Puppy drum fishing

dman24

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New guy here and will be new to saltwater fishing. I want to take a trip to the coast with my kayak and fish for red drum, flounder, and maybe some trout. I have a Jackson big rig, with a lowrance fish finder. I need some help from more knowledgeable folks on a rod and reel to use for the fish I want to catch. Also will any regular bass fishing gear work for those fish, like soft plastics and spinner baits. Not sure where I would be going yet either and tips on a good place for beginners to go would be great. Completely new to saltwater, but since I got the big rig it's all I've wanted to do. Thanks.
 
Run a new penny or white gulp shrimp on a lead head. I'm a fan of cheap disposable rods and reels so I run a 6' cheap rod with a sensitive tip and a sweep fire 4000 reel. I don't skimp on line. I run stren superbraid or something like it in the 30lbs range. You can also use a flounder rig with a white pogie from the gulp line.


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New guy here and will be new to saltwater fishing. I want to take a trip to the coast with my kayak and fish for red drum, flounder, and maybe some trout. I have a Jackson big rig, with a lowrance fish finder. I need some help from more knowledgeable folks on a rod and reel to use for the fish I want to catch. Also will any regular bass fishing gear work for those fish, like soft plastics and spinner baits. Not sure where I would be going yet either and tips on a good place for beginners to go would be great. Completely new to saltwater, but since I got the big rig it's all I've wanted to do. Thanks.
Any reel with a sealed and smooth drag will do in salt water inshore. I bring flounder in with a smaller 6.5 medium action rod, a shimano nasci 2500, 30lb braid main line, with 20lb mono leader. Carolina rig 1 oz egg sinker with live mud minnows is the absolute best option for flounder. Use a kahle hook size 1-4. 2 or 3 is my favorite.

Get in those creeks and let the kayak float with the current. Troll the edge, the drop offs. Stop at the mouths of the creeks, especially during a tidal change, anchor down and fan cast in all different directions and use a very slow retrieve with the live mud minnow. Using this method of casting and retrieving instead of trolling I switch to 1/2 egg sinker with such a lighter rod, with a heavier rod you can cast the 1oz fine.

For trout float live shrimp under a poping cork, drift and pop the cork. I also have luck at night under lights with artificial jerk baits and twirl tail grubs on jig heads. You'll also sometimes hook up on drum with the live shrimp under a popping cork.

The Carolinas rig with cut croaker (fish head), blue crab, live shrimp, works for drum. Take a cast net, fresh bait it key for quantity. Artificial just fish like you are Bass fishing, as it works for drum, cast toward cover and shallow edges. You'll possibly catch some nice ones, but not as many as with fresh bait. When I'm targeting drum I usually move up to a Medium heavy rod and something along the size of a 5000 spinning size reel give or take. The abu Garcia ambassador c3 also makes it out some. For Drum i still prefer a Carolina rig, but I use a 50lb fluorocarbon leader, and a wide gap circle hook for live or cut bait, 1-3 oz sinker depending on current.

Oh and at low tide get out the kayak, hit up those ponds that are cut off from the creeks for flounder. Here you actually want to use artificial, grubs, spoons, or shrimp and cast. A lot of times there are nice flounder left in these pockets and cut off during low tide.
 
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Thanks for the info guys. Not sure when a trip will happen at this point, trying to research and learn right now. I actually caught my first fish from the yak today, a small bream. Haven't got to use it much my girlfriend has had some health issues preventing such things. Would the fishing be better if I waited until maybe October or early November or any time of year ok.
 
Here in Charleston, the fishing is much better in October/November. That is my favorite time to fish for trout with plastics, but live bait around any structure works well too. And with football season starting, less people on the water.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Not sure when a trip will happen at this point, trying to research and learn right now. I actually caught my first fish from the yak today, a small bream. Haven't got to use it much my girlfriend has had some health issues preventing such things. Would the fishing be better if I waited until maybe October or early November or any time of year ok.
I'd go late September or anytime in October if I was just making one trip. Flounder you can catch all summer through the fall. Speckled trout will pick up when it gets cooler.

One thing, it is hot and humid right now. There is no shade in that marsh like on the river. Kayak fishing in the middle of the day right now sucks. I try to hit it up for a few hours early in the morning, or late evenings.

If you want to catch Flounder, Little River Inlet, SC to Tubbs Inlet, NC is the place to be. Anything else like drum the Outer Banks!
 
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Bought a nasci 2500 and ugly stik rod Saturday, tested it a little today. I think it'll be a great combo, both for inshore and bass fishing. Right now we're thinking about a trip to myrtle Beach over the Labor Day weekend. I've already informed my family if we go not to plan much with me as I'll be taking the big rig along.
 
Bought a nasci 2500 and ugly stik rod Saturday, tested it a little today. I think it'll be a great combo, both for inshore and bass fishing. Right now we're thinking about a trip to myrtle Beach over the Labor Day weekend. I've already informed my family if we go not to plan much with me as I'll be taking the big rig along.
I'd stay at a Brunswick Co Beach, Cherry Grove, Sc or South of Myrtle, unless you like that type of crowd. North or south where it's a short drive to shop in Myrtle.
 
I'm researching the little river inlet and areas further north of there. We will be staying with a friend north of myrtle, so calabash area is also an option to fish most likely. I want to make the most of this trip, likely won't get to go again this year.
 
The times I have been we usually use live bait. Typically bait fish rigged with either a bottom weight or a lead under the weight. Haven't seen a difference in catching with either one.

We cut the tail off of the bait fish which leaves them still alive and they can move a struggle while at the same time giving off a blood trail.

Caste and then let it sit for 5 min or so. If you don't get a bite reel in and caste to a new spot.
 
Ended up not working out due to work schedules changing at last minute. I'm planning a trip for the 22nd of September with three other guys to fort fisher if hurricane Jose doesn't change that.
 
I would suggest using google earth to scout the area you are heading to if you aren't familiar with it. Find a decent size creek that has some larger "ponds" of water that stay full at low tide, often times you can find schools of drum wearing out the baitfish in them, and if you do you will catch drum til you are tired of fishing for them. Nice thing about a kayak you can get to places others cant. Also get a decent size cast net, 6 or 7 foot, and use live bait, the water way will be full of them that time of year. Once you start catching upper slot size drum on light tackle you will throw rocks at freshwater fish.:D:D:D
 
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