On the open ocean, your best bet for red drum is mullet chunks. Fresh mullet is available in just about any tackle shop. Use a fish finder rig, and depending on the surf, 6 to 8 ounces of weight. If you're fishing in a large crowd (like you would at Cape Point), use 25 lb. test mono for your main line and avoid braid (tangles can be a mess!) and 50-60 lb. mono shocker.
They have some nice fluke (well, strictly speaking, they're southern flounder) down there. Sharpies use live mullet. But they'll eat sandworms, and it wouldn't hurt to bring a flat of them down. Drag them on a beach like you would drifting in a boat.
For albies and Spanish Macks, most folks use a locally available tin called a stingsilver (actually, some Wal-Mart's up here stock them). Good substitutes are Deadly #^&#^&#^&#^&s (all stainless, 2 oz is good), Swedish Pimples, Kastmasters and 007 Diamond jigs. Try to use 15-20 lb. test flurocarbon leader and minimize terminal tackle (no snaps, tie direct).
The offshore headboats are a lot of fun. My favorite is the Miss Hatteras - bottom fishing for snapper, triggerfish, grouper, and sea bass. On the way out and in you can bring your own 50# class standup rig to troll for wahoo (bring appropriate trolling lures and weights ).
I would definitely try to get into an offshore charter (for a few hundred bucks you can join a group as a make-up) - the Mahi fishing was fabulous this summer.
Definitely try to fish one of the many inlets - they offer fabulous action several hours after the water peaks on the open ocean.
Have fun, I'm jealous.
Pray for SW wind!
Linear Mode
