I plan on going to Mustang Island to do some surfishing for reds. When do they make their runs along the beach? What type of bait should I use? So I try a more isolated section of the Iisland or should I be closer to the jetties?

I use cut mullet,live finger mullet, crabs and I heard cut shad works well too. If that dont get you none I dont know what will.

This time of the year the reds are thick along the jetty fishing the channel side. Live mullett and cut menhadden work best during this time. Put them on the bottom and hang on. It shouldnt take too long to get a strike on an outgoing tide and the action should be almost as quick on an incoming tide. I will be down next weekend after the storm to hopefully catch a few. That is assuming that there isnt too much damage done! Good luck.. The other baits that saltwater mentioned work but I think you would have your best luck using mullet heads, live mullet, MENHADDEN or live piggies. Lots oi people dont believe that menhadden is a great bait but I cant think of a better bait this time of year! When I tell people what I caught my fish on while on the jetty ,they usually think I am full of it. Little do they know!

What tackle and how are you riggin your baits for fishing around the jetties?

Just got back from port a south jetty teusday. We fished monday and teusday morning. We landed 7 reds, 1 black drum about 30#, and 1 small bonnet shark. The reds were all 41-43 inches. They were caught about halfway out on jetty, channel side, freelining perch(4-6in) out about 20-30 yds. great trip, the bull red run was definatly on...

good report and thanks Outtabeer.

Thanks Outtabeer...I was at Matagorda last week and the finger mullet were/are thick. Netted and used them freelined and on bottom and got quite a few reds...they are getting more active in the bay also. Tight Lines!!

Have to agree with Piepuncher on this one. I use live menhadden and hook them thru the nostrile holes and free line or put a 1/4 ounce weight to keep the birds off. The best bait certain times of year.I also like huge piggies too. I sometimes stop at the fina docks with a #12 treble and shrimp just to catch a few big piggies for the jetties..

Have to agree with Piepuncher on this one. I use live menhadden and hook them thru the nostrile holes and free line or put a 1/4 ounce weight to keep the birds off. The best bait certain times of year.I also like huge piggies too. I sometimes stop at the fina docks with a #12 treble and shrimp just to catch a few big piggies for the jetties..

Redfish, Loved the post about keeping the birds off!!! lol I took a buddy down to the coast for his first time ever and he fell in love with the fishing and at first he thought the gulls were just awesome. After switching to live bait, he quickly learned to hate the gulls and was wishing he had a shotgun to get rid of them. LOL.. Those birds are just sorry, they will swoop down, kill your bait and try to fly away with it. I have yanked a gull or 20 out of the sky after I let them munch on my bait for a minute. Its funny that everyone seems to have the same problem. after a while of the gulls stealing your bait, it is either gonna cost you some money or some more work having to toss the heavy net. I hate gulls!

My record is two seaguls and one pelican. Whats yours? I hate those damn birds. Also dont like those porpoises either. Almost lost a hand to one at the fina docks or would of least got wet. I was just about to grab a 17 or 18 inch red and release it when a porpoise nailed it missed my hand by inches. Thought it was a shark at first but surfaced several times and left no dought. Hell had it on a bass pole fore about 5 minutes. They mustlike me or something. I was wade fishing about three years ago and had one steal a fish off my stringer. I have heard of sharks doing it but not porpoises. Also it came back and begged for another just like flipper.

IF I HAVE 1 115 4-STROKE YAMAHA FRESH WATER.HOW DO I FLUSE THE ENGINE AFTER SALT USE.HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLUSH?
CHAVO

You buy a flush boot that goes around the water inlets in your lower unit and hook it to the garden hose. Turn on water start motor run 5-10 minutes turn off.Flush everytime leaveing the saltwater for home..

Can some of you share what you use for these reds?

I've only fished for them down in the LLM and we use very light spinning rigs.

Does a 15-20# baitcaster rig suffice or do you need to move up to a 30# reel and 7' rod?

Does sound fun tangling with a 40 inch plus red!

I know the smaller ones are something else on 8-10# spinning rig (backed with spectra)!

Thanks for all replies.

We fished port a south jetty on the 19th and 20th. Using a 10' rod, spinning reel 150 yds 20# test, 4/0 kahle, freelining perch(4-6") out in channel about 25 yds; caught 6 bull reds from 41-43 inches. Best fishing was about 9am during outgoing tide about 100 yds past green channel buoy.