Hey all, I'm going to South Padre for the 4th and I want to try out my new big water pole. I want to fish off the pier at Pirate's Landing right on the other side of the island. What type of tackle do I need (size of hooks) and what lb. test line? I'd like to catch a few crabs and medium sized fish, nothing too large. I plan on using squid for bait as I did the last time I was there. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

i wouldn't recommend a rod/reel for crabs...string and a chicken neck will do u fine. line weight depends on size of ur reel and the guide tolerances on ur rod (which can be fudged a little bit) also depends on what variety of medium-size fish ur plannin' on catchin

I've got the Shakespeare Sturdy Stik, 6'6", medium heavy action, 20-40lb. line. In that 20-40lb. range, what do you guys suggest? I just want to go out and have some fun, but have some good line on there just in case.

any 20-40# line...30# should suffice for just about anything if you wanna go straight for the middle size...what variety of reel do you have?

Just put 125 yards of 15lb mono followed by 150 yards of 20lb spiderwire on the reels I use at PINS tonight. Got spooled last weekend because I only had about 50 yards of mono line and 150 yards of spiderwire and after wading out and casting using a 6oz weight that left me about 5 yards of line left by the time I got back to shore and set my rod in the PVC rod holder. You are going to a pier though and I wade out my baits then cast and walk back to shore. At least this way I can wadefish or pier fish. Try using your teeth on spiderwire you can't bite thru it like mono line. Depends on your reel and what your after.

Forgot to say I have not fished Pirates Landing at SPI. At Horace Caldwell I have limited out on "legal sized" specks 2 times and fished that pier 5 times since November. Don't like all the "pier pressure" so I usually wadefish. I used 3/0 hooks with live shrimp about 4 1/2ft below a cork. I walk a pier and look for "the silver flashes" of trout surfacing below the lights, that way I don't have to hope for the fish to come to me. Then I casted to where the "silver flashes were coming up at". Best advice is to ask a nearby bait stand what to use for hook sizes and bait. Have fun and full stringers to you!

I have the Shakespeare T20L0 reel.

My combo can be found here:

http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/products/combos/sturdy_bw_combo.shtml

I've never used a cork before. Is there a certain way you rig this up? What oz. weight do you recommend for fishing off the bottom? Thanks for the advice. I can't wait to go.

stick some 30# fireline in it...you get the 30# strength at a smaller diameter...its a unifilament from berkley - extremely durable

cool, I'm headed up to Bass Pro tomorrow.

I've fished that pier usually with good luck. The tide needs to be moving and it doesn't matter which way. For bottom fishing use enough weight to keep the tide from dragging your bait. I use cut bait. I've caught black drum there up to 52lbs. Check the legal slot size. The trick to landing a big one there is to keep the fish from heading to the pier and loosing it on the barnacles. The way to do that is if the fish starts angling towards the pier keep your line tight and run/walk down the pier to get in front of the fish then apply some pressure on it and the fish will head back away from the pier. You will have to hand the rod around the light poles to yourself as you move. Tire the fish out untill it floats.The bait shop there has a long net. The above advice on line and fishing for specks is right on.

Thanks for the advice Brent.

Your welcome Brad. Im not sure of your familiarity with salt water but in addition to tides a bright night will decrease your chances and a dark night will improve them. Heavy wind is a minus as well as seasonal seaweed fouling your hook. I usually start with dead shrimp and cut what I catch for the cut bait. Ask the people running the pier about the hooks, lures and bait, they are dang reliable.

Hey if you have access to the beach on the east side of the island, the surf side, try it, even in front of the condos. I usually stay at Saida Towers and have caught many fish in the surf. Or you can travel north on the island on Highway 100, the main street down the island, to the public beach and find good fishing there.

I spoke with one of the guys up at Cabela's int he fishing section and got some great advice. I think I'm going to go with a carolina rig and a 1oz. egg sinker to start. I'm going this coming Monday and I'll be willing to bet that pier will be crowded. I'll probably wait until dusk (after we go to the bars) and fish in the surf. I'm going to get some chicken necks too and have some fun with the crabs. Do you guys know of a place on the island that sells them? Blue Marlin maybe?