Fellow Fishermen,

I am taking a group of guys out to do some surf fishing or bay fishing. We were thinking of the SLP pier but I am not sure it will be open. I have been following it but havent looked yet in the last couple of days. Anyway, we are travelling from college station and do not go much. I was wondering what a good spot was to spend most the night fishing. We have some heavy rods for catfishing (thats all we do) and this is our first attempt at the salty water. Any advice would be welcome and as I now we are going to just drive over there and look for a good place.

If there are any spots that would be good to stop at I would aprieciate it, although Im not looking for your sweet spots. I just need a place to go to catch a variety of fish.

We plan on getting a plethera of bait but mostly shrimp. We are stopping by Bass Pro Shop on the way tomorrow so we can get anything we need. I have gotten alot of good advice from here before but I am worried we are not totally in our element here as I am from the highland lakes. Its a bit different fishing Im afraid in the surf.

Anyway thanks for the advice and hope to see some fishermen around.

I've been 5-6 times down there, normally at surfside beach. If you�re fishing for cats, just throw something on the hook, anything organic really . Shrimp works, and catches other things as well, especially whiting. Caught my one and only trout on dead cut shrimp. If you want to fish mullet, get a cast net, and take em' fresh out of the water. I used one for the 1st time last weekend and it paid for itself.

As for location, I haven�t a clue.

San Luis Pass Pier would be the ideal place for a few new saltwater fisherman to begin. A huge variety of fish that come in mass quantities when there is a tidal movement. I would say, that if SLPP isn't going to be open, then go to the surfside jetties, a place that, as well holds many fish.
As for bait, live shrimp, dead shrimp, and some live finger mullet to throw out also. The way you rig the bait makes all the difference. I would say you can try to free-line the live shrimp and mullett, and to use them with a carolina rig. Free-line is where there is nothing on the line, but a hook and the bait. Which make the bait able to swim freely. As for the carolina rig, you can do a search on google to see how that works. You should be able to pick a few pre-made ones at BassPro.
With those type of rods I wouldnt try to catch anything too big. I just hope that SLPP is open so I can go. If it is open I will be glad to meet you all up there and show you a few things.

Go to www.sanluispass.com

shrimp from the beach will catch any and everthing . plus catching trash fish is better than nothing

I don't know if trash fish are better than nothing. 99.999% of the people that say that have never been stuck by a hard head

i have been stung about 5 times mainly bc of ignorance and the fact that i usually just grab them barehanded...some of them dont hurt but i find that sometimes the pain justs starts radiating throught my hand...burning sensation..usually the small tiny ones...so i say i would rather catch nothing then get a bunch of hardheads..just my opinion

The SLP pier is great place to start. If it is not open, try 61st street pier in Galveston. I have fished both of those places for many years, and actually have had some very good nights at both. I would try shrimp (either live, or fresh dead) and maybe some cut mullet or shad. Most of the time you will catch something. I cant remember the last time i was skunked in salt water. Good luck!