Posted by: Beachbum on July 30, 2004 at 01:51:01:
In Reply to: Surf Fishing Posted by: ParrotHead on July 30, 2004 at 00:32:54:
Yes, the 2nd gut is easy to reach.
As with bay wading, everybody's got their own ways ... and in some respects, it depends on how you wade the surf.
I prefer to use a vest, but I rarely go swimming in it (out to the 3rd bar). It will carry everything I need easily, and doesn't necessitate stuff around my waist. If you like to go to the 3rd bar a lot, a vest might be a bit cumbersome unless you have one of the ones that doubles as a floatation vest. I remove a lot of the stuff I carry when wading the bay if I get in the surf, just so I don't have as much to rinse out later (I don't usually douse the entire vest while bay fishing, but in the surf it's unlikely to NOT happen).
Unless you are comfortable hand grabbing fish, and losing one once in a while ... take a net along.
I prefer a stringer ... LONG, good float ... and attach it in a way you can easily release (re: ... recent shark encounters!).
I do not carry an extra rod ... you are normally not far from your vehicle when wading the surf ... if a change is needed ... go in and switch.
Lures ... a matter of choice ... topwaters are often quite productive early (do NOT take your eyes off them for long if gulls are about!!) ... but that bite seldom lasts much into solid daylight this time of year (water temps up) ... soft plastics and baitfish immitations both produce well, as do spoons. You may want to have a few leaders of either heavy mono, steelon, or something similar ready in case spanish and/or bluefish are about ... they WILL cut you off in a heartbeat ... personally, I prefer to not use a leader unless forced to by the toothy critters like those.
Can't answer about the bait ... don't use it ... LOL!!
: 1) I'm a tad confused on the "guts". I assume the second is easy to get to?
: 2) what are the essential items to have if you are going to wade the surf seriously? (i.e. belt, net, rod holder, floating stringer, net, something to hold the artificials in, etc.)
: 3) where is the best place to pick up live shrimp if i decide to wimp out on the way down from houston to surfside?
: thanks for the refresher