help landing the keepers

[oagu1]

Did a solo run this morning out to Bastrop Bayou right under the 227 bridge (bank fishing don't have a boat) caught some fog on the way in but once the sun came up it was just perfect. I am using Gulp shrimp and swimming mullet on a popping cork, I got action on specks all morning long but were too small to keep. I have yet to land a keeper this season May I ask from some of you saltwater gods, what else to use that will increase my chances of landing some keepers?
Here are some shots I took this morning.

[corndog]

Thanks for the report. Those are nice pics too!! Try some finger mullet sometimes the bigger fish are looking for bigger bait. If you want to stay artifical maybe try fishing a little deeper in that area. Or ditch the cork and switch to a lead head. If you are cathing the small one there are bigger ones there. Keep changing baits depth and retrieving techniques.

[buoy37]

O.A.,

I would suggest finding a favorite spot (body of water or coastline) that you know could produce fish. Visit it often throughout the year and really get to know it's habits and life cycle. Ask questions about it on this forum and converse with the locals whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Be patient and it will all come together. When I decided to take up fishing, it took me three months of catching hardheads, dinks and rats before I landed my first keeper.

[mjh]

That's great information.

[plugger]

I never fished there , but , I looked at it on Google Earth. I think you should move on to greener pastures . Granted , there are few bank fishing spots , but , if you start wade fishing , your chances of catching fish will go up .

[Robalo]

This weekend you should have hit the surf-was calm and green and flat-when like that, try wading to 2nd bar, use either gulp shrimps (new penny), silver Johnson sprite spoons, mirrorlure (m51), topwater like a super spook, or live shrimp under a popping cork-never use wire with shrimp (or anytime trout or red fishing). Buy a HotSpots wadefishing map and review it, pick an accessible place and give it a try-wear waders (water is cold now), and never wade in shorts (jellyfish), get some old tennis shoes or wading boots, a 25' long stringer, a wading belt, a lifevest (rip currents and drop offs), some hook outs (hemostats), extra tackle in a box that fits into wading belt, watch for drop offs, and shuffle your feet (stingrays), and stay outta deep mud.

[oagu1]

I have wade fish Seabrook flats and Bolivar with the same result. I always carry my wade belt with me so I followed 146 to the end to see if wadding was an option but the floor was too soft I felt myself sink so I just pulled back. Thanks for your post I really apreciate all the advice given.

[Robalo]

Try off Skyline drive (I always called it levee road at base of dike towards Moses Lake Flood gate) by Dollar Point-nice hard sand bottom, just lots of mosquitos, so spray up good. 100s of yards of nice hard sand-lotta windsurfers-they kinda took over the area (I haven't been there in 10 years or so), but good area on a west or SW wind. Be careful anywhere near base of dike-very deep hole/drop off. Mosquito island is good also, but again, deep hole on west side of it (20' deep and high currents-lots of folks have drown there). Life vest is always a good idea when wading, especially if unknown area.

[dbarham]

Try halls bayou bridge @ 2004 use live shrimp or DOA under pooping cork

[corndog]

Send me your phone number and I will let you know when I have an open spot on the boat. I have caught enough keepers. I enjoy seeing someone catch fish as much as I enjoy catching them. I usaully launch from 2004 bridge at Chocolate.

[lurefisher]

Try halls bayou bridge @ 2004 use live shrimp or DOA under pooping cork

He is not bass fishing!

[patwilson]

Where do you live? I may have room this weekend or next weekend to put you on some fish???? PM me your info.

I have wade fish Seabrook flats and Bolivar with the same result. I always carry my wade belt with me so I followed 146 to the end to see if wadding was an option but the floor was too soft I felt myself sink so I just pulled back. Thanks for your post I really apreciate all the advice given.