Corpusfishing.com

Big Los

Hi y'all, been a while since I've logged on. I was wondering if you guys could analyze and criticize (gently, please Embarassed

) my technique for fishing with (dead) bait in the surf. It usually goes as follows:

I rig up a whole mullet/whiting/croaker on a large hook attached to one of those premade "redfish leaders" you buy from Academy. I attach a spider weight to it, wade out to the second bar and cast it as far as I can. I walk back to shore, reel in until the line is tight, then place my rod in the holder and wait. 90 percent of the time, the weed in the water is nuts, and within ten minutes, I have a gigantic clump of it caught on my line and pulling it sideways. If the weed isn't there, then my line remains tight but untouched. I'll reel in an hour later to find that my bait is either completely unmarked, or maybe nibbled on by crabs at most.

Someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong. I know fishing for shark/drum with dead bait can be productive...but I'm so horrible at it that I usually avoid it in favor of chunking artificials. Please help! Sad

_________________
Stupid things seem a lot smarter while you're doing them.

Finsonpins · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:07 pm Post subject:

Honestly I think it's a timing thing more than anything else right now. I haven't heard of any success on a mullet/whiting/croaker in the surf for the last couple months. With the weed moving in soon it'll get even worse I'd suspect, but do what your doing a little later on in the year and you should be fine. As far as your rig goes the premade ones will work ok, but you might want to go to something like a three way swivel rig.

Ol Sanch · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 320

What your doing sounds fine. But some things to try:
1. Try using a 1" or 2" piece of whiting/mullet tail. If cutting from the middle use a piece the size of ice cube. More isn't necessarily better. Chose a size that's bitesize. Use a 1/0 - 4/0 kayle hook, not the largest hook you can find.
2. Try being more purposeful in your cast. Don't just send it out as far as you can. Fish one side or the other of the bar. Fish the edges of a wash out.
3. If you don't like the weed you're going to have to go heavier or lighter. 2-6oz weights aren't going to cut it. Either use a fish finder with a small piece of mullet/dead shrimp or a heavier weight and clean the weed off the line every so often.

Keep at it. I haven't heard any beach reports either.

Hopefully you find that helpful.

Ol Sanch
_________________
Do you even fish, Bro?

AcousTennis · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 13 Sep 2010 Posts: 1319

Luck...basically it....shrimp fishbites will be your best bet i think and your doing everything right.....might try a smaller circle hook

its luck, right time right place even right spot of where the bait lands...

your not the only one bud im like 2/10 from the surf Embarassed

_________________

ziacatcher · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject:

I have to agree with finsonpins. There hasn't been much happening in the surf lately except for whiting and pomps. I did catch 2 38"-40" sharks in the last 3 weeks on cut whiting, but that has been it. As far as weeds, not much you can do about that. Between that and all the spring breakers that will be here the next few weeks, my surf fishing will be put on hold.

Keep trying and good luck. BTW, once finger mullet start showing up in the surf, so should a lot of other species.

Stinger-A · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject:

Being I am a little new to this sight, take my advice for what it's worth. When the wind is kicking towards you and the weed is thick, try to angle your cast towards the current. If the current is ripping north, cast as far right as you can, this helps the wind push the weed on your line towards the tip or your pole and easier for removal. And as far as bait, bring a variety, pink fishbites and shrimp seem to be key right now. Again, take it for what it's worth but I hope it helps.

Stinger-A

bollie · Pony Mullet Joined: 04 Mar 2011 Posts: 76

What Big Los is doing is exactly what I am doing and my success rate is very low. Mr Big Los do not give up keep doing what you are doing. I think because I live an hour and half from the beach and can not fish that often. People that frequently fish the surf is more successful because they fish more often and not tell us about all the time they get skunked. I am going to keep doing what I do and hope I hit the right spots this summer. When fish are feeding they will take your bait they do not care how it is riged

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Yes we do get skunked too! Uptiding is the name for casting your bait in the direction of the current. Imagine twelve o'clock is straight off into the surf. Say the current is coming from your right ( the south in our case and ripping ) You cast your line out to about two o'clock. That will keep your line out a bit longer though it still may blow out when you get enough weeds.

We also use sacrifice lines placed furthest south of your "good" rods. The sacrificial pole(s) can take up a lot of weed as you fish in the "shadow" of the sacrificial weed line.
_________________
Like Corpusfishing.com on Facebook!

Big Los · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips, guys. What bollie said is exactly my same situation. I am about an hour away from the coast (with no traffic...with traffic, could take two), and being married with a kid on the way I don't get down there nearly as often as I like. When I do plan a trip, it is more of a beach house vacation in which I sneak a few hours of fishing in. Not ideal by any means, but I would like to maximize my fishing time to be as effective as possible.

I have been meaning to try Fishbites...I can't find them in any stores, so I'm gonna just order some off of Amazon.
_________________
Stupid things seem a lot smarter while you're doing them.

ROBDOG · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:35 pm Post subject:

What Tyler said as far as casting up tide. Also I like to use power pro with a good weight which holds. I make my own and use larger copper wire which does not pull out of the sand as easy but keeps the weight castable. Stainless legs are too thin and pull out easy when there is weed and current factored in. I can then pump my rod without pulling the weight out and often the PP will saw through the weed. It can also help if you keep your rod tips up a high as possible which helps when the weed is close in. I also spend a decent amount of time wading out and pulling the weed off by hand. If the weed is dead and rolling on the bottom your'e just SOL. If you find someone coming off the beach ask them about the conditions further down. I have seen weed thick in one spot and barely a speck of weed a mile or two down. It's often worth the drive to check it out. Good luck.

Team Buddhahead · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:49 am Post subject:

Learn to read the beach...Suck-outs,Guts,Pinches,deep holes etc.....
_________________
It's all about the family.....

topdog15 · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:23 am Post subject:

bullshark · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:40 am Post subject: setting your wieght

You should be setting your weight while you are still out there. I let the weight sink to the bottom, reel in enough line to make sure the weight is holding, then keeping your line fairly tight walk back to shore and place in the rod holders. Otherwise while you are walking back to shore your weight could be sliding along the bottom, and your line will be collecting seaweed and you will end up with a lot of bow in your line which will wash it in quicker.
_________________
Thanks
Bruce Simons

Big Los · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 8:09 am Post subject: Re: setting your wieght

ziacatcher · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:43 am Post subject:

I very seldom get over thigh deep water when I cast. Like said already, cast to front or back of bar and not necessarily as far as you can. I find that on an incoming tide, fishing the front side of the bar works best. On the outgoing tide I find the opposite true. On a slack tide, sit back and drink beer.