Rookie info needed

[David_S]

I apologize if this has been covered. My family and I will be vacationing in Frisco for a week beginning June 3rd. We've been there twice before but haven't done any fishing. Don't know why This time we plan on doing some. I'm looking for info on what type of equipment we should have for that time period and what type of fish to expect to catch. We're just looking to catch a few to maybe eat and give us a reason to go to the beach beside picking up shells and getting sun burned. Hey a trophy fish would be great but for us any fish is better than no fish especially for the kids (and me!). Any input would be appreciated. TIA

[derf]

good week to be there
pompano , small blues & spanish +
COBIA!
that is if conditions are right
sabaki rigs tipped with shrimp for pomps
sting silvers for blues & spanish
bait soaking for cobes ....
thats the week we are sually there .....
derf

[David_S]

Thanks derf, at the risk out sounding totally ignorant can you recommend hook sizes? My family have been casual freshwater fishers and never fished salt water so this is all new. Since we only have 1 week we're trying to gather as much stuff as we can that we'll need so we don't have to waste timing running around buying stuff once we get there. Funny you should mention cobia. A day before we were leaving last year we got to see this fish below. He caught it off the point by the Hatteras Light if I remember correctly. I think that fish was the beginning of it all for my family's desire to fish on vacation!

[John M]

yeah thats cobia time for sure. I use 8/0 gami circles and 10/0 Gami J hooks. Ill be there that week im sure

[Mike S]

Well I've been meaning to ask this question, so this might be a good time. What are the right conditions for cobia? For the past five I've been heading to Hatteras for a week between the end of May and the middle of June. I have yet to see one caught let alone catch one myself of the beach. I did finally get one last year while drum fishing with Norman Miller. It was all of about 12". I'll be heading back at the beginning of June this year and would really like to tangle with a big cobia off the beach.

[derf]

mike i'm in the same 'boat' as you ...
we have been going down the first week in june for years , deb finally got us a cobe this year ...
they are really temperature dependant (imho); so some years they are there & others they aren't ....
ya just gotta roll the dice , unless you are fortunate enough to leave at a moments notice
derf

[Mike S]

Thanks Derf,

Well at least I'm not alone. The trip in June is a vacation with my wife. We rent a house so we can't really go at the last minute. They like clean water, right? Any other tips?

[John M]

clean water seems to help. Paddling baits also seems to help. the first 10 days of june always seem to yeild good numbers od fish.

[Mike S]

Thanks John,

Are you using the yak to get jumbo baits out there? Are you typically looking for calmer water than you would with drum?

[papasmurph]

Mike
you keep fishing first week of June and youll get your shot. last year was slow, the ones being caught where having baits yaked out past casting distance. couple years back I saw 22 caught in one day. just north of the point. just a matter of right time right place. but first week in June is when I'll be there looking for em.
heres my biggest todate.
http://www.vermontel.net/~mikemurphy/FISH/IMG_0365.JPG
got one last year casting for blues on 8lb test. 32" not legal but put up one hell of a fight on the light tackle.
lost my biggest in the surf because I forgot to pack my gaff, figured over 80lbs.
see you on the beach.
papasmurph

[John M]

Originally posted by Mike S:
Thanks John,

Are you using the yak to get jumbo baits out there? Are you typically looking for calmer water than you would with drum?

half bunnker, bluefish for cobia. we cast ort paddle them out. funny thing was we paddled out baits and the guy paddling dropped them where we woulda casted anyway, he gort confised on the signals.....we both caught cobia on those baits. but lot smore hook ups came on yaked baits.

Water wise I tend to favor the calm clear water. but we have had some good days when its rough.

papa Ill be there then for sure......

[Critter Gitter]

Got my first big one few years back and was surprised to find it was one of the nastiest tasting fish I ever ate and I am was pretty quick to skin, fillet and on ice. Maybe I just got a bad one but next one I catch goes back.

[Mike S]

Thanks again for the advice guys. I'll be down the first week of June trying again this year and I'll definitely try the yak trick. I can see dropping a bait and getting a hook up before I got back to the beach. My 100lb wife would probably end up water skiing when she would have to take the rod.

Nice fish by the way papa!

[Drumdum]

Mike S,a cobe would be great,but with a family along,you may want them to catch a few also. Reason why this may be of concern is because catching a cobe off the beach is a "lotery chance" many times.. Yes you can get one,but most of the time your family will be sitting without participating..

IMO,if you want them in on the action,go to one of the tackle shops there,one is right in front of the "Billy Mitchell" ramp.. Buy yourself a sandflea rake or even a live bait net will work,and have your kids catch sandfleas.. In turn set them up with small rods and pompano rigs on them,they sell those there as well..The young ones can catch pompano,small spot,seamullet,and all kinds of panfish with these rigs. I promise,between catching sandfleas and eating fish,they should have a blast..

[Mike S]

No kids yet. My wife doesn't fish, but lucky for me she is more than happy to sit on the beach and read a book all day long.

Catching fleas isn't just for kids. I enjoy raking fleas also.