Hi. We are headed down for our annual pilgrimage to Seabrook Island this weekend for the next 2 weeks. We mainly fish the surf, but this year my son and I have a couple of new Penn Fierce 3000 combos that we plan to use in the creeks for reds and trout, etc. The reels have 16# mono and our main bait will probably be chunks of blue crab that we will catch at the beach. Looking for advice on other baits and how to set the rods up - leaders, rigs, weights, etc. Thanks in advance!
it may be overkill.
i tie a single drop leader…
130lb line
barrel swivel crimp
2-6oz weight
2 crimps… or you could tie
30-60lb foro carbon 2-5/0 circle hook…
sounds lie allot but its not …
http://www.hookupsportfishing.com/forum/attachments/southern-california-saltwater-message-board/6345d1173784521-rockcod-rig-bottom-fishing-rig-uno.jpg
i tend to make the main line 3 feet keeps bait off the bottom i guess…
at the top you have a loop tied for snap swivel from mainline(braid from reel/rod)
at the bottom another knot(i crimp this) as long as its long enough to slide the weight thru…
half way up i crimp the barrel swivel
usually use 40lb floro snelled to whatever hook i tend to like the vmc 5/0 for reds shrimp,crab
you tie the snelled flor to the crimp on the 230(barrel swivel)
when on the beach i switch my bottom weight ot a sputnik… anywhere from 2-8oz depending on tide,rip ect ect… but i use ot shark fish so it was more necessity with bigger baits…
Carolina rig with 5/0-7/0 circle hook and quarter you blue crab up and chunk it out.
YOUR SON WILL HAVE A BLAST, pretty much a done deal for nice bonnethead sharks and they are a blast to catch
May even get nice red or black drum but you can almost bet on the bonnetheads
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
2008 Corvette 3LT
I think the big thing here is to be prepared for something large. In other words, expect to be making a futile chase as your rod heads out to sea, if you don’t set the bait clicker properly lol. And don’t walk too far from it. I nearly lost both of my surf rods at Folly because of this, and I never found out what it was, it broke our line both times after it cooked the drag on my crapo-reels. Most likely it was a few modest sized sharks but who knows.
The dropper rig SC_Shark posted will work well. I actually prefer Carolina rigs, but can be a pain in the rear to cast since the egg sinker wants to go one direction, the bait the other, unless you peg the sinker in place (at which point, you’ve defeated the purpose of the carolina rig, which is a free-flowing line when using a bait clicker).
I would be on the lookout for mullet, or make it a point to try to catch some whiting or bluefish in the surf. Whiting and blues are both suckers for a small strip of cut squid or cutbait of any sort.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
Holy Cow guys, the OP says he wants to fish in the creeks for reds and trout and y’all want to rig him up as if he is Ahab.
16 lb. test is too much on the spool for creek fishing, although I don’t know exactly what a Penn Fierce 3000 combo is.
I find 8 or 10 on the reel with 20 lb. florocarbon is good for the creeks. Blue crabs are great for the surf, but minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp (live if possible) is better in the creek. Get those with a cast net. Split shot or a weighted bobber, such as a cajun thunder, is usually sufficent. If necessary use a 1/4 oz. egg sinker between 8 inches of mono or florcarbon, a barrel swivel connecting to the line and another to the leader. Go light for more fun and more fish.
Matt, he says he wants to fish in the creek, why would he chase rod out to sea? Seems like you guys read his question to be about surf fishing, but even for that 12 on the reel and 40 on the leader is plenty.
quote:
Originally posted by saludanHoly Cow guys, the OP says he wants to fish in the creeks for reds and trout and y’all want to rig him up as if he is Ahab.
16 lb. test is too much on the spool for creek fishing, although I don’t know exactly what a Penn Fierce 3000 combo is.
I find 8 or 10 on the reel with 20 lb. florocarbon is good for the creeks. Blue crabs are great for the surf, but minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp (live if possible) is better in the creek. Get those with a cast net. Split shot or a weighted bobber, such as a cajun thunder, is usually sufficent. If necessary use a 1/4 oz. egg sinker between 8 inches of mono or florcarbon, a barrel swivel connecting to the line and another to the leader. Go light for more fun and more fish.
Matt, he says he wants to fish in the creek, why would he chase rod out to sea? Seems like you guys read his question to be about surf fishing, but even for that 12 on the reel and 40 on the leader is plenty.
Yes, both of us missed that, and I can assure you that 12lb line, although perfectly fine for most surf fishing, can quickly become farting in the wind if you’re tossing hunks of blue crab.
