9/22 afternoon

[ardeeler]

I made it down to Galveston to get some fishing done for the first time in over a month. My time was limited as the wife and I have just had our first child, but I was able to get out for a couple of hours. First off, West Bay Bait and Tackle closed which is very unfortunate. I had to go down to Sea Isle to get a pint of shrimp before hitting up the surf. I went out in front of pirates and the water was as clear as I have ever seen it. I was neck deep and could see my feet! Waded out to the second bar and proceeded to have my 20# leader cut 4 times in half an hour with no fish to show for it. I finally got a hook into something and lo and behold it was a ~24 inch Spanish mackerel. As I had no steel leader and I did not want to stop fishing I donated a couple more hooks before catching another ~28 inch fish and called it a day. I'm giving guestimates on the length as I threw the fish back because I have heard they are not that good to eat and I only have a 21 inch mark on my rod for reds. The bite had slowed and I needed to get home. All in all a great afternoon on the water.

[Jhua]

Smacks are good! But way to get out there!

[Robalo]

Thanks for the report. West Bay Bait closes every year after Labor Day-Jerry & Becky go to their place near Wharton until spring. They also are trying to sell their bait camp ($1MM+ I believe-good luck!!). Sea Isle is better to get bait at anyway-they give better quarts. Right now only Rusty Hook and Sea Isle will have bait.

[Baby Tran Cat]

They have been trying to get that price for what three years now at least...no way...

[Termo]

Small smacks make great fish dip (get recipe online). Smoke 'em (but they're hard to light)

[mikey01]

Dont let anyone tell you somthing ( like a fish ) is not good to eat unless you have tried it yourself... some dont like Mackerel or jack, ( i personally dont mind it ) and found ways to make them both taste great, that goes for every other fish out there ... anywho, my rant for the day... lol

[ardeeler]

I've had kingfish and it's OK. I think I have just set a high bar with trout and redfish which are pretty damn tasty! I'll have to keep a smack next time and give it a try.

[ardeeler]

BTW how long of a steel leader do you need for smacks? I know for sharks it needs to be the length of their body.

[mikey01]

really 6"to1' steel leader is all i have ever used, your going to get like 50 dif. ways to do this im sure... but i have never been broke off by a smack with 1' steel leader... even caught them on topwaters before without steel...

[alex6528]

make sure not to use a silver or gold swivel to attach the leader to the mono. The smacks will see it and hit it and cut you off. use piano wire leader with a haywire knot. You can find it at academy.

[Charlie]

I use black coated wire 18" leaders for smacks and don't have any trouble. BTW smacks are GREAT smoked, hickory is the best imo.

[ardeeler]

Sounds good. Thanks for the info

[WestEndAngler]

Congrats on the new addition Eric! Cody is back in town if you can pull him out of his hole

[young gun]

nice...... but on west bay bait n tackle being closed..... o well.... i never cared for that joint ever since i went to get some mud minnows there once and was RUDELY inlightend that they were not indigenous to the area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lmao...... rusty hook for life..

[Milkjug]

RUDELY inlightend that they were not indigenous to the area!

LOL, bull. Gulf killifish are about as native as you can get.