Thread: What's in the tackle box.

Been working on a cart. Got it finished today. Not much room left for a big tackle box, after putting the drink cooler and bait cooler in. So my question is, if you could put a large tackle tray or 2 in a cart for a day at the pier in the middle of June. What would be in it. Ya know, kinds of and numbers of plugs, hooks and hooks sizes, and I know bubbles won't fit in the box but how many do you usually bring and what goes on the business end, hook style and size and whether a straw or whatever else. And also what size and style sabiki rig for catching bait. Just a general day at the pier fishing. And if so could y'all break it down what is needed for Fishing the shallows and for fishing the octi and everywhere in between. I've done lots of searching and reading in this forum and have a general idea but want to know what y'all would bring.

It's going to be a tough fit.... I carry way to much stuff in two large boxes. But my basic go to stuff would be: X-Rap sizes 10,12,14 depending on wind. Spearhead or Looney jigs in white or chartreuse size 3/8 -1oz depending on wind. Gotta plugs as many sizes and colors as your budget allows. Bubble rigs, I use 30 or 50 # mono with a #2 treble with a 2" piece of bright color tubing they use for sunglasses lanyard I carry orange, red, yellow, and green I have also seen guys use a DOA shrimp behind bubble and wear them out! I use other various flashy small hard baits and soft plastic jigs. When live bait fishing with LY I make my own king leaders with 30+ pound single stand wire small black swivel and various size treble hooks, depending on bait size, hooks must be strong. Bottom fishing I prefer a Carolina rig with an egg sinker and small single hook, smallest weight that the wind and current will allow 1/4 - 2oz, hook small circle, kahle, or bait holder, I use very small hooks #8 - #2. Also bottom rig with pyramid sinker 1/2 - 2oz with two small hooks on droppers above the sinker. Some guys use bigger sinkers, but for me if I need more than 2 oz then the surf is to rough and I do something different. Bait live LY, live or fresh dead shrimp, frozen cigar minnows, pink or orange fish bites for me but there is other bait used. I catch LY on very small sabikii or on a ribbon rig. Live bait requires a bait bucket and air pump, plus I use a small bucket and rope to get fresh salt water often. As far as how many of each plug, lure, jig, or bait to carry experience will tell you, but if the fish are biting in June the sharks will be biting also. So, if the fish are really biting you are going to sacrifice lots of gear to Mr Shark, have as many as you can carry and afford. Also... do not fish with anything that you are not ready to sacrifice to salt, a very big fish, or Mr Shark! Hope this helps. Welcome. Talk to folks on the pier. It is your best resource. And go see the great staff at J&M.

Don't forget to carry some spare tackle so you can help the kids and tourists catch fish---I remember different fishermen helping me out when I first started---"Here, try this.". Mostly it just amounts to smaller hooks and lighter leaders than they start out with.

bkwalthen covered the list real well. I carry way more stuff than I need.

Can't add much to what bkwathen said Very well described on what to use but here are a few suggestions Get you a Tackle Bag I carry everything in that inside little plastic tackle boxes or zip lock bags all grouped together by category so if I need a bubble rig a gotcha or an Xrap I just pull their plastic bag out If I need a hook or a weight I just pull their little plastic tackle box out Talk about carrying too much stuff I carry three of these bags on my cart They can be easily molded to fit in places as well as go on top of your cooler etc You could get one with a shoulder strap if you need to and carry it over your shoulder Another thing I do I get a zippered pouch with belt loops and I put small spools of various leader line in it and just slip it on my belt so I always have easy access to whatever I need I also carry pliers a knife and a towel on my belt and a nail clipper tool attached to a belt loop to clip my line with when I tie leaders etc Another thing tie a supply of your rigs like bubble rigs etc before hand and put them in individual small plastic sandwich bags then those in a zip lock bag so all you have to do is grab one out and clip it on when the fish are biting For my plugs like Xraps etc I pre rig those also with wire and put them in a little larger plastic tackle box with dividers and either put this in a tackle bag or slide it in front of my tackle bag or cooler on the cart I'm sure there's more but I hope this helps You are coming at a prime week and should be in for the time of your life I'll be out there So if I can help you let me know

Thanks for the info BK. Very detailed and lots of good info. Done some more reading this morning and with the amount of sharks everyone talks about think I'll buy lots of extra's. I bet that will get aggravating very quickly. But will definitely be getting a bag and doing some making and bagging.

Haywire, I'll bring some extra tackle. I don't mind helping people out. My granddaddys was a fishing guide for as long as I could remember, until us boys got up older. So I grew up helping him, help others out. Just never fished a public pier before. Gonna be a new ball game for me. But I learn quick so not to worried about it.

And Dan I'll be getting up with you and whoever else will be willing to teach me the basics. Another question, I'm really not planning on keeping any fish except maybe toward the end of my stay in Orange Beach. Cause the freezer space isn't very big in the condo and with 3 family's staying in the same room don't have a lot of room. Will there be people there wanting fish that people catch that they don't clean? Or is it put back what u catch that you don't want? And also is there usually someone there willing to net and/or gaff, of course gaff if gonna keep, fish. Or is that something I would need to get?

Originally Posted by Surfman75935

Another question, I'm really not planning on keeping any fish except maybe toward the end of my stay in Orange Beach. Cause the freezer space isn't very big in the condo and with 3 family's staying in the same room don't have a lot of room. Will there be people there wanting fish that people catch that they don't clean? Or is it put back what u catch that you don't want? And also is there usually someone there willing to net and/or gaff, of course gaff if gonna keep, fish. Or is that something I would need to get?

There is always someone on the pier willing to take keeper fish that you don't want. During the prime times for fishing, there is also always someone with a net or gaff willing to help others out.

That's good to know. Thanks hammerhead.

There is always someone willing to take what fish you do not want and grateful for them Usually you won't have any trouble at the end finding people that want them but a lot of times I like to take some back down the Pier as walk off and give them to a tourist trying hard to catch a meal with a heavy bottom rig Sometimes I even fillet them before I do so all they have to do is cook them Forgot to mention in my previous post that I also carry a backpack with an electric knife blades and zip lock bags on my cart You ought to try some fish too while you are here Nothing like fresh saltwater fish As for gaff and net you really don't need them There s always someone with one willing to gaff or net your fish I carry both By all means let me know when you'll be here and want to try the Pier and I'll try to meet you out there and show you what I can

That's an offer you shouldn't turn down. He knows his stuff. And a very nice guy. Even if he does hog the fish at times. ��

Since it will be a day at the pier in mid June, I'd suggest a brimmed hat, sun screen, maybe a long-sleeve cotton shirt, quality pair of sun glasses, NO less than a quart of ice water in the cooler. lately, I've seen guys with the new 'cooling towels' on their necks.