Hey guys,
I posted here last year about this time about fishing the jetty off south padre island. Some people told me about where to buy fresh bait (shrimp) and what type of rigging to use (Ugly Stick Catfish open face rod and reel with a weight and leader). I did that last June when i went to Padre and caught 2 speckled trout. It looked like i was about the only one catching fish because every one else on the jetty looked stunned when i caught them, haha. The day i went to fish it was pretty rough because of weather at that time so i figured rough water aganist the jetty wasnt good for the fish. Anyways, im going again for 4 days in June for a vacation and one day me and the wife are gonna fish off the jetty. I have seen tv shows where guys use Berkley Saltwater Gulp shrimp in the jar of fluid when fishing for trout and reds. They were using bait casters and using a popping cork style of fishing but really didnt show how the set up was tied together. Would this be good for fishig the jetties and how do you set it up with the cork and all? Any Pics or websites?

The reasoning for the change.
1. live shrimp are harder to put on a hook and come off easier even with no bite.
2. weights get hung up on rocks if your not carful when reeling in for another cast.

The gulps will work well. The jetties are the best first thing in the morning or when there is tidal movement. Check the tides for the weekend you are going. www.saltwatertides.com CWCW is right about the weights. Get at 2/0 widegap hook with no weight and freeline live shrimp or piggies. Hook that shrimp right under the horn, and it should stay put. You will not get trash fishi with piggies. Throw the piggy out in the surf in the first or second gut right at daybreak. Let him do his thing and watch your line. The big trout roam the first gut at daybreak. If you use live shrimp under a popping cork, watch the shrimp. It will come to the top and jump out of the water when something is underneath it.

Im pretty new to this so, whats a piggy? If i choose to go with the Gulp shrimp, do i put them on the hook like i would a live shrimp? And if i use a popping cork, how far below the cork should i place the bait?

A piggie is a saltwater perch or better known as a Piggy Perch. They are the little pest fish that tear your bait up when you are not catching anything :-) They are silver with lavender streaks down their side. As far as the popping cork and leader. You can go to Academy or Wally World and buy them with the leader, weight and beads on them already just add hook on the clip at the bottom and tie the top swivle to your line. If you choose to just buy the long corks with the plastic stem in the middle. I would start with 16-18" between your bait and the cork. Dont be skeered to adjust it depending on the water depth you are fishin in. Best of luck to ya.

Rob

I never looked at Academy for that specific rigging. I will have to do that. thanks Mexicajun1. I mostly get caught up buying bass fishing lures there.