Long story short I am ending my spring break in port a next week and I need help. Usually when I go down I use some pretty minor tackle with mediocre results but this year I mean business. Why sharks? Simple, I love the fight and reflecting on why we are top of the food chain. I purchased a 6 foot trolling rod with a penn 114h(for pier) orrrrr I also bought a 10 ft spinning rig, rigged with 40lb test. I purchased a 12 ft castable rigs and sinkers from Charlie at m.t.'s pocket tackle (great prices and phenomenal service) so now I need help.

First, what bait and where can I get it? Usually I head out in summer but I am not used to fishing this time of year what are they biting on?

Secondly, if I need to tAke my baits out where can I rent a yak reasonably priced? What range is best? Could I get away without one by walking my baits far enough before cast?

Finally, what size and types could I expect?

I want results and have 2 days to do so. I want help. Thank you.

well you have a couplea options with what you have, with the 114h, your gonna need to buy/rent a kayak, cus there is no way your gonna be able to cast that setup, the spinning rod ,idk your experience with it nor what kind of rod it is, surfcasting takes proper equipment and practice to be effective. if its a calm day and you can wade in to the second bar and cast you MIGHT be able to get it over the 3rd to get a good distance, but then comes the question, your fishing with 40lb line, hope thats braid...if your using mono, even with size 8000 spinning reels , your not gonna land a 5+ ft shark from the surf, and if it is braid, beef up your line 50 is a minimum, 65 is excellent. SO with that in mind i advice you to fish on the jetty! sharkfishing off the jetty had known to prouce and i have caught sharks off the rocks, for bait, try to catch it, people get all technical but in all honesty sharks eat what lives around them, so catch and use what ever is around your location at the time. id say use a bait the size of your fist , i like a nice butterfly'd croaker

Good luck I will be there too I would love to fight a shark while I'm there...

Will the sharks be in this time of year?

Should be a few but the water needs to warm up some for it to really turn on, some friends went recently and caught a few bull reds but no sharks. All were trying on casted and a few yakked baits.
You sure might want to rethink your #40 line, it will work for some but the abrasion will eat it up. I use 480 yds of 100lb braid to a stainless steel cable leader on my spinning rod. One small cut on the #40 line and you have #20 line. Its an expensive trip to let line ruin a memory of a lifetime. On yakked baits I use 130lb braid with a 100lb mono topshot to a #480 cable leader.

As for baits, the easiest and most effective bait that I have used is spanish mackerel bought in the seafood department of Fiesta Foods. It is oily and stays on the hook.

I thought SMacks were game fish in TX...

I'm curious, too. Is there a difference if you buy them at the store?

well think in the prespective of a game warden..... your gonna need alot more than a receipt or a witness to somehow prove you bought it and used it (say it actually was legal). I presonally used cut whiting on my spinners and sheephead or ray's on my larger reels. i really dont see the reason ehind restricting the use of game fish as bait. I mean is it unethical?no........ and its now harming anyone

Yep, game fish are a no no. I know that gamefish species which are farm raised (hybrid striped bass, for example) fall under different regulations. That's why those tractor trailers you see have "FISH" stenciled on them.

I always buy the fish just as I am heading out (I want it fresh on ice anyway) and so the date on the receipt in my wallet is current. I always figured I had proof that I bought the mackerel, they don't have proof that I caught it wild. I always thought I was protected. I'll ask TPWD and let you know on this post.

Nothing wrong with whiting, though. I just like the oily baits.

I got a response from someone at TPWD who is the "Fisheries Law Administrator". She stated that it is unlawful to use game fish as bait "no matter where it was purchased."

Thanks for checking. I figured it was hard to enforce otherwise so they kept it simple.

Go to the shrimp boats at the docks..buy baby stingrays or get your cast net and catch some mullet
in the surf.Cut the mullet in chunks for your surf rod to cast.You will need to wade to the second sandbar which is a ways out and cast past the third bar to be effective.Yak your bait out is the best. June --July--August is the best times for sharks in the surf.They are there now and you might catch some but not a lot if any.
If you want some fish to catch and a lot of them and very good eating..catch whiting in the surf..
Carolina rig ghost shrimp on a small hook or use frozen regular shrimp.Fillet these fish and you won't find a better eating surf fish to eat.

I would often hang out at Dolphin Docks and buy some kids Bonita for $5-$10. FANTASTIC shark bait!!