New to salt water fishing

[Welderjoe575]

What’s up vatos, my name is Joe I have been in Houston for the past 2 and a half years now. Came here for work. Originally from New Mexico. I have always liked fishing and hunting my whole life. And moving here as made me take the fishing hobby more seriously. Especially that salt water side. I finally hooked in to my first bull red the Friday after thanksgiving. (37 1/4”) it was a very accomplishing feel after I landed it, because it was a grind to catch it. I had spent hours trying at the dike and the Galveston fishing pier. But the work paid off. My next challenge for my self is get a big speckled trout.

 

[Daniel]

Welcome Joe it is great to have you join the community. That looks like an absolute awesome catch, if you were using the fishing pole in the picture I bet that was a fight and probably a ton of skill to get him tired enough without breaking the line. Man that is a heck of a redfish!

 

[Welderjoe575]

That was my pole that I used it’s a 10’ surf rod made by penn with an 8000 real also a penn. I had 65lb braid with a leader that I made my self using a 11/0 hook with a 5 oz spider weight. The bait I used was a mullet head. And it was a very good fight.

 

[Daniel]

Oh man when Eduardo sees this post he is going to be asking questions lol. We have been talking about the 10’ poles and specifically the bigger Penn reels. The Penn brand is something my dad always spoke about when I was younger and he has a few of the smaller ones. I updated your Avatar/profile photo to include that redfish pic! So now you are going after a monster spec? We are pretty lucky down here on the coast to have access to all the water within reach.

 

[Welderjoe575]

It was definitely a learning curve using the big rods tons of watching videos on what line and weight to use. And because I have been fishing at the dike a lot you have to get you bait way out there. I think I just about have my set ups dialed in now. On a good day I can cast about 75 to 100 yards I’m still working my technique tho. Hopefully we can figure out a day that we can fish and I’ll show you guys what I’ve learn so far.

 

[Eduardo “El Tiburon”]

Man thats a big fish thats awesome yea I've been looking into a big surf rod i like watching the videos on them but im still new i really want to get the basics down i have alot to learn still.

 

[Daniel]

It was definitely a learning curve using the big rods tons of watching videos on what line and weight to use. And because I have been fishing at the dike a lot you have to get you bait way out there. I think I just about have my set ups dialed in now. On a good day I can cast about 75 to 100 yards I’m still working my technique tho. Hopefully we can figure out a day that we can fish and I’ll show you guys what I’ve learn so far.

For sure, I really want to learn and it will be even more fun as we build up a small group to get out and share what they know with each other. We are trying to see where might be good this Sunday.

 

[Welderjoe575]

For sure, I really want to learn and it will be even more fun as we build up a small group to get out and share what they know with each other. We are trying to see where might be good this Sunday.

Man I wish I could make it. I’ve got plans Sunday. But I usually have Friday, Saturday, and Sundays off. And I’m basically going out every weekend. I’m goin to the dike tonight actually. Let me know when y’all go to Galveston and I’ll try and see if I can go.

 

[Daniel]

Sounds good, how did you do at the Dike last night? I think we are headed to Seawolf tomorrow but might try another spot my dad told me we fished when I was young near Kemah.

 

[Welderjoe575]

Sounds good, how did you do at the Dike last night? I think we are headed to Seawolf tomorrow but might try another spot my dad told me we fished when I was young near Kemah.

We got a 36” black drum. But the bite was really slow. We ended up leaving at midnight. No one else was really catching I thought it would have been better due to the fact that it was a full moon last night.

 

[Daniel]

We got a 36” black drum. But the bite was really slow. We ended up leaving at midnight. No one else was really catching I thought it would have been better due to the fact that it was a full moon last night.

36” drum is nice!! I heard the smaller ones are good eating so I am guessing smaller means under 18” maybe?

 

[Welderjoe575]

Ya I wouldn’t keep anything bigger the 20”. Because me and my family don’t really eat fish that often. How did you guys do? Did you hit up seawolf, I used to go there a lot but I stopped when I kept losing gear. And I’ve never had much luck there.

 

[Daniel]

Ya I wouldn’t keep anything bigger the 20”. Because me and my family don’t really eat fish that often. How did you guys do? Did you hit up seawolf, I used to go there a lot but I stopped when I kept losing gear. And I’ve never had much luck there.

We ended up hitting a spot near Bayside Park. We caught some flounder and even had Carlo show up later in the day.

 

[Trufunk]

Yo! Sweet!

 

[fishing on credit]

That was my pole that I used it’s a 10’ surf rod made by penn with an 8000 real also a penn. I had 65lb braid with a leader that I made my self using a 11/0 hook with a 5 oz spider weight. The bait I used was a mullet head. And it was a very good fight.

 

[TxHCFishing]

Really awesome nice catch !!! My PB is 27" if you ever fished out of a kayak it takes you for a ride so I can imagine fighting that one