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Fishing Lights on Choctawhatchee Bay
Posted on 12/10/24 at 12:30 pm
Posted on 12/10/24 at 12:30 pm
A family member bought a house on Choctawhatchee bay and has lights off the end of the pier. We are going down for a few days around Christmas and I want fish the lights with my 6 year old but have never done this type of fishing. I have a pretty light spinning reel I was thinking of taking down and equipping. Any advice on line, leader, artificial/live bait? I only plan to be there a couple times a year so would like to spend as little as possible while still setting little man up for a good time. TIA.
4
Posted on 12/10/24 at 1:17 pm to HDAU
The matrix minis are a good fishing light bait.
Posted on 12/10/24 at 1:26 pm to HDAU
Def something small and natural is best. I’d try to keep line size 10 or under.Reminder to sneak up on those lights barreling down pier is counterproductive . Have fun
Posted on 12/10/24 at 2:09 pm to redfish99
there is usually one big fish feeding at the edge of the lights walk up carefully and look - I have lost a few lines to a big one that wasnt supposed to be there
Posted on 12/10/24 at 2:54 pm to HDAU
1/8 oz glow in the dark double rig. Jig heads and plastic, shrimp or minnow shape, it doesn’t matter. Hold baits up in front of light every few casts to charge. And like someone already said, be stealthy and stand back from the edges of the dock.
Posted on 12/10/24 at 3:08 pm to HDAU
I wouldn't expect a lot during Christmas on the flats. The trout usually move to the creeks during cold days because they are spring fed and usually a consistent mid 60s where the bay will get cooler than that in peak winter. The redfish tend to go to deeper water structure or out into the gulf. The flounder are spawning in the gulf.
Now, if its warm which it easily could be its like 75* today then the fish will move into the flats and around the docks.
Generally speaking for the dock lights I'd use live bait on the outside of the lights just where it gets dark. The lights usually attract the bait and the fish either swim through the lights or wait on the outside watching the bait. Its really really difficult to get them to bite artificial in the lights in my experience.
If he's only 6 though, shrimp on the bottom at night should be catfish and potentially rays all night long.
ETA: Light leader. I'd buy some 12 lb or just have your kid use straight mono 12 lb would be fine honestly. Live shrimp free lined is what I'd do first. Then maybe put it on a cork. Then maybe on the bottom with a small weight. Maybe even try it with a split shot so it slowly falls. Spring, summer and fall you could try netting some live bait and use whatever you net outside of pinfish: finger mullet, greenies/ pogies, etc.
Now, if its warm which it easily could be its like 75* today then the fish will move into the flats and around the docks.
Generally speaking for the dock lights I'd use live bait on the outside of the lights just where it gets dark. The lights usually attract the bait and the fish either swim through the lights or wait on the outside watching the bait. Its really really difficult to get them to bite artificial in the lights in my experience.
If he's only 6 though, shrimp on the bottom at night should be catfish and potentially rays all night long.
ETA: Light leader. I'd buy some 12 lb or just have your kid use straight mono 12 lb would be fine honestly. Live shrimp free lined is what I'd do first. Then maybe put it on a cork. Then maybe on the bottom with a small weight. Maybe even try it with a split shot so it slowly falls. Spring, summer and fall you could try netting some live bait and use whatever you net outside of pinfish: finger mullet, greenies/ pogies, etc.
This post was edited on 12/10/24 at 3:15 pm
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