Thread: Newbie with lots of questions

Hi, I'm new to the coast and salt water fishing, so I basically am a beginner. I have some questions of course.
1. Where is the best place to buy bait?
2. What would be the best reasonably priced rod and reel for pier and canal fishing and where to buy it?
3. What is the best bait for pier fishing and is it different than bait for canal fishing?
4. What are other good fishing spots besides the pier and canal bank?

Hi EB! First, you can probably expect the moderators to move this thread to "General Discussions" since this one is for dated fishing reports only.
I'd go to J & M to buy bait. You can also get all of your fishing questions answered there and they can fix you up with a reasonably priced all-purpose rod. They're on Canal Rd. The advertisement is at the top right of this page.
Do a SEARCH (right above the J & M advertisement) for Canal fishing. I'm sure that there have been many past discussions that are retained in the archives.

J&M Tackle is a great place to start, equipment at every price point, and great advice on places and bait. Always my first stop, 5 am the first day there.

Originally Posted by Ensleyboy

Hi, I'm new to the coast and salt water fishing, so I basically am a beginner. I have some questions of course.
1. Where is the best place to buy bait?
2. What would be the best reasonably priced rod and reel for pier and canal fishing and where to buy it?
3. What is the best bait for pier fishing and is it different than bait for canal fishing?
4. What are other good fishing spots besides the pier and canal bank?

Look at the older fishing reports for the time frame you're fishing to get an idea of what is biting and what they're biting on.

Go to J&M, ask them to set you up with a rod/reel combo, tackle/rigs, bait bucket and bait for where you're fishing and what you're fishing for. Easy peasy. First time I went to the pier I stopped at J&M and said "hey, I'm going to the pier to fish. I need tackle and bait for what's biting." They set me up with bait and proper hooks since I already had everything but saltwater hooks. You'll find their pricing is better than big box stores. Can't beat the knowledge and helpful staff.

If you have fished fresh water you probably have the gear or most of the gear you need to get started.

) The other posts are spot on about bait, but if it is hard to cone by, get a few packs of fishbites in different cookies and flavors.

2)A 7 ft rod in medium action with a 2000/2500 series reel and 8-12lbs mono or braid will work for many applications.

A Carolina Rig with a 1/2 oz egg sinker and flouro leader is a good starting place. A Fish Funder rig with a 1-2oz weight is too.

3) Shrimp is a great starting bait, and most everything will eat it.

Just make sure it's alive, or fresh dead. Shrimp can be used effectively anywhere.

4) The pier and canals are gear places to start because of the structure , but you can also surf fish on just about any beach.

Look for any changes in the shoreline to indicate changes in bottom contour as this will attract fish.


It is a bit tough to cover more specifics in a single post, but you should be able to find some fish.

Good luck, and tight lines!

The choice of fish and ways to fish are so broad that there is no way to say what is "best" because it depends on what kind of fishing you like, what kind of mood you might be in, and what's biting.

There are so many kinds of fish and fishing to do here that it would take a book to answer your question.

Have you moved to the area?
Are you down right now?
Are you coming later?
Do you like to cast and reel/jig, or fish dead or live bait?
Are you looking for sport or food?
What kind of freshwater fishing do you do or like best? That might narrow things a bit.

Welcome to the forum.

Your questions cover so much ground that it's hard to give accurate answers. One of the best things you can do is go ahead and get your feet wet and go fishing on the pier, see what's going on and ask questions of the people catching fish.

As has be stated, you can learn a lot by reading old posts and using the search feature at the top of the page. Good fishing.

By the way, I don't think too highly of canal fishing---not one of the better available places.

Welcome to the forum and the greatest pier on earth. Lots of great information already listed. Just in case someone didn't mention it :-) go visit J&M. I would also recommend just a visit to the pier. Walk around talk to folks, watch folks, see what fish are being caught where and what on. Decide what you want to target and then go to J&M and ask more questions and get set up. You will not be sorry! Tight lines. See Y'all the 25th. Woo hoo!!!!

The canal is a great place to take someone who has never caught a fish. It is loaded with saltwater catfish that will eat almost anything that has scent. Shrimp-live or dead, squid, minnows or cut bait. They aren't picky. I have never eaten one per the advice of the vast majority of those who have an opinion on the subject. I catch a couple of dozen catfish and ladyfish for every desirable fish in the canal. The seawall and jetty at Perdido Pass can be a jam up place at times. The surf is available but can be frustrating if you aren't there under the right conditions and right time of day or year AND in the right spot. I SUCK at surf fishing. Worse than on the pier. The jetty is loaded with sheepshead right now but I'm too lazy to walk that far. J&M has live bait, tons of tackle and good deals on rod and reel combos. You will need a bucket and aerator for shrimp. Buy or build a ghost shrimp pump.