[SpanishFly33]

For as long as I can remember I've locked myself into live bait when fishing the surf...I was only going a couple times a year but have since moved closer to the shore and really want to get into throwing more artificials. I've always fished live shrimp/mud minnows/mullet or whatever I caught in the net but recently have begun to make the switch. Got out to SLP today and I threw some 3" shrimp (New Penny) Saltwater Gulp in the surf. Caught a couple nice whiting and a lot of what I tihnk was some sort of mackerel. The mackerel had some bad teeth and kept tearing the Gulp in half. Anyway, I was using a small 1/4 jig head for the hook but realized I didn't really know what I was doing. If anyone can give me some tips as to what kind of set up works best in certain conditions I would greatly apreciate it. Tired of killing fish that swallow treble hooks! By the way, I'm using a 7' All Star med action...don't know if this is best either!

 

[jabx1962]

Get together 6 artificial lures...A couple soft plastic's, Topwater, Sinker...and a Gold and Silver Spoon...

Try to consistently use the Lures you pick out...do whatever it takes to not throw live bait..

You may get skunked a few times, but at some point you will start catching fish.After you develop a confidence in lure fishing..it's difficult to fish live bait..

 

[shead]

I am making the move too. I have been throwing sft plastics and spoons and like them both. I've used plastics for years but spoons, eh, never did like 'em. Now I am a believer. I was always working them wrong.

I want to use plugs too, but haven't been successful with them yet. Soon, very soon.

Its also confidence. If you believe in a lure you are prone to work it more attentively, I believe in spoons and soft plastics, and know the other stuff works too. But if I were to put a newfangled lure in a wierd color scheme, say green and purple with orange stripes, I'd be so unconfident that I'd never catch fish on it. Unless by chance I actually DID by accident catch one. Confidence goes up once you start getting some bites and hookups.

I used a clear/holo Tsunami swimming bait yesterday, didn't really expect much but with the clear water and little glass fish out there I figured I'd try - hooked and landed two large whiting in 20 minutes. And they say whiting don't go for lures. I like these baits now.

 

[SpanishFly33]

I am making the move too. I have been throwing sft plastics and spoons and like them both. I've used plastics for years but spoons, eh, never did like 'em. Now I am a believer. I was always working them wrong.

I want to use plugs too, but haven't been successful with them yet. Soon, very soon.

Its also confidence. If you believe in a lure you are prone to work it more attentively, I believe in spoons and soft plastics, and know the other stuff works too. But if I were to put a newfangled lure in a wierd color scheme, say green and purple with orange stripes, I'd be so unconfident that I'd never catch fish on it. Unless by chance I actually DID by accident catch one. Confidence goes up once you start getting some bites and hookups.

I used a clear/holo Tsunami swimming bait yesterday, didn't really expect much but with the clear water and little glass fish out there I figured I'd try - hooked and landed two large whiting in 20 minutes. And they say whiting don't go for lures. I like these baits now.

Shead, I know exactly what you're talking about with the confidence thing. Today was the first time I've ever actually caught anything in saltwater with non-live bait. I too caught two decent sized whiting but on shrimp Gulps. Curious, how do you hook up your soft plastics and how do you tie on your spoons? What kind of spoons have you had the most success with? Do you use a leader line?

 

[goatruckman]

Shead, I know exactly what you're talking about with the confidence thing. Today was the first time I've ever actually caught anything in saltwater with non-live bait. I too caught two decent sized whiting but on shrimp Gulps. Curious, how do you hook up your soft plastics and how do you tie on your spoons? What kind of spoons have you had the most success with? Do you use a leader line?

the is my opinion on this post.

on spoons i like to use a flourocarbin leader with small barrel swivel attatching it to main line. on my spoon i always put a split ring because the spoon can be harsh tying direct.

I am very fond of Johnson Sprites and Silver Minnows

On my soft plastics, ive never used gulp, i love my bass assassin 4 inch seashad on a 1/16 oz bass assassin screwlock jig head tyed direct to main line. i use the bass assassin at first but since they are so soft if you catch two trout there pretty much done for. after i find the fish i will switch to a Texas Tackle Factory Red Killer or the New Killer Flats Minnow. That flats minnow cought my eye the first time i saw it in GCC. The reason for switching is they are a more durable firm plastic

Hope this helps. any more questions feel free to ask

 

[Cactus]

I tie a loop knot on topwaters and spoons. it gives better action and presentation than a regular knot IMO. Also, IMO, i like light action rods for arties because it makes it easier to feel bites/bottom/grass.

Also, they say silver spoons catch trout and gold spoons catch reds. Personally i have had more success with the gold with both specs and reds. and i dont leave home with out leaderline.

 

[SpanishFly33]

thanks for the help fella's. I'll def. try out the Bass Assasins for no other reason than the fact that the GULP are so expensive. When you hook your plastics do you hide the hook much like you would in freshwater? Any thoughts on Mirrolures or other Topwaters for the surf?

 

[anomaly]

Normally the hook goes all the way through the body.

However, the guys that won the redfish cup last weekend won using a bullet weight above a "bass worm hook" on a gulp minnow. They were working the jetties and were able to cast in to the holes without getting hung. Pretty neat idea. Payed off, they won $40K.

 

[SpanishFly33]

Normally the hook goes all the way through the body.

However, the guys that won the redfish cup last weekend won using a bullet weight above a "bass worm hook" on a gulp minnow. They were working the jetties and were able to cast in to the holes without getting hung. Pretty neat idea. Payed off, they won $40K.

Not sure what you mean by all the way through the body. Could you explain please? This is all great information for someone like myself that has no clue how to start using artificials! Thanks!

 

[goatruckman]

hook all the way through the body, sorry who ever put these on didnt do a good job but you can get the idea

 

[SpanishFly33]

awesome, thanks GOA, I was actually doing that part right at least!

 

[SpanishFly33]

what type of rod do yall feel is the best for using artificials? 7ft? 8ft? line weight?

 

[Aggieangler]

I like a 7 foot 6 inch titanium class rod for plastics with braided line. The sensitivity is incredible. I am not sure how it would do in the surf though. It works well wading and drifting all day long for me!

 

[goatruckman]

the 8 footer will be too heavy. well for me it was so i broke it and exchanged it for a 7' 6" Texas Tackle Factory Trout Killer. Very nice for 59 bucks. But you can also get the Trout Tamer, it has the exposed blank under the reel seat which hightens the sensitivity. The tamer runs 89 i believe. I have the red tamer for my top waters and plugs. I also have quite a few 7' 6" Allstars. I like the 7' 6" because you can get quite a bit more distance on your cast. I use curados and have no problem driftin into a slick with a heavy wind and castin to them a bunch of times before your over the slick. as well in the surf you can reach the fish just outa reach of the other guys :wink:

 

[super cat]

Try the Exude soft plasics, they have the scent like the gulp, but last longer andare not messy and they do catch more fish.