10111kt5.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv10108cw4.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv10109qu9.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snv10110fu3.jpg

ARe pompano running right now?

Friday Dec 7th . Galveston Fishing Pier -- Fishing was not all that hot today . Only 1 big ugly keeper drum and about 40 nice whiting 1lb-2lb . Water was dirty from that blow Monday . From the report it is not going to improve this weekend . Winds up to 25 in forcast. Rain and colder weather coming by Weds. LRS Pompano have really been doing the strange this yr . I have caught more Pompano this yr than ever . And later into the yr than ever .

This may sound like a dumb question but I'm going to ask it anyway. I have an inflatable pontoon boat. It has 8' pontoons I sit on a seat on a skeleton platform between the pontoons and motivate with a pair of oars. Wondering if this boat would be legal or even safe enough (not in 25+ mph winds, maybe on a calmer summer day) on the beach? Maybe use it to take the bait out to the green water. I just bought this little jewel of a boat and used it on fresh water but never on salt

When it is calm should be no problem .

almost went friday but my allergies were really bad!
it looks like whiting are taking over the surf for the winter!

those awesome calm days are the way to go but i would still be VERY, VERY careful. try ur luck in the bay! some great fish to be caught in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, the bays is the way to go. Your boat should work fine down around San Luis Pass area.