Basically Seawolf was OK. The water was not clean at all, debris and trash floating in.

As for as the action goes, I caught about 20 fish, mostly small hardheads, sand trout, whiting, and croakers.

NEWBIE MISTAKE LEADS TO A BIG LOSS

As in the past, I loaded up with some live shrimp and headed south. After fishing for about 30 minutes, I get a huge hit on the 7' rod with 10 lb. mono. Like last week I was going to let it run, then reel it in, eventually to a nice landing in my pier net. In my short history (<1 year) I have hooked about 10 fish which need the pier net. All, except one last week, were caught on a 10' surf rod with 25 lb mono. This one also hit the small rig, so I knew I would have to be real patient and careful.

I fish on Seawolf about mid way, facing the right side of the pier. Every big fish that I have fought has done the same, usually runs away from the pier, either straight out, or left to right. None have ever come right to me. Last night, this one would come right at me and I would have to reel in like crazy, then he would do a 180 degree turn and head straight out, and I would have to release the drag to let him run. The last run he made at me led him directly under the pier, and we all know what that means. The (very tight) line just brushed some of the pier wood and it was all over. When the fish was about 15 foot from the pier, I did get a quick look, but not a good enough look to know what I had lost.

Scoreboard to the fish.

Now some questions for the more experienced folks out there. Go easy on newbie Jim, some of these may seem real dumb and basic, but there is only one way to learn, and that is to ask.

1. The shrimp didn't seem to stay alive in the aerated bucket, but I did everything the same as last week. The batteries were fresh. Is there a chance some are livelier than others?

2. I caught a couple of small croakers and wanted to keep them alive. Since the live shrimp were so big, is there a problem putting the small fish in the aerated bucket along with the shimp?

3. A few months back the wife and I fished at Caldwell pier and something happened there and happened again last night. I got TONS of nibbles, but rarely a hit. I seemed that if I put either live or dead shrimp on a single small hook, it was almost a given that I would lose the bait. I caught most of the fish when I put a small treble hook on the leader then baited the shrimp around the treble barbs. What does all of this nibbling without a solid bite? Any chance of crabs being in the water and doing this?

1. When it gets warmer the shrimp will die faster. Get a larger bucket and change out the water frequently and this will help keep em alive longer. Or do what I do. I have a 15gal water cooler that I've turned into a livewell. Just drilled some holes and added velcro.

2. Do not put croaker/mullet/scaled sardines with your shrimp. It'll kill em alot quicker

3. Most likely teenie weenie croaker/sandtrout/piggy perch/hard heads/crabs/spadefish...all of the above. Seawolf park pier is notorious for that. If you're real curious, put a tiny tiny piece of shrimp on like a number 12 single hook, used for perch and you'll hook up.

Thanks for the report by the way. I'll be staying away from that overpriced, overfished, little pier until october.

thanx for the report Jim

The $12 ($6 per person, $6 for car) doesn't bother me for the cost of the rite to fish under the lights. As far as I know, we only have two options for lighted fishing in the Houston area and I would much rather pay for Seawolf versus paying almost the same for 18th St. in San Leon.

I can hardly wait until we get more lighted piers in the Houston area. I am counting the days until 61st opens.

My wife is handicapped and is fair skinned, so we choose to fish when the weather is cooler and when she won't get sunburned. So I guess we have just taken the tact that night time fishing is what we wish to do. Not only that, we have had our best luck under the lights. Just a preference, but I do understand your opinion about Seawolf being over fished and over priced, and on the weekend, way over crowded.

Don't get me wrong, I've caught everything from Ling, Jack Crevalle, Flounder, Reds, Smacks, Specks, Sharks, and some of the biggest gafftops I've ever seen out at Seawolf park pier. It's a comforable place to fish.

Buy some Shrimp Saver..... it will keep your bait real active...its like 6 bucks but i cant remember where i bought it-

Make sure you don't have anything like sunblock or bug spray on your hands when you handle shrimp in the bucket- just a little of those chemicals can kill your shrimp.

thanks for the report!!

1. you can keep the bucket for shrimp just change the water often. also, you can put a bottle of water in the freezer the night before and take it out put in a zip lock bag and put in the bucket when you go fishing, this way will keep the water temp. cool for the shrimp without put in fresh water..of course new batteries always help and you can get the panesonic battery from $1 store, i think its like 4 for a dollar. other option is you can invest in a small atv/snow mobile battery for about $40, charger $20-40, and the larger pump $19-30..you bait will never die!!

2. never ever put bait fish (mullet, croker, pigge) together with shrimp. the fish take up more room and they take more oxygen so shrimp die quicker.

3. the nibble is usually small croker, pigge, etc.

I got these (http://www.sure-life.com/index.php?page=...t&Itemid=55) today at Academy in Pasadena for $3.49 for a two pack. Thanks for your suggestion, and thanks to the others for their help.

ALWAYS KEEP SOME ZIP LOCK BAGS, FILL THEM WITH ICE AND PUT 1 IN UR BUCKET EVERY HOUR OR SO AND UR SHRIMP SHOULD BE OK.
GOOD LUCK
JOHN