Tips for a bass fisherman new to salt - Port A

So I fish bass 2-3x a week, but I haven't fished at the coast in 50 years. In Port A for 5 days to hang with my kids, but I'd like to do a bit of fishing as well. I'll probably just give anything I catch away because I don't have a grill here, so species isn't that important. I didn't even bring my tackle box, just some jig heads, spoons, offset hooks 2, 3, 4, 5, white paddle tails, Norton's, Gulps, and spoons. Could also use live shrimp Brought a coupe of spinning rods one with 30braid to 20floro, the other 15 braid to 15floro.

So do I fish on the bay side and if so any pointers where? Or do I fish off the jetty or peer. Just really have no idea. I'll search some YouTube's as well. I may try and grab a guide Tues but will probably fish a few hours other days as my kids will sleep in later than me. If anyone has a guide recommendation let me know.

Thanks for any advice.

Nothing beats the surf when it's flat. When it's not, look for bayside areas with grass and potholes. Then find the small changes there.

Saltwater fish are far less picky about colors, bright when it's sunny, dark when it's not.

If you get up and the surf looks like this, go NOW.

There are several good places to fish from the shore, although many of the public piers were damaged in the last hurricane and had not been repaired last time I was there. There is still shore fishing even if the piers are not repaired. Roberts point Park is located from the ferry to the harbor entrance. You can fish along the shore or off the pier if it is open. There is a public pier and shore fishing at Cline’s Landing at the end of N Station St. and a pier and shore fishing along Port St. (locally called Charlie’s Pasture), west of the ferry. You can also fish the south jetty and the wall adjacent to it. If none of that works you can cross the ferry and head toward Aransas Pass. There is shore and pier fishing off that road too. If you go to the jetty be very careful on the wet rocks. They are like ice. Let us know how you do.

You might also consider a 4 hour trip out of Dolphindocks. My wife and I have done very well with them in October.

Awesome. thx for the info. I was planning on trying the south jetty, Roberts Point park, and somewhere on the bay. Kind of a drive back, but I've always seen guys fishing shallow water pretty soon after you turn left from the main road coming to the seashore before you get to Mustang. Looks shallow,, but the 2 times I've come through here I've seen 8-10 people fishing that spot. Took me several years to get even a decent understanding of bass and the ocean just seems like it would have more variables. But bass can be finicky. They tend to feed early morning, last hour before dark. If the water's cold you gotta go super slow. Colors do matter. Stuff like that.

Following this. Used to fish saltwater a lot back on the west coast but want to try the gulf.

Looks like the surf may be a good option in a day or two after it settles. Cruise the beachfront and look for birds working or even just congregating along the beachfront. Also look for bait concentrations. Wade out to the first bar and work the guts outside and inside of it with your spoons and paddletails. Should be some good surf fishing this week.

The biggest hurdle bass guys have to get over, they just can't believe how shallow saltwater fish will be.

When you realize the only threat to a six pound trout is out there deep, it starts to make more sense.

To be fair I've got a lot of 6-7lb bass in 1-2 FOW. They're mudders too, but for different reasons. Especially in the spring looking for warming water.

When I really want to catch fish, I use bait. Shrimp under a cork will get trout, ladyfish, and other species. Shrimp on the bottom will almost always get hit by something. Mullet will catch redfish and big trout. Live or fresh dead is best. If you catch a ladyfish, cut it in cross sections and throw that out on the bottom. Be careful with hardhead catfish and stingrays.

Following as well. Heading to Palacios next weekend and staying on the bay. Taking 2 baitcasters and spinner bass rigs. What is the best way to clean the reels and rods when I come home

I just brought some $80 spinning reels and left my good bait casters at home.

Give them a good freshwater rinse when you come in. Then take apart and lube when you get home.

I just rinse off the reels with water every evening and rinse them again when I get home, and keep on fishing.

Leave your bass boats at home fellas, twitch twitch reel, twitch twitch reel will become your friend. Power pro braid 20lbs on a spinning rig, medium light rod, 1/8 ounce jig heads, down south lure (under a oval weightless foam cork or without cork). Chicken on a chain is a pretty universal color. Find the jumping bait, structure is way more subtle, wade and shuffle those feet on the bottom. Read the new fishing laws that changed because of the freeze. Don't try and lip those specks with your thumb, lol

Pat - on a day like this, do you fish in the first gut, or do you wade out to the sandbar?

Make sure to rinse the eyes of your rod too. If you are using a freshwater lure, rinse that too.

I also like to take a dish sponge and a little dawn and wash off the rod at the end of the trip.

Heading down there this weekend for sand fest, taking my stuff just in case I have time to fish.

What he said.....^^^^^^^