I am planning on going on a trip soon to try to catch some bull reds. All I have ever caught are small rat reds. I was wondering if some one could tell me a good place to fish and when to catch some big ones(October?). What kind of bait do you use in the surf. I'd appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks!

What are were you planning on fishing?

sorry, that was suppossed to be area.

I don't know where the best place would be. I would like to do some good surf fishing but I would also want to take my boat which runs deep. Last time I went to rockport and couldn't get out on the boat because it was too shallow. Any references?

fisherkid.....I always go to beach access rd #2 on 361 like going to corpus in Port A. After you get to the beach, I just read the shoreline and look for any washouts or simply look at the water. Look for waves that have any calm areas in them, that should tell you there's a pothole there, and always watch the birds and where they are feeding along the shore.

If you are going to be mainly use your boat I would have to say mouth of the brazos by freeport. You can get you boat up in the mouth of the river and october is usally a good month for bull reds around there. If it is really cold look for the deeper areas and use fresh crab that way if the reds are not hitting you can at least catch some black drum. If is still hot use cut mullet just make sure you use a steel leader "not the ones you buy at wal-mart or academy" there are alot of sharks in the area.

If you want to do some surf fishing you could try surf side, san luis pass, and high island. I have fished all of these places except for high island but I am heading there in 2 days, 17 hours, and 2 minutes. Can you tell I am ready. If you need any more information about these areas just post again.

In the surf,what size weight to you put on and how do you rig it? Also what size hook? I usually use shrimp and mullet but do you fish crab with or without the pinchers. Thanks for the info

1. Weights You will have to use spider weights that dig into the sand. All other types will roll and roll until they are right on the beach. I would pick up some 4oz, 6oz, and 8oz, you never know what the surf is going to be like. Some days you could be out there and not need a spider weight and other days your eights will not hold.

2. Hooks I like to use a circle hook 12/0 or 14/0 for the bull reds but you could use a smaller one if you perfer them. I use the circle hooks because the fish don't swallow them.

3. Crabs Actually what you are going to do is pull the pinchers off and cut the crab in half. This will give you four baits. You can use the claws on smaller rods and use the half cut crabs on the big rods. If you use crabs you will need the larger hooks 12/0 or 14/0. What I like to do is open up my circle hooks just a little bit when using crabs. This will make it easier to get the hook through the leg hole. When you are ready to hook the crabs just tread the hook through the claw hole and out one of the leg holes or viseversa.

I have caught bigger fish on live crabs. But dead ones produce to. just my 2 cents

If you want to take your boat to Port Aransas between now and November..let me know. The bull reds are so easy...and with a boat it's almost criminal...really. Let me know.

black cat, where are you going to be fishing? I'll be down to surf fish around San Luis Pass, Labor Day. How will the weather (T-Storms) affect the fish?

hello board, 1st post on this site, i have the same question as fisherkid; i fish port a about 1-2 times a month but, i've never fished for bull reds, i have a bay boat & i would like to know how, (this has been answered by blackcat) when, & where to fish for bull reds. any information will be greatly appreciated

I guess I will be going in early October. Thanks everyone for all the help. Bobaloo1, I am going to take my boat out for some reds along with in the surf. Is Port A the best place to go?

Be careful boating in the surf...too close in and you could beach it then get swamped with the waves.

check out report in the report section. Best fishing trip ever