I was down at Fort Walton, FL for a week. Pretty cool area. Met up with one of my long time work associates. Have talked to him about checking out the area for a long time and convinced the family to take a vacation there. Work paid for a bit, since work related and all…. Was okay fishing (summer), like most beach towns, summer is for looking at the bikinis, fishing is okay in the mornings and evenings. I got a mangrove snapper, had a smaller cobia on, landed a few big ramoras that were schooled with the cobia, a ton of blue runners (hard tail jacks) and way too many hard head cats. Strong SW winds had things a bit churned there, which equaled a clear day in the Atlantic from Jupiter,FL to Bangor, ME…. There was a good bit of June grass most days, which turned surf fishing impossible, but drove 5 miles east to Destin and clear. Wind direction thing. Overall, I would have caught more fish locally pounding things hard for 7 days. But a 12” blue runner fights like an 18” smallmouth. 24” cobia was like hooking into a 30” wiper that was tied to a 30” walleye. Even those dreaded hardhead catfish are fun to fight. I can’t stand touching the things after getting stuck by one and losing feeling in my finger for 4 months…. I will try to write up another post on the bikinis and white sand….

Where do you guys fish in the ocean? Do you wade? Fish the surf? Piers?

I’ve only fished the ocean a couple times and didn’t have much luck. But I had no idea what I was doing, no patterns, don’t even know what species to target. Totally foreign world.

Seems like you can hook into anything in big water like that.

MyWar
Where do you guys fish in the ocean? Do you wade? Fish the surf? Piers?

I’ve only fished the ocean a couple times and didn’t have much luck. But I had no idea what I was doing, no patterns, don’t even know what species to target. Totally foreign world.

Seems like you can hook into anything in big water like that.

I always mix it up, unless something is fishing well and then stay there. For summer fishing On vacation, my preference is to walk right out to the surf from where I’m staying. Fish mornings and evenings. As noted, my favorite is tossing lead spoons. You need the right conditions for that. If rough or dirty water, it doesn’t usually work well. There are a few other artificial that work well too. Pompano “goofy jigs” and bucktails “skinner style” have worked well too. If that isn’t working, then I’ll switch up to dunking bait. Usually use sand fleas and fish bites to go after whiting and pompano. If those aren’t working, then I’ll try cut mullet or other fish. This often runs into catching stingrays, catfish and sharks, which pull well, but a pain in the rear to unhook and release.

If not right in front of where I am staying, I usually go to the closest inlet, if relatively close. Almost always fish in them. Spoons there as well. Swim baits and other lures seem to work there too. I’m sure they work in the beach too, but can’t cast as far as the spoons. Inlets typically have very deep water close to shore. If using live bait there, then Carolina rig. I did this two days this past week with live shrimp and live green back Shad.

If there is a bridge or other access on the bay side or ICW or other access that seems to have deeper water near, I will try there. We rented a boat to go to “Crab Island”, that I fished from a bit. Like fresh water, look for some sort of structure, depth changes or grass patches.

The piers always seem to have fish too. I try to avoid, just since not my favorite thing to roast in the sun without being able to cool off. You are high up, so many lures don’t work. So need to change up some things. I personally did the best on this and saved it for Friday. I probably should have done earlier. The water where I was, was really clear from the pier, much was site fishing. 1/4 of the guys just sat around with 8” swim baits waiting for tarpon to swim by. Probably 15 or so hookups, none landed when I was there, but big fish. Easily 5’ long fish they were casting at. I tried casting a live green back near one and of course one of the dudes with the swim baits casted right in front of me and hooked up! I would have probably been spooled, but oh well.

I have done a few charter boats before, but haven’t since having kids. Back when I would vacation with groups of friends it was much easier to get a group. My son isn’t all too into fishing and a habit of motion sickness. I’ve seen grown men nonstop vomiting for hours. Those boats don’t turn around either. Maybe when he is a bit older, I’ll get him out.

