I am new to salt water fishing. I have no clue on what set up I need for fishing along the gulf coast near Port A. It looks like I will be doing shore fishing mainly. Any help with gear, rigging and bait.

Thanks much

Anthony

If you bass fish or catfish in freshwater, your same gear will work fine when you hit the coast. I would stick with bait of some sort - live or dead shrimp, cast net caught or frozen menhaden (shad), mullet, pin or piggy perch, etc., and hit the jetties. You'll be alot more likely to catch fish there than trying to learn the surf fishing game on your first trip. I would get some popping corks and rig your bait about 3' or 4' under it and wonder out on the Port A south jetty a little ways and get bait in the water. Watch the fishermen around you, especially those who are putting fish in the box... Good luck, and I hope you hook up.

Just go buy a Shimano Citica 200 or Curado 200, spool it with 20lb Power Pro braid (green) and a 6'6" to 7' Falcon Coastal M or M/H action. It'll catch anything in the bays and most things in the surf.

Is there offlimit fishing areas? I'll be down there for 3 days was hopin to wet a line

If it's offlimits it'll be clearly marked...such as the Ferry Landing.