For inshore, I typically stick to carolina rigs when tossing bait, but the same rig SC_Shark posted will work as well. Don’t limit yourself to hunks of blue crab for reds (trout won’t mess much with it, most likely)— strips of mullet fillet, live finger mullet, live shrimp-- all make for good red/trout bait.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
Matt, help me understand here. Why does the type of bait matter for the line strength? Is a blue crab different from cut mullett or a live shrimp?
quote:
Originally posted by saludanMatt, help me understand here. Why does the type of bait matter for the line strength? Is a blue crab different from cut mullett or a live shrimp?
You’re clearly trying to stir up crap, bro. Find a better hobby.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
quote:
it, most likely)--- strips of mullet fillet, live finger mullet, live shrimp-- all make for good red/trout bait.… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
Matt, can you elaborate on the mullet fillet? I usually just cut it into chunks. I am guessing you are talking about larger mullet and not finger mullet.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
No, Matt, I assure you I asked the question in good faith. You said, 12 lb. is good for most surf fishing, but not with blue crab. I simply asked why.
quote:
Originally posted by SurfFishLifequote:
it, most likely)--- strips of mullet fillet, live finger mullet, live shrimp-- all make for good red/trout bait.… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
Matt, can you elaborate on the mullet fillet? I usually just cut it into chunks. I am guessing you are talking about larger mullet and not finger mullet.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
First, let me say that I envy you on that boat. My father and I had that exact same boat with a 25hp Evinrude, was a GREAT boat. I told Mom to sell it when Dad died, because I was a newlywed and didn’t have time/resources to repair the work the motor needed (jumped out of gear a lot).
Regarding the mullet fillets. If I’m fishing for reds or trout, and I can net up the right size mullet (5-10" long), then I’ve found strips of mullet to be more effective. Maybe it mimics the shape and behavior of actual live baitfish, but still throw out a lot of nice fresh meat scent.
I’ve found that if I include a lot of the gut portion (like you get when doing cross-ways chunks/steaks) I get a lot more crab stealing the bait, and more likely to pick up a stingray.
You can still cut smaller finger mullet into fillets. If the water is murky/muddy from rain, you’ll probably find this more effective than live bait… at least for redfish.
I’m only speaking from limited experience here, but the best luck I’ve ever had with muddy water (like we probably have right now, with all the rain) was from cut strips of mullet, or
Thanks for all the replies, fellas. We’re all set with bonnetheads in the surf, we’ve caught lots of those. This post was about using lighter tackle in the creeks. Thanks for all the advice, I’ll let ya know how we do.
quote:
Originally posted by ClamsHi. We are headed down for our annual pilgrimage to Seabrook Island this weekend for the next 2 weeks. We mainly fish the surf, but this year my son and I have a couple of new Penn Fierce 3000 combos that we plan to use in the creeks for reds and trout, etc. The reels have 16# mono and our main bait will probably be chunks of blue crab that we will catch at the beach. Looking for advice on other baits and how to set the rods up - leaders, rigs, weights, etc. Thanks in advance!
Check your PM’s & let me know if you need any more info. I love Seabrook.
I have a battle 3000 16lb will be good, I use 30lb braid and 20lb flourocarbon leader with a carolina rig and a 2/0 circle hook, I use a little heavier line fish around a lot of structure. I use live or dead shrimp and do good on the reds I also use a popping cork and live shrimp or mud minnows and catch reds and trout, find a deep hole in creek and fish low and incoming tide until the water gets up into the grass then it’s just hit or miss.
How about a 1/4 oz. jighead with a lip hooked mudminnow or 3" white Gulp shrimp bumped slowly across the creek bottom. Simple & catches trout, reds, flounder, etc.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
“fish finder rig” 12" to 18" of fluorocarbon leader tied directly to a 1/0 or 2/0 circle or offset hook(trout hook)tied to small barrel swivel. Thread a sinker slide on the spool line and tie the end to the other end of the barrel swivel. Attach appropriate size and shape of weight/sinker to sinker slide…probably 1oz for the creek, up to maybe 3oz for the surf. I like bank sinkers in the creek, and either pyramid or disk style sinkers for the surf. I’d probably go with 20# fluorocarbon for the leader. Some people place a bead between sinker slide and barrel swivel to keep the knot from getting abused, but I find it unnecessary, and a pain in the butt when retying rigs when the bite is on. I’ve caught every single species of fish, ray, and most small sharks inshore with this rig. I shorten the leader if there is a strong current to keep it from wrapping around the line in the surf. Sinker slides come in several varieties…try some out to see which one you like.
Sol Mate
Mako 20B
225 Optimax