Corpusfishing.com

bigmike585

Alright, finally got a PINS fishing trip planned so im gearin up and getting excited. I wanted to get some info from you experts on what the conditions have been like recently and what yall think they may be like May 15, 16, 17??? This will be my 3rd trip down there in the last 4 yrs (i dont get to go as often as i'd like to), so im still kinda a newb at it. On my first trip, we camped down there for 3 nights, had a blast and landed numerous sharks(biggest: 6'1" Blacktip prego), would have had more but catching bait turned into an issue. Anyway, we are takin the kayaks and all our shark rigs in hopes of a big Tiger. Got a few questions for you regulars:

- Any suggestions on finding fresh or frozen bonita? or something along the same line, but, cheaper than the bait shops around port A or corpus. I was gonna see if the grocery store had anything comparable in quality but cheaper in price.

- Anyone ever attempted to kayak baits out at night?

- Any bait suggestions as far as big Tigers are concerned? Ive heard Jacks are the best but not sure if I will be able to catch em.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, if any of you have interesting stories involving PINS, I wanna hear em. If they have already been posted here, maybe just post link. I wanna learn everything I can about shark fishing down there. Thanks!

Mr. Green

Blast-n-Cast · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1142

Well I have not been down since last weekend but I posted a lengthy report here http://www.corpusfishing.com/messageboard/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10579

As far as kayaking baits out at night. I have have done it but it can get kinda scary if the moon is not out and you dont have good lights. Just make sure someone on the beach has a light on for you as a reference point to get back.

As far as the baits are concerned the bait bucket in the bluff stocks string rays and if you call around some of the bait stands carry jacks etc.

gonefishing

Hoggeman · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:17 am Post subject: Bait

I used to swim baits at night during a tournament in pursuit of a money fish and have had a reel stripped while swimming my second bait when I used to fish by myself. Now that I have kids I take less risk and would recommend you do the same. You can cast a 9 OT with a whole skip jack to the back side of the second gut with less risk and I would only yak bait if it was calm and a full moon. I have been fishing the beach for 28 years and still fish whole jack fish on a 16 OT waiting for the 1000# Tiger. In the old days we used to use a bait shark up to 5 ft and now we practice only catch and release. Tarpon was also available for bait after the tourists had taken the photos at fisherman’s wharf. We have had a fish on for 3 hours and lost it on 80#’s of mid section while camping on the oil rigs close to shore. We buy our bait from a seafood company out of Houston for tournaments, a case of fresh Bonita runs about $50. We will use up to a case a night (fish & beer). We also bring AKA bait boys, friends who are happy just catching whiting and skip jacks. We also make a few offshore trips for bait a few times a year when the jacks are schooling and fill the freezer. I live in Dallas now and make sure all my friends who make it down to the coast know to save bait for me. I am still waiting for my turn to land a release a fish that haunts my dreams.
Hoggeman
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Fin in the wind

bigmike585 · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:40 am Post subject:

hog-

As far as kayaking baits at night, I was thinking about using two way radio's and the truck headlamps as a beacon (pt of reference0, that is if its calm with plenty of moon light. Do you think I will be able to catch jacks down there right now? Whats this best bait to catch a jack? Also, I think we will have plenty of "bait boys" down there with us this trip, so catching some sort of bait shouldnt be an issue (knock on wood). Any other suggestions?

kadiyaker · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

I've yakked many a baits out at night in various conditions , most went successfully. If the moon is out, the surf calm and you have planned for every possible scenario that could go wrong, everything should be alright. Hey I was planning on making a trip down that same weekend - PM me if you want to meet up down there.
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Hoggeman · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:00 am Post subject:

The best way to catch a jack in dirty water is on cut horse mullet (read the parks and wildlife book for when you are allowed to do so) in the back side of a deep first gut. In clear water on large spoons that you can cast a long distance ( hunt the beach and look for signs of Bait or birds working). I also hang around the party boats in Port A with some cash. You have to explain to the tourist that the are not good eating and offer to buy the fish for 5-10 bucks.
LOL Hoggeman
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Fin in the wind

bigmike585 · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:40 am Post subject:

I appreciate all the responses guys. I really wanna catch a big jack to bait up with. I think it may be possible because we will have plenty of friends with us fishing.

Any other suggestions?

Hog-

Did you says "camped" on an oil rig platform???
Never even thought of that. Where was this?

THE_BLUFF_RAT · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Bait

Hoggeman · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 10:09 am Post subject:

It is not a safe thing to do and you need a small boat like a zodiac you can head out of the Packery channel or the surf. You scout the area looking for a rig that is unmanned with ropes hanging down. Go light with two shark rigs, a tarp, Flash light, a sleeping bag and a small ice chest. Clime on the rig an hour before dark and watch for crew boats. You set up on the platform below the helicopter pad and hang your baits over the side then use the zodiac to run the baits off each side. You have to fish up high so when you get a big fish on and it starts to circle you can hand your rod to your friend around the pilings , the pilings are to wide at the base . There is a switch that you can use a rope to shut the noise off with. You can catch blue runners for king fish baits in the middle of the rig and float them out on a balloon.
LOL Hoggeman

Its like fishing on a BBQ grill 40 feet above the water with lots of ways to get hurt
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Fin in the wind

bigmike585 · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

So, I have some whole chickens in the freezer we slaughtered a year ago. Wonder if those would do for bait if I had to resort to that???

Hoggeman · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject:

We have tried chickens and had no luck. You can catch a large shark on smaller baits. When fishing over night you need a big bait to make it through the night because of the crabs and small fish eating your bait. We have swam out to our shark baits with a snorkel and mask you just won't believe the life around a whole jack on the bottom. Yak large baits out 400-500 yards and cast smaller baits on the back side of the second gut.
LOL Hoggeman
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Fin in the wind

bigmike585 · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Hog-

I'm guessing the only reason you would swim out to your bait at night (with fins and a mask and underwater light) is to check on it, as so not to have to reel it in and yak out another bait???? I have never even thought of doing that, and call me a pansy but, im not sure i want to.

BIG LONG · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 4:56 am Post subject:

Hog, your insane....Ive spearfished at night around packery for flounder and such, but swim out to my shark bait, at night, down pins is NUKIN FUTZ! I wanna go watch ya do this lol.... Very Happy

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seanu21 · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:14 am Post subject:

bigmike585 - I was down to the Mansfield Jetty two weeks ago. Caught a nice 32" jack from the Packery with live finger mullet fished on the bottom. Mullet is all I've ever caught them on. I'm also gonna be down there this weekend Thurs night-Sunday afternoon somewhere along that 60 mile stretch. May try for the jetty Thursday night and get some more bait and then find a nice spot Friday morning to set up camp.

I drive the Tacoma in the pic on this link, stop by camp if you are out there.
http://extremecoast.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13371

Sean