This article is not meant for the guys with Grady Whites that have their GPS systems locked in on flounder hotspots. Nor is it meant for those fellows who know all the red drum haunts and how to catch the big boys.
This article is targeted for Tommy Tourist who is taking his family to the Bay or the Outer Banks and might want to try his hand at catching a fish or two. In that regard, I offer these fishing tips for tourists.
Number one. Get the equipment right. Ninety percent of all novice saltwater fishermen use tackle better suited for blue marlin than for the smaller croakers and spot they are likely to catch. As a rule, the same outfit that you would use for bass fishing works perfectly for most saltwater fishing. The exception is if you surf fish in the ocean and need a 2- or 3-ounce sinker to hold the ocean current. Then you need a 10- to 13-foot rod, a larger capacity reel and stronger line – not so much for the fish, but to keep the sinker on this side of the Atlantic. For all other situations, a 6 or 6 ½ foot rod, and a medium sized reel with 10-pound test work perfectly.
Then, the hook size. It’s an old saying that you can catch a big fish on a small hook, but you can never catch a small fish on a big hook. Use a small hook, like a 6 or an 8, and you can catch small spot that would otherwise steal your bait with a larger hook. If the fish are running bigger, like 12-inch croakers or sea mullet, put on a larger hook. Not catching any fish even if they are nibbling is usually because the hook is too large.
For the bait, shrimp is always a good choice. Nearly every fish that swims in salt water will eat a shrimp. Peel the shrimp and cut into sizes that fit your hook – bite size, if you will. If you are targeting other fish, stop by the local tackle shop, tell them what you want to catch, and they’ll tell you which bait to use.
As for where to fish, don’t ignore shallow water, particularly in the Bay, the sounds, and tidal rivers. Nice fish, like croakers, speckled trout, and puppy drum, often cruise shallow water looking for small crabs, minnows, and other baitfish. My old friend, Capt. Howard Kruse in Deltaville caught most of his fish in less that 3 feet of water. His favorite bait (lure) was a 1/8-ounce red jig head with a 3-inch Berkley Power Grub. Keep an assortment of those in your tackle box and have confidence in using them.
The best time for fishing is whenever you can go, but when push comes to shove, the last hour of an incoming tide or an outgoing tide is ideal.
That’s it. Try your luck at saltwater fishing but be sure to hold your mouth right.