The first time I ever waded the surf along Matagorda Island the water was trout green and full of bait and lots of specks. It seemed like every cast delivered a big trout on 52M28 Mirrolure. That was one of those plugs that seemed to have it all together. It’s a slow sinker, red and yellow and a classic mullet imitation offering that trout loved to pounce on. Within a short time I had a stringer full of trout and was reaching for what looked like a four-pounder when a big shark darted out of nowhere and I was left with nothing but a fish head, that looked like it has been severed with a razor blade.
Fishing the surf is always and adventure. You never know what’s going to hit a live bait or lure on any given cast. Last summer about this time I made a run about 18 miles south of Pass Cavallo. The surf was flat and green and we were looking for tarpon. We got lucky that day and came up on a school of them that were feeding in the second gut just off the beach. The silver sides of 100-pound-plus tarpon were flashing in the clear water as they raised hell on a school of menhaden. We jumped three in about 30 minutes. Two smacked 5-inch long pearl colored Yum Money Minnows, and another hit a Bomber Pogie.
Last July Bill Panto and I were in the hunt for kings in the surf. We were casting 5-inch long silver Super Spooks rigged up with 12-inch wire leaders. The kings would literally rocket out of the water when they hit the lures scooting across the water’s surface. Panto had about a 30-pounder blast his Spook, and shoot out of the water about 20 feet.
“That’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen,” he yelled.
I considered that to be pretty high on the crazy chart since he was a Special Forces Green Beret back in the 60’s.
Whenever you can catch the surf clean and green to the beach you are more than likely going to catch fish. And if they are trout and reds they will more than likely be solid fish. Two of the best live baits you can use are shrimp and croakers for trout, reds and tarpon. But a live finger mullet or pinfish can be tough to beat, as well.
As for lures Super Spook Jr.’s are an excellent choice. Best color pattern is silver/blue. Another very good lure is a 6-inch Bomber jointed Long A in chartreuse/silver or silver flash/blue back. These shallow running cranks run 2 to 3 feet deep with a swagger that drives trout crazy.
Soft plastics will work all day long in the surf. Most of the time you’ll be better off rigging them on ¼ or 3/8 ounce jig heads. The idea is to be able to cast them a long way and get a fast sink rate. Most of the time a white or chartreuse jig head is best. As far as bodies go an Assassin Saltwater Shad is tough to beat. It’s got a split-tail and darts back and forth like a crazed banshee. Both trout and reds love ‘em. Best colors are red/shad, black/shad and white with a pink tail.
Probably the most unique lure you can use in the surf is a silver spoon. It’ll catch everything from big trout and reds to sharks, Spanish mackerel and the occasional ling. Make sure you rig them with about a six inch black wire leader. By the way, I sell ½ ounce and 1 ounce silver spoons that are custom made with brass blanks so they won’t rust. They can be cast or trolled for trout, reds, king mackerel and ling.
Big jack crevale and sharks move into the surf around the first of June and feed along the second and third guts throughout the summer months. One of the best big shark baits is a hunk of a fresh caught jack.
When it’s all said and done a clear, green surf can deliver big time fishing adventure. It’s all about hitting it at the right time.
To book a fishing trip in the surf give me a call at 409-782-6796 or email sloan288@aol.com.
Check out my web site at www.luckystrikeguide.com. We also run half and full day jetty, bay and wade fishing trips, along with island shuttles to Sunday beach.
