First let me say I know next to nothing about saltwater fishing. My wifes step dad wants to make another trip to either Port Oconner or Galveston (or another spot if you know a good one) again this year. This time he wants to stay in the bay areas and fish with our regular bass gear and lures, live bait is an option but we both would prefer artificials. I am wondering what species to maybe target? What kind of artificial baits to use? Where to fish, like cover and structure to look for? Any special tackles we need to use like leaders or line? We just want to go out and catch some fish!!! He has a 22' Champion center console if that makes any difference. Any general information on this subject will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Cliff

I don't know where it is you'll be fishing, but it's pretty much the same around the Country/world. Successfull fishing in bays, inlets, rivers,etc depends mostly on the tide (incoming or outgoing). Either tide will produce fish, but slack tide (when going from hi to low or low to hi) usually sucks.

Saltwater trout, snook, tarpon, red fish, lady fish can all be caught on artificial bait (lures) and are generally more fun to catch with artificial. Those species can also be caught on regular bass tackle, providing you're not fishing around lots of structure.

Tide doesn't affect ocean fishing, but current does. Generally, bass gear is too small for ocean fishing.

I suggest checking with the local tackle shop nearby where you're going to be fishing.

Red, I grew up on the Louisiana/Texas gulf coast & when I aint on the Bend I live 30 miles from the coast.

Anywhere from Port Isabel on South Padre Island to Port Bolivar on Galveston Bay would be excellent. My selections would be Port Lavaca/Matagorda, Port Aransas, & the Baffin Bay area. In these areas you will have hundreds of miles of somewhat protect inland waters with amazing speckled trout & red fishing.

As for tackle your bass rods/reels is what most guys use down here, lures include lead head jigs with some type of plastic, hard top water lures, & spoons. Lighter action rods & lighter line is also the standard.

Many people use live shrimp or live Pogy fished under a popping cork but Berkley Gulp will produce just as well & better in most instances.

What to look for is moving tides & birds.

Moving water moves the bait which in turn moves the fish, look for cuts going into bays & marshes. Watch for birds circling & diving because they are feeding on schools of shrimp or bait fish.

I would follow Catt's suggestions, exactly the way I would fish that area....................but spinning for me of couurse, lol.

Berkley® Gulp!® Alive!™ Shrimp New Penny

H&H Lure Original Cocahoe 4" Minnows™ glow/chartreuse, glow/red, watermelon/red

H&H Lure 3" Sparkle Beetle Glow/Glitter

Heddon® Super Spook™ 5"

Johnson® Sprite® Lure Spoon

MirrOlure® Top Dog Jr.® or She Dog®

Norton Sand Eel Jr glow/chartreuse

Paul Brown's Original Series Corky 3-5/8" Suspending Jerk Bait

Rage Tail Salt Water Series manufactured with the new Elaztech Material

Quality lead head jigs with a long shank round bend hook in 1/4 & 3/8 oz

Thanks for the info guys, I passed it along to my partner, he knows more aboiut it than me and may have some of those baits already. Keep the tips coming, I can never get enouigh.

Thanks

Cliff

Thanks for the info guys, I passed it along to my partner, he knows more aboiut it than me and may have some of those baits already. Keep the tips coming, I can never get enouigh.

Thanks

Cliff

They've got you covered but I'll add one thing: Gulp 4" chartreuse swimming mullet. Fished on a 1/8-3/4 oz jig head depending on current. Fish just like a jighead and grub in a stream... swing it in the current. It is really hard to beat for flounder, trout, and reds if there is any amount of low visibility in the water. Works great for me in NC with the same species you'll likely be chasing down that way.

If redfish are around It is hard to beat a 1/4 oz chatterbait at times especially when there is a lot of wind/wave activity. I use no skirt,gold blades, and shad bodies,flukes,paddle tail grubs for trailers. The z-man flashback minnow is an incredible bait in shallow water!

Any Salwater bay fishing I would use 3" Big Hammer swimbait with 1/4 oz to 3/8 Oz ball leadhead in Keylime pattern. Cast out and let it fall then very slow retrieve. Dropshooting 5" white Zoom Fluke or Berkly Saltwater Jerkshad will also be effective if your not getting a bite on swimbait. If you see boils/fish feeding frenzy, I would throw in Zara Spook Jr in Okie shad pattern.

As mentioned before Catt knows the area and his advice is right on. I fish saltwater every day and have done so thruout the world, General inshore rule, find the bait you have found the fish, If the fish are feeding the baits are not really that important, they hit anything, but day in and day out nothing beats a spoon..............period. What we are experiencing in certain parts of Florida is too much bait, and using artis is a tough go, I casted 4 or 5 times this week into a mullet frenzy ( snook and tarpon everywhere) for over 45 minutes with everything in the bag and not a strike, this is not uncommon.

This is the most exciting time of the year in South Florida, bait fish are coming in, the weather is getting rough and windy from the NE which brings in the fish. First to arrive are the lady fish, this year they have been exceptionally big for that species. Ladyfish, aka poormans tarpon, are great fun, only 5# but make runs like bonefish, but not shy like bonies. Soon to come in will be bluefish and jacks, jacks can run upwards of 40#, they are the ultimate warrior.