Saltwater Help

I'm coming down to GS next week for a family vacation and to do a little fishing. I've never saltwater fished before but I'm fairly well experienced in freshwater fishing. I've got a place that has a dock on the lagoon and beach access to the front, it's at the far end of west beach road. I'm bringing light tackle with me prob going to run 12-15lb braid, but what suggestions does anyone have for set ups (I.e. Hooks, bait, rig types). Also I was wondering what's biting this time of year. Like I said before I've never salted water fished before so it's all new to me. Thanks for any and all types of help it's greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum, Mac. The "Search" feature at the top right of the page is your best friend. Lots of folks have asked the same questions you have asked and there are lots of good answers. Tight lines.

+1 on the search feature. The carolina rig is your friend. Eagle claw, curved shank, #6 or #8 hooks catch many, many big fish. Some prefer circle hooks. Floro leader will work. Shrimp, live or fresh dead and cut in pieces, orange shrimp flavor fish bites work good, too.

You may try a gotcha plug with some heavy floro leader (40 - 50#), red and chrome 7/8 oz. Loony jigs, white, do good as well. Various jerk bait type plugs produce....a wire leader, 20#, would work for that.

Hope you have a good time and catch some fish.

Lots of much more knowledgeable info on here from guys like Haywire and Pier#r and JohnG.

Some fish (redfish, flounder, and speckled trout) will hit bass-sized plastic baits - swim baits, curly-tailed jigs and bass assassin-type baits. The early mornings, late afternoons and under the lights at night should produce some kind of action. If you see fish schooling at the top, you can throw a top-water (something ZaraSpookish) plug at them. I'd use fluorocarbon leader if I were using braid. If you tie braid to fluoro, you'll want to test it to make sure that your knot holds. You ought to work that out before you come down, IMO. If you fish from the pier or from the beach in the Gulf (as opposed to the lagoon), you may want to target whiting with the previously-mentioned carolina rig, a small hook, and a relatively small piece of fresh-dead or freshly thawed shrimp. I'd only use a Gotcha from the big pier and just for Spanish or bluefish, which may both be available. Your bass rod should be plenty-sufficient for most fish you'll encounter in the lagoon. It's a good time of the year to be outdoors! Enjoy!

Thanks for the replies I'm going to rig up some things tonight and pack my tackle box. I've got some great ideas off of the search features and looking up videos on YouTube. I've been watching the weather and looks like a front will be moving through this weekend so I hope the action will be good next week. One other question, where can I get fish bites at? Does a place like wal-mart carry it? Thanks to all, Mac

Go to J&M Tackle on Canal Rd. in Orange Beach. They have a link just under the search bar. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store.