My friend and I are planning for a wade-fishing trip (Freeport) this weekend. I am not familiar with wade-fishing at all. I really need tips on rod, reel, line, tackles, baits, techniques... All tips are appreciated.

I fished from my boat at SLP yesterday, and fell into a conversation with some surf fishermen, while waiting on the croaker boat to get back to the bait camp. They had been doing real well fishing the surf between
surfside, and SLP. I remember that they said they were fishing at mile #7, and #4. I'm not fimiliar with the mile roads, but I left just behind them. They pulled into the surf near old the pilings, where a condimenion had been started years ago. Anywhere from there all the way to the pass should be fine.

Use any kind of rod you have which will let you cast into the wind. They had not done any good with lures. Use croaker if you can get them. You'll need a stringer.

I've never fished Freeport but I've done a lot of wade fishing in Copono. I use a med. heavy castaway, pflueger reel with 18lbs big game on it. Croaker is good like bill said. Trout love them. Shrimp is good. A poppin cork is good to have as well. I don't know if you'll need them where you are but good wading boots and ray guards are always nice to have. I don't like to use a stringer because they sometimes cause fish to bleed and attract sharks. I don't wanna share my hard earned fish with those pesky varmints. I use a floating net live well from academy. Cost about $20 bucks and comes with a rod holder on it and lil tackle tray. The holder is nice to stick your rod on while you're baiting up.
My buddy has a wading belt that he swears by, says it saves his back. Its gotta little cool D ring on it that he ties his bait bucket and striner off too which is cool I guess. I just tie them around my waist.
Use lots of sun screen. Being waist deep in the salt all day will burn you quick.

wear one of these especially if your near the pass.

X2 you will want to be alive to do it again. It is the most fun fishing of all in my opinion.

well if u plan on fishing anywhere near the slp bridge be very carefull and always use a vest. and i've always used a 7'6 popping rod, 15# line, and i would free line a live shrimp in the surf.oh and use a long stringer just in case a blacktip wants some of ur catch. good luck

john

Already got the vest from the Academy :-). What hooks/sizes do I need? Thanks

Wade out in East Bay passed Key Largo off Bluewater Highway. Caught some specs there a couple of weeks ago.

a treble hook size 6 or 8 will do the trick.

john

I like useing a #2 circle hook. The hook will set in the corner of the jaw making release of under sized fish less tragic on the fish. In most cases you don't have to set the hook they set themselves. Small treble hooks usally end up deep and can cause death of the released under sized fish.

Thank you so much for all the tips so far. I already got the vest. I will get the hooks today; #2 circle and a fews different sizes of treble's. I will use my medium/light rod with 20# mono line (already spooled). Do I need leaders, sinkers, poppers? Are there any special techniques that I need to know? As for bait, we will use live croakers, live and dead schrimps.

I like a 2/0 kahle hook for trout with live shrimp. Trebles kill a lot of fish, and odds are that not every speck you catch will be 15-25. Kahle hooks and circle hooks are the way to go. I like the cajun thunders for a cork. On my leader under my cork I use 25 lb. test flouro. Set up works well. If you are using dead shrimp at the bottom, its going to be hard to keep it away from the hardheads.

Been fishing the surf for a long time... all good tips I've seen given to you....
Of course live shrimp is the name of the game... freelined or with a popping cork... I used to use a product called shrimp saver- sprinkle a dab in the bucket and those shrimp are swimming around like they on crack !!
Croakers are great as well- and you'll need a circle hook !! I like to freeline croakers....
I do best when I take my cast net and catch finger mullet, mud minnows etc and of course minnows stay alive much longer....
Buy a FLOATING FISH BASKET- TRUST ME- or you encounter SHARKS !!!
Set your drag medium to loose- THESE FISH ARE ALL POWERFUL>>>
BUY a few packs of berkley gulp shrimp new penny- they work great ...... EARLY MORNING--- be there at sunrise... and for huge specks fish a big topwater early such as a mirrolure....
Have a few silver or gold spoons handy as they are excellent lures.... and you'll need a good set of pliers....
slide your feet.......why??? you don't want to know....
BUY SOME SILICONE SPRAY OR REEL CLEANER BEFORE YOU GO.... first rinse your reel in cold water..... wipe it down with liquid soap... RINSE IT with cold water..... NOW SPRAY IT DOWN WITH SILICONE SPRAY OR reel cleaner.... after you fish or you reel will be useless...... do not lay your reel in the sand-- you'll never get the sand out.....A lot of folk won't agree with me on this but buy braided line like 10/30 powerpro... its fairly inexpensive and it won't break.... tie all your knots with a palomar knot- see youtube to find out how....if you don't use braid use min. of 20 lb. test mono line.... good luck.

I take a shower with all my rods and reels back at the hotel after I fish. I rinse them several times.

Be careful in SL pass. Several people have died there over the years. The currents can be VERY strong at times.

FYI, I'd had good luck with a #4 circle hook and Gulp shrimp , tipped with a piece of bait shrimp under a popping cork there....as well as fresh cut mullet on the bottom or free lining croaker.

Smart Man- that saltwater can sure ruin a good rod and reel....