Anyone been out to the near shore spots recently? Just got word I am to take some young men out tomorrow morning but want to stay close as it is their first trip. Their dad asked about catching sea bass. I don’t normally target these fish, and the few I have caught have been further out (Snapper Banks). Leaving out of Port Royal, so I was thinking Gordon/Ross/Eagle’s. Any reports (even lack of fish) would help me out. Thanks!
drifting over the structure at the ross with 4 to 6 ounce jigs tipped with fresh strip bait or live bait like cigars or pinfish works well for big sea bass, snapper, and cobia
Chris, if wanting to stay close you cld try the 45 on your way out. Keep in mind the new size is 13" for sea bass as of July 1st.
Don’t fish around the bouy as alot of people do. Get away from it & watch your bottom machine…the APC’s & such that have been placed out there will have you hooked up as soon as you hit bottom.
The farther out the bigger tho.
Was gonna go out monday to watch a flyrod master “Haulin Bass” work his magic on some spades but had to cancel due to death in family.
Also wanna say “KUDOS” for you taking time to get some young folks out there. Very cool.
Good luck!
NN
06 200 Bay Scout 150 Yam
Thanks to you both for the response. I intend to check out the Betsy first thing. If it’s as crowded as I usually see it, I will probably ease away from there seeking out some good bottom.
Ex-conn- I will give that a try if the crowd allows tomorrow. I plan on checking for pogies or threadfins on the way out. Haven’t heard much on bait status in a while… last few trips were trolling. As for cigars or pinfish… do you sabiki them up at the wrecks? Only place I have ever caught bait offshore was R7, but that’s the only place I’ve tried.
NN- Thanks for the reminder on the size. I am sorry to hear about your loss. Taking new people is what it’s all about. Fishing is a great experience that needs to be shared.
Hope everyone has a safe holiday… watch out for the crazies.
cigars usually at 45 also small blue runners at the chain at 45 pinfish randomly at 45 usually cigars and blue runners at ross chain and structure. we usually catch all our bait there before heading offshore for bottom fishing, if you can get pogies or greenies they work but not as well as blue runners or cigars, based on our experience. catching some small random bottom fish and stripping them up works good on jigs as well for sea bass if you catch a little tuny or spanish you are in golden for strips especially for snapper and cobia
Hit the Gordon on the 4th. BSB a plenty but all 6-8 inches. Frustrating. Think you would be better the deeper you go. Friend caught some 15" ones at the Ross. Good luck…
19’ Tidewater Bay
150HP Johnson
1542 Duracraft
40HP Johnson
We ended up trying out the Ross. Could not find any size to the fish. Headed over to the Eagle’s Nest and found some legal fish. We brought 15 home. I definitely believe we could have gotten more, but most of out time was spent learning some basics. The young men had a blast and we were very fortunate to have great weather.
Ex-conn-
How do you catch the bait at the Betsy chain? I could see the bait, used sabiki’s in every way I could think of, but still no luck. I used #12 size, is that my issue?
great to hear the young guys had a blast
red hook size 4 does the trick
got to stay right up on the chain they don’t move far from the structure
Caught some 13"-15" sea bass at the betsy ross on the 4th (am)…cigars and shrimp