Please help me get started!

[QueenB]

ok I need some help...and I was told this was the best place to come for advise on fishing. I am trying to set up some rods and reels for fishing on the flats and I am concerned that I might not know what kind of knot to tie the hook on with.....I don't want to loose a big fish because I didn't tie the knot correctly. I tie my freshwater hooks on with no problem but needed to know if I can use the same knot for saltwater hooks. Any advise you guys can give me regarding fishing the flats would be great. I am a new boat owner and I am trying to learn the tricks of saltwater fishing. I fished on the gulf a lot when I was a kid but Dad was in charge then. Now I am trying to learn how he made this look so easy. Thanks for any and all help.

[RodBow]

QB, Just go fishing.. it don't matter - what catches a bream will catch a trout.

The one most important thing - have fun and go often!

[birddog]

Here's a link to basic knots.

http://www.rovingangler.com/articles/ba ... o_know.htm

I prefer the uni-knot for most situations.

The easiest way I know to learn is to get cajun thunder cork, some jig heads and several colors of grubs and go fishing.

Assuming you'll be launching at St. Marks, position yourself in front of the Lighthouse in 3-5 feet of water preferably in an area with a mix of sand and grass and start chunking. Good luck and let us know how its coming.

[DixieReb]

QB, there is no substitute for good line on quality gear when fishing in saltwater. You don't have to spend a fortune, just get med. action rods with decent reels and use cajun line, trilene big game, or some other good line. I agree with Birddog about the uniknot, it's the one I use most and holds very well. And rinse your tackle off good when you get home, it will last a lot longer. Let us know how it goes and good luck.

[Jumptrout51]

Sounds to me like you need to come to the North Florida Gulf Fishing Club meetings. Next meeting this Thursday night at Beef O'Brady Thomasville rd 7 p.m. Tallahassee.
Your questions and many more are discussed and answered. Plus, we have renowned speakers from the gulf coast area offering techniques and fishing areas for free.
We also have door prizes available from a number of local and national fishing related suppliers.

[What a mess]

Are you fishing braid? If so I use a Palomar knot. A drop of crazy glue for big fish wont hurt. Anything that will catch a Bass will catch Trout, Reds, Spanish, and more.

I fish Braided line at least a 7 1/2' spinning rod and reel I don't spend a lot on a rig $50.00 - $100.00 each. the longer the rod the better. I fish 1 piece rods only.

I keep several rigged one with the cork & jig one with a straight jig one plug on top & one to sink a spoon and one with a spinner bait. Try different stuff don't get stuck in a rut change is good find what you are confident in.

Change color speed and size anything chartruse is the right color gold is great so is pink.

I know you will get grief but I like the Berkley Gulp.It is the great equalizer even inexperienced fisherman have luck with them.

If you see mullet jumping your in the right place.

I say over and over in my boat reel till you feel then make them squeel = turn the reel handle till you feel the weight of the fish and then set the hook in most cases this will work best. You have to get the slack out of the line first before you set the hook.

Use a Cajun Thunder cork with a jig head about 24 - 36" below it. Shrimp work but the all around best is most likely what ever they are feeding on bait fish wise, the smallest hook you can find with a tiny bit of chicken gizzard it will catch pin fish and pig fish both are great bait under a cork. Spoons spinner baits and plugs work too. Have fun and keep reading a report wouldn't hurt when you go.

[mjsigns]

Welcome Aboard QueenB !

Good to see you have taken the first step into the new boating & fishing world. You will learn things here that will save you time, money, aggravation and extreme embarrassment. The membership of this website probably has a cumulative total of 4,000 years of local boating and fishing experience.

Now where else could anyone say that?


Great to see you here

MJ

[Barhopr]

http://www.animatedknots.com/

Good animation on tieing alot of different knots.

[tin can]

Welcome aboard, QueenB.

All the advice given is good.

I also use a uniknot for most everything.

The only thing I can add to what's already been said is keep your string wet. If you want to catch fish, you have to fish. The more you go, the easier it gets.

Jumptrout51 suggested our club. Everyone in our club will answer most any question you have. Come by and visit us Thursday night at Beef's.

[QueenB]

Thanks for all the great advise! I can't wait to get started! Maybe I will see you guys at Beef's.

[Capt Reggie]

Welcome, QB...you've come to the right place. We'll give you so much 411 it will be confusing, sometimes! I'll try and help you with a pm...come to the meeting Thursday nite @ Beff O'Brady's!

[Seachaser]

The most common mistake I see with someone just starting out is the matching of rod, reel, and line. It is a balancing act. For flats fishing size 8-10 diameter line for spinning and 12-17 for a baitcaster, but the reel and the rod should be matched for that size line also.

[GoneFishin]

QB....get you a cajon thunder and throw a shrimp on underneath it, I promise you cant go wrong on the flats with that.

[jsuber]

Unless your getting into bimini twist for sailfish, you should be good to go on using your freshwater techniques in saltwater. After you get that going a little bit, join a club, and you will learn more than you can stand. Remember, everyone has an opinion on how to do things, just listen, and adapt them to your needs, and capabilities.

[Team Bad Company]

since nobody else has said it i will.... GO BUY A FEW BAGS OF BERKLEY GULPS... a couple feet under a cajun thunder, 3-5' of water over some grassflats you will have no problem catching fish