When fishing in the spring and fall in NJ, it is a bit different. That is reading reports and hoping to time the striped bass migration. Most ocean fishing is sort of following migration though.

Yeah, I think they more frown on the large shark fishing like you noted with the steel leaders and huge hooks. I recall guys on the pier saying that targeting sharks was illegal. Might just be from the pier.

I don’t mind that sort of fishing at all. It is similar to striper fishing, although you can get them a few ways. I’m just fine setting out spikes and drinking beers. Not so much at 5AM though with the beers.

We had way too much junegrass to do that sort of fishing. The one clear of grass day we had, I saw two bull reds cruising the edge of the first sandbar. The bait shop guys said people were hooking up with them if the grass allowed, using live pin fish. Which were easily available. Just didn’t get another clear day to give it a go.

One thing about surf fishing is just getting the right conditions or it just doesn’t happen.

Last year at EI, it was 20-30mph winds the entire week. I got one Spanish and one large flounder (out of season) and a bunch of lizard fish. It was frustrating. The time before that, I was doing C&R on the Spanish since I was catching too many. EI is limited access in the bay, so if wind is wiping, you only have so many options. There is supposedly good trout and red fishing if you can get to them. Kayak and boat rentals seem to be the best way if the surf doesn’t cooperate. I think some near the boat launch, but rather limited there too. Like you mentioned with the sand/mud thing. I think that is more broken oyster shells if memory is correct. I recall my son trying to wade there barefoot and didn’t go well.

There is also some access to the back at the point too. We stayed in that area the past two times there. Last time I brought my bike and set it up with a milk crate to hold gear and rod holder. So I was able to get into the sound. I was getting a lot of strikes, but not hooking up well there. When I did hook up, it was a stupid lizardfish…. I did get a small flounder there too. The big flounder and Spanish were at the mouth of the inlet, just before the ocean. I seem to always catch fish in that area. Either with lures or taking some live mullet from the bay portion over there. We got into a school of bluefish the one time doing that and was fun.

Porktown
Yeah, I think they more frown on the large shark fishing like you noted with the steel leaders and huge hooks. I recall guys on the pier saying that targeting sharks was illegal. Might just be from the pier.

I don’t mind that sort of fishing at all. It is similar to striper fishing, although you can get them a few ways. I’m just fine setting out spikes and drinking beers. Not so much at 5AM though with the beers.

We had way too much junegrass to do that sort of fishing. The one clear of grass day we had, I saw two bull reds cruising the edge of the first sandbar. The bait shop guys said people were hooking up with them if the grass allowed, using live pin fish. Which were easily available. Just didn’t get another clear day to give it a go.

One thing about surf fishing is just getting the right conditions or it just doesn’t happen.

Last year at EI, it was 20-30mph winds the entire week. I got one Spanish and one large flounder (out of season) and a bunch of lizard fish. It was frustrating. The time before that, I was doing C&R on the Spanish since I was catching too many. EI is limited access in the bay, so if wind is wiping, you only have so many options. There is supposedly good trout and red fishing if you can get to them. Kayak and boat rentals seem to be the best way if the surf doesn’t cooperate. I think some near the boat launch, but rather limited there too. Like you mentioned with the sand/mud thing. I think that is more broken oyster shells if memory is correct. I recall my son trying to wade there barefoot and didn’t go well.

There is also some access to the back at the point too. We stayed in that area the past two times there. Last time I brought my bike and set it up with a milk crate to hold gear and rod holder. So I was able to get into the sound. I was getting a lot of strikes, but not hooking up well there. When I did hook up, it was a stupid lizardfish…. I did get a small flounder there too. The big flounder and Spanish were at the mouth of the inlet, just before the ocean. I seem to always catch fish in that area. Either with lures or taking some live mullet from the bay portion over there. We got into a school of bluefish the one time doing that and was fun.

