Fishing the Jetty

Yesterday the wind was howling but I went ahead and tried the fishing. Was slow for most people and again, light tackle was the key to success. I moved around some and finally found some Sheepshead willing to bite and finally had 14 but all were just under the legal length of 15 inches. I had live shrimp but they hit even pieces so not too picky.

Walking to truck saw a lady catch a Whiting so tried there with a gold spoon and got 4 bluefish but didnt keep any. They taste like a sardine and really oily. 

SO I changed to two hooks on my line with half oz barrel sinker above a swivel. Ocean currents will twist your line so swivels are mandatory for me anyway.  I was fishing with Fish Bites which is a bait impregnated in mesh and the orange color was the ticket. I ended up with 22 keepers and threw back at least ten. These are excellent table fair and white and tender flesh. They had eggs in them so the hatch is on. Will try that spot tomorrow when the wind changes back to the South. 

Paula's aunt Nell wanted some fish so filleted them out and got them in the freezer for her. Also had a couple sand trout but smallish. Also on the spoon. 

keep fishing..life is short. 

Bluefish In The Surf 03/02/2016

Found fish in the surf tonight and it was fun. Whiting were all around my feet in huge numbers and Mullet up to 18 inches were stacked in and around my legs. It was amazing to see so many fish in one place. There must have been 100,000 of them. 

Kept casting to the smaller mullet and bait fish. Had one Speckled Trout on and I caught two bluefish. They are great fighters but after smoking one all day the best they can be likened to is Sardines. I think I could eat a few but not many. 

South Padre Island Texas 2/13/2016

Another good day on the Jetty fishing for Sheepshead. I did not want to go to the end but was able to catch some on live shrimp all along the Jetty. Larger fish were coming in off the end of the Jetty and some Redfish too. 

I waded the surf and saw a lot of Mullet and minnows too. Some of the Mullet schools were in the millions I think. Something was really tearing them up as they came across in front of me but too far to cast. 

South Padre Island 02/09/2016

Whacked and stacked the Sheepshead today. Small bits of shrimp on a #8 hook with one split shot fished down in the rip rap was lights out. I had 37 by the time I quit. No one else getting much and I think its due to using heavy rods and reels and line, hooks and sinkers. 

I was tightlining 12 pound test line on a light 8 foot rod. You had to feel the light tap and set the hook fast. 

Water still cool 60 but now the weather seems to have turned for better.