Changing things up!

[Capt. BassinLou]

No, I'm not on the wrong forum.  Changing things up this week. Fishing over the West Coast. This is the one only time of year I surf fish. This year, I decided to use only live bait that I caught. This year's bait? Sand fleas. So far, I have caught a pretty good amount. I only had one strike so far, and it was a good one!
I messed up and didn't loosen my drag enough on my reel, which was perched on a rod holder, spiked in the sand. One second, the rod was sitting there. The next, the rod buckled over, and the rod spike fell over, and the fish was dragging my rod!! By the time I ran over to pick up the rod, the fish was gone!!      I will try again this evening!!

[Pferox]

Have fun, catch a bunch.

Man I have such a hard time finding sand fleas.  I think it must be the time of year I decide to look for em or something.

Try using circle hooks, they seem to hookup and hold better with baits.  And you don't have to set it at all.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Have fun, catch a bunch.

Man I have such a hard time finding sand fleas.  I think it must be the time of year I decide to look for em or something.

Try using circle hooks, they seem to hookup and hold better with baits.  And you don't have to set it at all.

Thank you, sir. Surf fishing is not my forte. But I watched several surf fishing videos, and the info paid off.

Made a few dropper rigs and watched how to find sand fleas.



Finding the sand fleas keeps me busy.



And I have been using 1/0 circle hooks.



I fish a few hrs in the morning and then a couple more hrs in the evening.

Pretty fun!

[Hobious]

where on the west coast? 

i need to get back to Surf Perching.  so fun, and they are kinda delicsous.

i use the berkeley blood worm almost exclusively.  so fun.  i wear waders and step into the water to gain more distance.

[Capt. BassinLou]

where on the west coast? 

i need to get back to Surf Perching.  so fun, and they are kinda delicsous.

i use the berkeley blood worm almost exclusively.  so fun.  i wear waders and step into the water to gain more distance.

I'm so sorry, I meant the West, Gulf coast of FL. I forgot that I'm not posting on the FL forums.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Productive evening yesterday. My son caught a pompano, and we each caught a couple of whiting. This morning was pretty slow. Only caught one pompano.
I also woke up extremely sore due to the fact I spent hrs looking for bigger sand fleas yesterday. Lol!!

[Pferox]

I used #1 to 2/0 hooks on most of my rigs. 

I had a 9 foot rod with 20lb braid and about 40lb leader about 20 feet long.  This would work as a shock leader to keep from loosing a heavy weight.  Would hate to accidently kill someone when a 6 oz spider weight would break loose on the backside of a cast and hit someone in the head.

I could actually make it to the 2nd glut on a good cast from shore, although it is easier to wade out a bit, but I'm chicken poop when it came to that.

Uncooked salad shrimp fit perfectly on up to 1/0 hooks and cast great, and work well as bait.  Also fishbites, in pink are good for Pompano.  Try different flavors, although I usually used shrimp or crab.

Sorry I'm late at for this, but well, I'm finally getting sort of coherent again.
 

[Donald Garner]

Lou good luck and have fun with your son.  I've never been surf fishing before.  I guess its kinda like fishing the rivers from the banks.  I grew up fishing the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers up in St. Louis, Missouri from the banks with my Grandpa.

We used cut bait, night crawlers, livers and Wheaties Balls.  We would catch catfish, freshwater drum, carp.  It was all fun and great times for a young teenager.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks guys, we are going out again this evening for a little while again.

[Capt. BassinLou]

We struck out yesterday evening, and so far this morning, just a single catfish.
Beautiful morning, though.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Just one whiting during the morning session. Hopefully the evening bite today will be much better.

[big g]

Enjoy your stay!  Your son his really grown since those alley days.  Have fun!

[Capt. BassinLou]

We had a fantastic family surf fishing finale!  The kids caught 3 juvenile permit and whiting!