 
My best rig for flounder in TX was a double drop rig off a 3 way swivel....first drop, short lead, was a 1/8 oz jig head with a gulp shrimp or red/white paddle tail or similar and the trailing, longer lead, had a kahle hook with a bead or two tied on ahead of it.  Mouth hook (insert the hook into their mouth and out the back of their head) a live finger mullet or mud minnow.  Key to hooking the flounder, at least for me, was being patient after they bite.  If you set the hook right away, you'd almost always bring back a half a live bait or tail-less artificial....I tried to always let them mouth...give them a little slack with just the rod tip so they don't feel too much pressure....and only set the hook when they start to swim off with it...
 
Had times when I sat there patiently for 30, 45, 60 seconds while they messed with the bait....set the hook without them swimming off with it and came back with partial baits.

Lizard fish were think in Emerald Isle this year. Funny thing is I never caught one in the Nags Head area. I guess maybe Nags Head is north of their typical range? 

https://youtu.be/TFKqg21NhKI
 
This is what I am hoping for in less than 2 weeks, minus the break off (some colorful language at the end).  This was from a poster down in TX, night fishing by himself....
That was 80# braid set at 50# of drag...it dumped several hundred yards off the reel before it broke off....BIG shark....
 
Not long before that, he lost another good bite on his 80w (big gold offshore trolling reels you see)...it somehow got his 800# mono leader into its mouth (he did have a steel bite leader) and bit through it.  

Ordered some fishbites yesterday, shrimp and clam...will be here early next week.  
Need to go through and organize my other gear...hopefully I have enough spider weights and bigger weights...break offs inevitable...

I just fished on Kiawah from the beach and in the brackish ponds there in June.  Never fished Isle of Palms when we stayed there....just did the beach thing. 
 
If you can find access to the back side, lots of good looking water there...just can't say I ever fished it.  Be careful though...much bottom can suck you in pretty deep.....
 
Breach Inlet is probably your best shot at access.  There is a parking lot on both sides I think (IOP and Sullivans).  Always dolphins there though so kind of messes with fishing.

I’ve never fished Charleston, but a buddy of mine kayak fishes it with his brother that lives there. They crush reds and trout.

You may want to consider a guide instead of charter. Or both…. The guide will set you up with a spot or two that you can use in the future.

Or save your cash from those and buy your daughter two kayaks with the understanding that you and the boys can use at any time!

Are there gators in those back waters?

Sounds like a good plan. If he can do from an inflatable paddle board, would be much easier to store for a college kid. Would be interesting watching someone duck hunt from a paddle board.

Good info on the SOT yak eyes.  Balance, strength, and endurance are 0 issue for him - he's been in the gym 7 days a week for the last 2 years.  About the opposite of how you probably remember me from high school.  
 
He'll be able to store stuff at my daughter's place, about 15 minutes from campus.  She'll be on a travel nurse contract and is renting a brand new townhouse so she'll have plenty of space for his gear.  
 
I've reminded him that on duck hunts down there that in addition to gators, he needs to be on the lookout for cottonmouths.  He has been to a few school related events this summer already and has met a few guys who live near there who hunt and fish, so hopefully it's not something he'll be doing alone.  

Caught one wiper, one walleye and one old oil can fishing pool 3 over the weekend. I heard there is a bass tournament this weekend, so I'll be doing boat and house maintenance.  

I was casting, letting sink to the bottom then jerking it once or twice and letting it sink again, repeat.  Pretty slow retrieve.  Often they would hit it on the initial sink, other times following it a bit before striking.  Using weedless worm hooks with lead poured on the hook shank.  I think 1/16 oz, but likely could have gone a little heavier.  Those hooks do a bit of tearing on the plastics.  I was using Berkley Powerbait version, which is not as forgiving as many other plastics.  I need to grab some of the weedless tube jigheads, but haven't seen any in 1/16 oz yet.  They look like they'd keep in place after catching fish a little better.

Why don't you try green lick or something similar?