Hi all,

I recently moved to Houston, after living abroad for the last 5 years, and as any sane fisherman, I bought the boat before the house...

Anyway, besides the guided/charter trips, most of my experience and all of my tackle is freshwater. I decided on a dual-purpose CC so I can take advantage of or close proximity to the gulf, however I need some advice on the essential saltwater tackle. But unfortunately the TFF Search engine is out-of-service, and I only have 1 week to shop before spring break...

So, I need some advice on what tackle/equipment I will need to target specs & reds in the bays near Galveston/Freeport. Basically, if you were to come spec/red fishing with me, knowing I had absolutely no tackle, what would you bring along? (Considering that I do have the essential survival equipment and we are staying in the bays)



-Jonathan

any thing in the berkley glup line,jerk shad,paddel tail,swinning mullets,grubs, Jig heads that are 1/8,3/16,and 1/4 oz. After that i am lost. Good luck. Mark

Some popping corks, some slip weights, split shot of various weights, and a couple of sizes of circle hooks (I prefer those) 1/0 and up. Fluorocarbon leader material, and some swivels. A castnet to catch bait.

I also have a Johnson Spoon in gold and silver, don't remember the size think its 1/4 oz.

Other than gulp and a plastics hook of some kind, I don't use lures much.

6'9 medium action rod
shimano citica
30lb suffix braid

for live shrimp:
cajun thunder popping cork
18" 30# fluoro leader
2/0 mustad live bait hook

lures:
20lb fluoro leader
1/4 gold spoon
bone spook jr.
pink skitter walk
pumpkinseed/chart assassin and paddle tail
1/8oz spin lock jig head


start there and expand as needed. if you can't catch fish with that, you're not where the fish are.

To cover the spectrum, these are various items to bring. Ideally, if I knew where I was going and what type of fishing, I could cut the list down.

I absolutely must have Gulp swimming mullet and jig heads in the right size for what you're doing. I usually go as light as I can get away with, 1/16 in shallow water up to a 3/8 in deeper water. I like white and pink most but chartruese as well. I also keep paddle tails in chicken on a chain, some gold glitter and morning glory to cover the different conditons. Bring a gold ans silver spoon in 1/4 or 1/2 incase they want something moving fast.

I always have a top water tied on. My favorites are either bone colored or chrome/blue. I am recently getting into pink as well. If you like popping corks, have some dead shrimp and circle hooks to tie on.

Carolina rigs are doing well these days. They are often called flounder rigs in the saltwater section.

That should be enough to fish the entire water column.

As far as rod, reel and line, I like everything Shimano makes for a reel, Falcon Coastal rods and Sufix braid in 50lb or flourocarbon in around 15lb but mostly braid.

I never take that much with me as I go with a plan in mind. If you know more specific what you want to do, let me know.

Redfish will hit most stuff a bass would. A stout bass rod will cover most fish in the bay.

Thanks for the shopping list...

From all of the replies, looks like the use of a heavy mono leader is the obvious differentiator. I�ll have to study how to tie a new knot� and heavy rods w/ baitcasters will do fine, just take the ones spooled with braid.

A few last questions�

- Are there any concerns on the color of braided lines? Should I avoid hi-vis colors?
- I don�t have a gaff, will a net be sufficient for landing the big one?
- Any recommendations on a guide in the Freeport area who would be willing to take us out in my boat and still put us on some fish?

Leader is not necessary at all. Redfish will hit anything. Line color doesn't matter either. Unless you are in super clear water, the scent and action play a much bigger role.

You don't need a heavy rod either. I use medium light stuff for trout(swimbait and topwaters), medium for reds (jig heads with plastics) and medium heavy for flounder (jigs or carolina rigs).

Are you going offshore? A pair of fishgrips is all you need to get fish out of the water. The only place I have seen them on the shelf is ACK, austinkayak.com (3 locations Austin, San Marcos and Houston).

Only knot you need is improved clinch and palomar if you're paranoid.

Beer.

Here is a quick primer on catching reds for the bass fisherman.

Good Luck and Tight Lines.

http://fishcatchingtravel.com/techniques-you-can-use/do-you-love-bass-fishing-then-try-redfishing/

ah, well I have corrected my original post... I have all the essential "survival" gear... so the beer is covered!

Have some fun and add a 7 ft. Castaway light action saltwater rod with your favorite reel spooled with 14 lb test mono and a 12 inch steel cable leader.. ( I like Shimano Calcuttas and Stradics)

As for the topic question, and since I dont know you yet, I'd bring gatorade and a concealed handgun.

man, Berkley sure is proud of their Gulps. I sure hope these things work magic. (Btw, there is a $5 rebate when you by 2 packs of Gulps throughout July)

Thanks for all the feedback & advice, I went down to the Bass Pro-Shop in Pearland, and one of the guys there hooked me up... He was able to find everything on the list except for the "chicken on a chain"... (I ended up w/ electric chicken instead). They even had a pair of orange fishgrippers. so, now that I have good baseline of SW tackle, just hope I can find and hook-em.



Bad Luck Guy,

I'll be working on the plan this week, and weather permitting hit the bay a few times during spring break. Mar 12-17. Also, I have an 8yr boy who just loves to fish, so I'll probably do a mix of live & artificial mainly targeting speck's.

A few people mentioned that the Galveston area is heavily pressured and I should venture East or further South. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Also, if you can recommended any landings that are safe and/or those to avoid it will be a great help too.

Thanks,
Jonathan

I intend to fish the majority of spring break as well, same week as you. I'll be down in Powderhorn the first weekend. Day off then hit up one of four places depending on conditions, Bolivar peninsula, GISP, San Bernard or Sabine Pass area. I kayak so I can put in anywhere. Galveston does get a lot of pressure but I assure you if I went into a different marsh every day for the rest of my life, I couldn't finish Galveston. I'll go take a peek at a tide chart and wind direction and come back with more. I am really not the man to talk to about trout fishing as I hunt reds mostly but my trout buddies are drifting in the bays. They say trout can be had throughout Trinity and East Bay easily. You can launch at Thompson's Bait camp for easy access. I know a guy that guides that area. I'll post his number up later. MAybe he can point you in the right direction or even go out on your own boat.

Yeah, they arent cheap...but they stay on the hook, cast after cast. So they are cheaper than live bait in the long run.

Yes, they work ! For an extra "kick", if the trout are finicky, I'll tip the hook that's protruding from a GULP or Sand eel with a tiny piece of shrimp sometimes.