Im heading to port a this Sunday for a week. I never catch anything. Can anyone help this freshwater fisherman?

What rigs are best?
Live bait vs dead bait?

Thanks for any help you can provide

Catch in the surf I mean

Hey Popeman, I will be there also. Our game plan depending on the surf conditons, is hit the Surf early and late for trout, top waters, free line shrimp or mulet. During the day go between Port A and Aransas Pass. There is alot of info on the this site just search for it

Good Luck

Went on vacation there for last 12 summers with the family. I was only one who liked fishing so had to venture out on my own. With my luck the winds were almost always against me. I have an additional recommendation, the packery channel and/or jetties.

Should be find a lot of info by doing a search. Had my best luck there. Have caught specks, a few flounder, pompano. Seen kings and sharks caught near the end. Best success for trout that I saw was with croaker that can be had usually a short distance away in Corpus.

Fishing at night with lights off the Packery jetties can be a killer too. Saw some guys load up on them.

After many unsuccessful surf wades I started going there. No guarantees but in my exp it was the best fishing around there unless you road a ferry/boat ride to the North Port A jetties.

packery channel at night is good if you get there early and get a spot..is crowded
North or south Jetty is equal good in summer-IF-the water is greenish to clear..If brown water in jetty..forget it.
The surf...I like best ...water is greenish to clear..even better..early and late..johnson silver or gold sprite spoons,,new penny gulp shrimp on jig head..or big rattle traps in chrome/blue back or black..or trap in firetiger..Fresh baits rig carolina rig style..I use fresh shrimp--fresh freshwater med size shade..or live mullet--or live sand ghost shrimps..wade to second sand bars or out to the third bar and cast to guts....cast past third sandbar to the gut..Be ready..as soon as your bait hits the water count to five and your will have a fish or your bait will be gone..if throwing lures as described..begin casting clockwise to counter clock wise..you will get hit....these will catch Trout,Reds,Pomps,spanish macks,lots of great eating whiting..
You feel a slight bump or nudge or bump to your body walk back quick to shallower water at a steady motion.The sharks are testing to make sure you are not a fish.I is ok,but don't stand there and wonder what was that..?

good luck

Where are the packry jetties? Thank u all for the assistance. This is my 15th year there and I'm on my own or with my young girls and nephews so figuring things out there is tough. This year I'm determined!

Will be at mustang towers

Good directions here: http://visitcorpuschristitx.org/Surfing/Hot_Spots.cfm

Additional info.

http://packerychannel.justgofishin.com/

http://www.stxmaps.com/go/packery-channel-jetties.html

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/may/31/packery-the-other-jetty/

Like this part most

So free line means just tie a hook and connect the shrimp? Do you hook it through the tail or behind the head?

Free line your bait is just that...Tie the hook on your line with a good knot to your line...no weight...and place/cast your live bait..shad,herring,perch,shrimp,crab...cast out and let him swim free till he gets eaten.keep your line a little tight to feel the bump/hit ..

shrimp ...hook them through as shown...

This may receive a "laugh at" or two, but our annual trip consists of wading into knee-waist high water right at the surf, 30-50ft from the beach. We use fish bites in shrimp flavor, in about a 2X2 square inch piece. We fish near bottom, and catch tons of whiting. Thrown in the occasional trout and skip jack, and you have a great time on your hands.
I know that whiting are great eating fish. And the ones we catch at PA are between 10 and 20 inches.
Super fun. We don't have to worry any longer if the trout will be there in the lights, or if a dolphin is gonna come into our lights.
The only worry we have is the drunk beach go-ers wandering in front of our lines.
Just a suggestion. Its very relaxing not having any worries about fish. Just shuffle your feet and tap the water with the tip of your rod and the rays will leave you alone.
Have a good time, and please post a report. Our trip is pretty soon, too.

heading to port a this mid week...i will fish off the packery channel, bob hall pier and the surf... i will give a report on my fishing trip.....