We are going down the week after the fourth to SPI. I have never fished in salt water or been to SPI and need any and all help that you guys can give.
Lures, places, species, tips and advice is all greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Surely someone knows somthing

o_line...my brother in law and I wade fish in the bay after driving about 7 miles north up the main road on padre island. We head out at about 4:30 am driving and then he stops around 7 miles up the road and had to blast over the sand dunes to get to the bay. Once over the dunes we drive about 200 or 300 yards, park and then wade out. I don't think we actually hit the same exact area each year (I only go down once a year, but we go every morning for 6 mornings) but don't think that's important. We wade straight out for about an hour until we start getting to beds of grass which is where he likes to fish (he's the expert). We stand around shooting the s until the sun starts to rise and then we start fishing using live shrimp under popping corks. On a good day we'll catch 4 or 5 trout each but they do tend to be nice size. After the sun is up you look around and you'll see other fisherman wade fishing off in the distance so this is common down there. He has a boat now so we don't wade too much anymore. When I go down July 9 - 15 I'm gonna focus on surf fishing. The beach cam on a web site shows the water looking really good. I might try wade fishing Crystal Beach by myself one morning though. From what I read it sounds like a pretty good spot and there is public road access so you don't need a 4 wheel drive.

Where do you get shrimp at and what time is it avalible?

DO you mean SPI as in port isabel. Some get it confused with Corpus Christi. If you are going to Corpus then I can give you alot of help. If SPI (port isabel) I can steer you in the right way. If you like live bait fishing then live shrimp is a good choice. However you will catch more quality fish (keeper trout/reds) free lineing live croaker. Any bait stand should sell these and the ones that do will have flags flying, white for shrimp and yellow for croaker, if they are availiable which is not always so. Bait stands usually open about 5 a.m. You must have a good airator for croaker and get them in the water as quick as possible. Shrimp are more hardy. On the other hand, if you are a lure fisherman like me, trout/reds hit the same type of stuff that bass hit. Topwaters, plastics, swimbaits, spoons, spinnerbaits, etc. I almost never fish anything but hipitch she dogs (Topwater), bass assasins (soft plastic), ans redfishmajics (spinner). As for locations, in the summer time concentrate on shallow grass flats with sand bottoms in the bays, and the beachfront as well. The jetty in SPI is always a good place to catch something and easily accessible. Good Luck!

Trout Killer, we are going to SPU (port Isabel. I appreciate the info. and would like to know what lures I should get before heading down. I am going to get some popping corks but art. lures I have no idea.

I gave you a list of good lures in my first response. Ill do it again.

(Topwaters)
1. Hi-pitch She dog (Mirror Lure)
2. Saltwater Chugbug
3. Super Spook Jr.

(Spinner Baits
1. Redfishmajic (strike King)
2. Any spinner bait even bass ones

(Swimbaits)
1. Catch 2000 mirror lures
2. Corky
3. Rattle Traps
4. Doa or Assasin soft plastic paddle tails

(spoons)
1. Gold or silver Johnson Sprites

(Plastics)
1. Trout Tubes
2. Trout killers
3. Salt/Bass Asassins
4. Berkly Gulp
5. Norton Sand Ells
6. etc.

This should give you a good start. All of these are good for both reds and trout and snook. Since the water is pretty clear, get the lures in bright colors such as chartrusse, electric chicken, or pearl whites. If the water is off colored then go with something a little darker such as red shad.

Port Isabel is on the mainland. Accross the bay/bridge is South Padre Island (the city) on the southern tip of South Padre Island (the island).

Check your latest Texas map and/or directory.

MelCP

Yes I know, but if you have been going to south padre as long as I have then you would refer to it as Port Isabel. My father grew up here too, surfing south P reguraly, and has always called it port isabel. This is why I refer to it this way. It is just recently that people started calling it south padre. There is no confusion on my part of the distinction but rather old school habit. Also, I have heard people refer to CC as south padre and just like to make sure that everyone is on the same page. I know you were trying to help but we got this thing covered.

trout Killer, can you give me some more specific places to hit when we go down? If you dont want to post them, email me @

turneyj@ucisd.net

Thanks for all the help.

Just got back today from 5 days at South Padre. Listen to what Frisco is telling you....they're out there all right.

come on luckey, give me details about your trip..

I 2nd that trip detail lucky! Please let us know how you did. I head down this Saturday and will be staying at the beach for 6 glorious days. I'll certainly let you all know how i do.

THX

FINALLY...my family unit and I leave tomorrow morning for South Padre / Port Isabel. I've been waiting for so long, haven't been on vacation for 6 years. I'll definitely report how I did when I get back next week and will hopefully be able to post some fish pics.