yeah i've heard of that and ive tried to read it a bit but the damn beaches are always so crowded with tourists and their idiot kids that will swim across people's lines without thinking twice.. haha - atlantic beach isn't too bad about that. I need to figure out my rigs, thinking carolina rig with a circle hook and a finger mullet will be my best bet. dunno if 2oz weight will be enough... i think its one of those things ima need somebody to show me while im out there to get confident in reading the waves.
FISHING SEASON 2K12!!!!!!
- Thread starter NCStateFisher
- Start date
I dont like carolina rigs in the surf. The wave action can cause your line to tangle. With the weight being the last thing on your line you can prevent this and most people, including myself use a dropper rig. For pomps I use a two hook rig made of 20lb fluro and size 1 owner light wire circle hooks. I also put an orange bead above the hooks. On one end tie a barrel swivel to attach to the main line and on the other tie a snap swivel to attach your lead.
I made a few tonight actually. After a couple glasses of wine, my wife asked if she could tie a rig so I showed her this video. She did it on her first try even after a good buzz so that means if you cant, turn in your fishing card.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/783226/dropper_loop_how_to_tie_the_dropper_loop_fishing_knots/
For bait, live or FRESH dead shrimp works well and so do sand fleas. Avoid frozen bait if you can. If targeting just bull reds dont worry about using live bait just use a single hook dropper rig with a larger hook and use some fresh cut mullet chunks. Dont be afraid to put a good size chunk on there either.
When I surf fish, my preferred fish is pompano so I just use the light line, hooks and shrimp or sand fleas for bait but I still will catch the reds as well along with the tasty pomps.
I made a few tonight actually. After a couple glasses of wine, my wife asked if she could tie a rig so I showed her this video. She did it on her first try even after a good buzz so that means if you cant, turn in your fishing card.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/783226/dropper_loop_how_to_tie_the_dropper_loop_fishing_knots/
For bait, live or FRESH dead shrimp works well and so do sand fleas. Avoid frozen bait if you can. If targeting just bull reds dont worry about using live bait just use a single hook dropper rig with a larger hook and use some fresh cut mullet chunks. Dont be afraid to put a good size chunk on there either.
When I surf fish, my preferred fish is pompano so I just use the light line, hooks and shrimp or sand fleas for bait but I still will catch the reds as well along with the tasty pomps.
Today the fishing started off fast and furious. I landed a pomp and a red before I even had time to bait all three rods.
To make a long story short the bite was just slow and steady. Final tally:
-7 pomps - one that was just legal but I didnt want to risk it and one managed to flop back in the water before I put him in the cooler so I only brought home five
- 28" red x2
- 30" red
- 33" red
- 26 3/4" red - yay finally a slot fish
- one red I didnt measure but probably just under slot
- two whiting
Here is the bring home:
To make a long story short the bite was just slow and steady. Final tally:
-7 pomps - one that was just legal but I didnt want to risk it and one managed to flop back in the water before I put him in the cooler so I only brought home five
- 28" red x2
- 30" red
- 33" red
- 26 3/4" red - yay finally a slot fish
- one red I didnt measure but probably just under slot
- two whiting
Here is the bring home:
Oh yeah, despite it being crazy foggy all day - at best I had a 200yd viz but at times down to 50 - I managed a wicked sunburn. Crazy considering I literally didnt see the sun all day and Im pretty brown too...
crazy how that works.. and thanks for the vid, seems real easy ive been meaning to learn to make my own bottom rigs it's absurd to pay as much as they ask when u can make em with a couple easy knots 
hit the pier tonight and caught 5 channel cats, biggest was a few lbs. nothing impressive, but its the first action ive had in awhile
thats awesome! Im hoping to get out soon too. Took another part time job thats making me too busy!
Sorry to hear that Josh but im sure the little ones come first (if thats why you took it). The fish will always be there.
Finally cleaned up my reels and rods this morning and put new line on them. These are my channel and flathead catfish rods, 3x 7' Shakespeare uglycats with shakespeare arsenal reels spooled with 40 lb offshore angler mono and 30 lb cajun red line leaders. currently using 4 oz no roll sinkers and 6/0 gamakatsu octopus circles until the flatheads start biting and ill probably step those up to 7/0 or 8/0. The reels have alot of boat rash and arent pretty but i love them and they get the job done, especially for $35.
Ill post pics of my Blue catfish step ups when i get them here in the next few weeks.
Finally cleaned up my reels and rods this morning and put new line on them. These are my channel and flathead catfish rods, 3x 7' Shakespeare uglycats with shakespeare arsenal reels spooled with 40 lb offshore angler mono and 30 lb cajun red line leaders. currently using 4 oz no roll sinkers and 6/0 gamakatsu octopus circles until the flatheads start biting and ill probably step those up to 7/0 or 8/0. The reels have alot of boat rash and arent pretty but i love them and they get the job done, especially for $35.
Ill post pics of my Blue catfish step ups when i get them here in the next few weeks.
I hit a pretty that pretty awesome sale I told yall about earlier.
It was insane and some GREAT prices. Most all tackle was half off or more. They had THOUSANDS of rods and rock bottom prices. I picked up a Wright and McGill Blair Wiggins Special rod for eighty bucks and a little IM7 rod the shop had custom made for the sale for twenty five bucks.
Going to try and get some more cash together and head back tomorrow.
It was insane and some GREAT prices. Most all tackle was half off or more. They had THOUSANDS of rods and rock bottom prices. I picked up a Wright and McGill Blair Wiggins Special rod for eighty bucks and a little IM7 rod the shop had custom made for the sale for twenty five bucks.
Going to try and get some more cash together and head back tomorrow.
Not too busy just won't have as many free weekdays, but I still have my weekends since I only work Sat morning and NEVER sunday. With a new baby, I probably cant expect to get out more than once a week as it is, so its no sweat. I am getting back to school as well as working since I have less than 40 hours left in my degree and the school is right on a large river that has some decent fish, so I may hit that river more often than I have. I usually don't do too great there except carp but know of more spots now that are deeper and produce fish. There are also 2 dams within a couple miles that produce fish, there are just a lot of homeless and gangsters hanging out in these areas.
I do like the 1 piece 7' Ugly cats. I have one of those and also an 8'. Since I have switched to a lot of 1 piece, I just dont have the confidence in 2's now that I used to. Not that they wont catch fish, but the 1 just seems so much more solid. Never heard of the Arsenal reels, but I read that you liked them. How long have you been using them? Whats their line capacity? I've heard good things about Tidewaters. I finally spooled up my reels and will be putting them back on the rods after this cold weekend is done. Thinking about meeting up with a guy from Catfish1 next weekend. He's been catching tons of flatheads recently even with this cold and some decent blues. I've never landed a blue before.
I do like the 1 piece 7' Ugly cats. I have one of those and also an 8'. Since I have switched to a lot of 1 piece, I just dont have the confidence in 2's now that I used to. Not that they wont catch fish, but the 1 just seems so much more solid. Never heard of the Arsenal reels, but I read that you liked them. How long have you been using them? Whats their line capacity? I've heard good things about Tidewaters. I finally spooled up my reels and will be putting them back on the rods after this cold weekend is done. Thinking about meeting up with a guy from Catfish1 next weekend. He's been catching tons of flatheads recently even with this cold and some decent blues. I've never landed a blue before.
