Thread: New to Saltwater- help me get started.

Hey everyone. I was directed over here by the guys at www.myalabamaoutdoors.com with my newb saltwater questions.

I am headed to the Tampa Bay area next week and want to try some fishing. Never done any surf or pier fishing before so help me with the basics.

What size line? I have two spools for my reel , what 2nd option is good to have if any? What kind of leader, wire or heavy mono? Most importantly...what to use for bait?

Tampa Bay is a little different than fishing here. The piers there arent the best and are super crowded, since there are 4 million people that live in the area and most of the piers are free.

Right now, Snook, Redfish and Specks are on the flats. For those fish, 8lb test line, 15lb flourocarbon as the leader on small reels will work. The problem is getting on the flats. My favorite area to fish over there is Cockroach Bay, but there is good wade fishing around the South Skyway and those fish should be plentiful.

Another good place to wade fish is Caledesi Island, which was voted best beach in America. There are a lot of redfish to be caught wade fishing in that area.

For bait, everyone down there owns a Spook Jr., a mirrodine 19mr (Red/White),and various soft plastics from D.O.A. Jig heads should be light, like 1/8 of an ounce.

Does this help?

Here's a good source reference for 'on site' questions you may have...
http://boatlessfishing.com/forum/vie...33f16ca781508f

You might want to check out the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers...
http://skywaypiers.com/

Try and read anything by, or get in touch with Mike "SnookMook" Wilson...
http://forshorefishing.blogs.theledger.com/

hope this helps!

Great info guys. Thanks for the links, ill be reading those as soon as i get a chance.

Ill be on Siesta Key on the south side of Tampa Bay (sarasota area) on turtle beach. I know what i will have access to the IC and a lagoon as well as surf fishing on the gulf side.

Would like to target flounder, but will be happy catching anything.

Flounder down there are little! Siesta Key will give you quick access to Ft. Desoto and the Skyway Piers.. That is probably where you want to fish. You can access the bay and the Gulf.

Target Snook, since that might be the only time you ever get to fish for them.

This is the best resource in the area and has a forum with Wade fishing reports from the area.

http://capmel.com/