Happydaze Loc: Hudson Fl

new forum member, 3 posts so far. New to fishing and kayaks also( 6 months) .Wish I had taken up this hobby 50+ years ago. I fish mostly inshore from a kayak 2 to 3 days a week when practical. Mostly oyster beds and flats .i try to fish as tide is changing. I use Shrimp, #1 circle hook, 18” floro leader, 15# braid, penn rod and spinning reel. Carolina rig or Texas rig. I look for mangrove snapper, Redfish, sheepshead, amberjack.
Some good days, some not.
Confused as to options for bait, are soft plastics practical, wacky rigs, Ned rigs, what type lures ? looking for any and all suggestions but mostly just wanted to say thanks for the forum.

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

Soft plastics are very practical, Wacky Rigs, Ned Rigs, and Drop-Shot all are baits that work the bottom. Many fish relate to the bottom or suspend at different depths.

Happydaze Loc: Hudson Fl

Thanks Ron, slightly confused when reading other posts as to wether they are relating to saltwater or freshwater fishing. Do bass fishing tips apply to both ?

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Welcome Happy, kayaker here myself. Thanks for telling us where you are located.

In regards to the plastics they aren't working to well here in NC brackish waters, could be the temps are down for the most part. Yes an occasional catch with them but the twitch baits doing a great job.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, Happy. I fish salt and fresh but not bass. I would say pretty much so. Fishing salt, I use mostly live shrimp, fresh, mostly crawlers, unless I'm trout fishing, then flies. A lot of people use jigs for both fresh and salt with live bait and plastics.

Ron Langevin

I fish the same areas in Tampa bay from a flats boat. The bait to use is shrimp for everything because every fish eats shrimp, period. The best soft bait for where I am at is a bare lead headed 3” Root Bear plain pointed tail soft bait. Retrieved so slow you do not think it is moving. Several Captains say it IS the best soft bait. I

Ron Langevin

I only fish for edible fish and do not consider bass edible. I think bass are more popper bait fish using frog lures.????

BILLBYRD1 Loc: Prattville Al

Welcome Happy from Alabama Bill

Raw Dawg Ron Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Welcome Happydaze, Hudson fisher? We are base by Anclote and fish Tampa bay to Aripeka. Used to use Love Lure pink curly tails and now DOA swim baits and one long white one that looks like a ballyhoo weedless. So much grass floating from bait shrimpers you need to be weedless and hide hook point.

Bob O Loc: Palatine, IL

Hello Happydaze, where are you located? I fish the panhandler Gulf twice a year and would love to share some techniques.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Hey RonL, if the perch and crappie are edible from the waters you fish then the bass would be also. Perch and cappie are smaller pan fish, bass are larger pan fish. Try to keep some that are about a pound and a half to 2 lbs. Fillet them and rinse the fillets under cold clean water and cook the same way you like your other fish cooked. You might be surprised. Really, try some.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Welcome Happy. post some pictures when you can.

Salty Dog Loc: Punta Gorda, Florida

Welcome Happydaze, Don't forget gold spoons. Redfish can't pass them up. Add a red curly tail soft plastic on spoons with fixed single hooks, like Johnson weedless. Also, I think you mean Jack Crevalle, not Amberjack. Amberjack from a kayak would qualify you for a Hemingway Novel! 🙂
As mentioned above, when using soft plastics, fish them very slow and on the bottom. A 5-6" soft bait with a curley tail fished that way before sunrise will almost guarantee you a snook.
Best bait for Snappers is live white bait; Pilchards/Spanish Sardines. You will have to catch your own as they die fast in captivity. Get a can of Jack Mackeral at the grocery store and mix it with stale bread, which will keep the mixture from sinking too fast. When you have bait feasting on it, toss a cast net.
As for Sheepshead, they can't pass up small green crabs. Fiddler crabs is second best. You can catch both where you fish. Greens you will find under rocks in knee deep water. Fiddlers will be on sandy stretches of beach and in, believe it or not, trees along water ways. Just don't keep any crabs that have eggs.
Now it's one thing to hear all the advise, but quite another to make practical use of it, so your best teacher is do your research and and get out and learn by doing. Have fun! Cheers!🐟

Fishin Fool 69 Loc: Etowah, TN

Welcome Happy, as you can see plenty of members wiling to help out with tips and advice, feel free to share yours also. Yes we all love to see the pics f fish.