Rookie Questions!

[J.R.]

Hey guys I'm looking for a little beginners info for fishing the bays. I usually put in on the galveston side of the causeway and start under the bridge then make my way up the channel and out the jettis if the water isnt too rough. I'm being told that this time of year its best to fish the shallower areas so I was thinking of fishing along the rocks next to the causeway on the way to the entrance to the channel. Ive only had my boat since march and have been fishing for about 2 years on and off. The route I described earlier is really the only route I know and having no depth finder I'm nervous about just wondering around the bay systems. Also ive never tried artificials so any advice on some beginner lures would be apreciated as well!...The floor is all yours boys, keep the punches above the belt please!!

[Xpress89]

Google Earth, Hook N Line maps, a depth finder, and just explore. Instead of leaving the causeway to go to the jetties, put in at the yacht basin. Cuts your ride in half.... Cruise around on a low tide and you will be able to see all the structure and shell... Im no expert, but there are alot of guys here that know West Bay really good and im sure they will respond with their advice. In my opinion the color of plastic to throw depends on the water clarity and conditions. Throw Gulp, it always works lol Whatever you throw work it slow with the water temps dropping.

[J.R.]

Yeah im lookin for a depth finder now, thanks for the info!

[Curmudgeon]

Get someone from here that knows the bays and take them fishing to show you where and how to go, or you could hire a guide. And Xpress is right about gulp. The chartreuse curly tails are great for flounder and the pearl shrimp are good for anything else. They were my starter plastics a few years back.

[Baby Tran Cat]

x2 on what Curmudgeon said. You pay the gas on your boat and take someone fishing...you will learn

[Robalo]

All the above. Just be darn careful about rocks, reefs, obstructions and also respect other fishermen and hopefully they show the same respect. Maybe hire a guide or two and learn some new areas. study those hooksetter maps and look for what you think is doable with your rig/boat and give it a try-ya never know unless ya try a spot and remember, sometimes (most of the time) any spot can produce, it depends a lot on tides, temps, pressures and presentation.

[OR19]

I like to put in where Fat Boys used to be on the Mainland side of the causeway...you have quick access to Jones, the causeway, Virginia Point area, Upper West Bay. Learn Meacoms Cut, best way to get into Upper West. Lots of good winter fishing around Meacoms, N/S Deer Island, Confederate reef in the winter...drifting is the best way to fish this area, unless you like to get out of the boat...Go slow if you don't know the area...I've hit most of the known reefs and some of the unknown ones you will survive as long as you aren't hauling a**...my boat doesn't get skinny so unless it's really low water you can navigate these areas. Soft plastic are hard to beat in the winter...I think they out fish live this time of year. Good luck.

[FP3]

get on those plastics kid !

Proceed with caution with the boat stuff --- learn the bay systems, along with one of these guys above in your boat !

[SUPER SPOOK]

cocahoe minnows are good plastics to learn with. you can real them straight in or bounce them off the bottom like shrimp tails. If you buy some get the queens and made in the USA if you can find them, easier to cast and catch bigger fish. they are still almost the only plastic I use.

[J.R.]

Thanks for all the info guys!! I picked up some cocahoes double rigs, chartreuse with red tails. A buddy of mine recommended them as well. He also recommended Virginia Point so I'll be putting on the island side of the causeway and working the bridge then over the virginia point then on up the channel to seawolf park shoreline. My little brother has never caught a bull red so I promised to take him out the end of the jettis and see if we can get him one. Thanks again guys, I'll post pics if we get into em'!!!!

[gus12343]

all great info...I always love using ttf trout killers to start off with but I tend to end up using the classic Gold Spoon

[KennyWayne]

all great info...I always love using ttf trout killers to start off with but I tend to end up using the classic Gold Spoon

Rudy Grigar once said if he was stranded on an island and only had one lure, it would be a gold spoon.I remember his station wagon had lure signs all over it, Cotton Cordell and others but Not Johnson Lure Co. With an endorsement like that I don't know why they didn't sign him!

[J.R.]

Also bought the Norton bull minnow-pearl salt&pepper chartreuse tail with 1/4 jig heads so i'll give these a try first and go from there...sure ill end up throwing out a live shrimp under a cork while using the lures....Hope to see yall at the fund raiser!

[revrusty]

Love your tag about Hillary. You drinking the tea, like me? If so, we oughta talk.