live croaker in galveston

[IndyKid]

hey all, new to the saltwater fishing scene, and texas. Moved here from indiana a few months ago. I have been wading recently using live shrimp with good success on reds but am looking to use some croaker tomorrow evening after work. Where do you guys get you croaker from in Galveston? I dont remember seeing any at bait camp I usually go to

[Muddskipper]

GO to Sea Isle Marina, they sell them there, JT won't fish without them ....

[Root Canal]

Look for a Yellow Flag at bait camps for croaker.

[Curmudgeon]

Welcome aboard! Just look for the yellow flags.

[reeltime]

Boyd's in texas city or the bait stand that line the frontage off the 61st exit or on 61st st!

[IndyKid]

Thanks all for the replies! Hope to report back with some good catches

[IndyKid]

Are most of the bait camps open 24/7 now? Looking to hit the water at around 4 before work

[imhammer]

Welcome aboard.....Just get out there and throw some topwaters early and then you can go get some bait when they open if you really need it.

[IndyKid]

I usually don't have good luck with arties so try to use live when possible, I have work at 11 and live in sugar land, might have to wait till the weekend haha thanks all

[Root Canal]

Are most of the bait camps open 24/7 now? Looking to hit the water at around 4 before work

Boyd's one stop is open 24 hours on Thur, Fri, Sat.

The other days of the week... open at 4:30 till midnight.

[Swells]

Welcome aboard and welcome to Texas!

No discussion of golden croaker would be complete without both sides, so let me say that some fishermen consider them cheating, they are so effective, and at one time our game department was thinking about outlawing them for fishing bait.

Enough said there, but many of the really good fishermen use artificial baits because that's harder and takes some finesse - such as on lures known as Corkies, Mirrolure, She Dogs, and various plastics in shad and shrimp shapes.

[IndyKid]

thanks for the info swells! I didn't know croaker had that reputation! I stocked up on the usuals when i moved down here, mirrolures corkies etc etc but just haven't had much luck with them. Back to basics!

[ubermensch1324]

thanks for the info swells! I didn't know croaker had that reputation! I stocked up on the usuals when i moved down here, mirrolures corkies etc etc but just haven't had much luck with them. Back to basics!

Good man! I'm glad you decided to give artificial a shot. If you need to use live - you can't lose fishing the surf when the conditions are good on live shrimp with a popping cork.

As far as artificials go - search the forums for Aqua Pimp and read his post on colors. It will help you decide what you need and which colors do best in the morning/night/cloudy/sunny conditions etc.

I highly recommend starting with soft plastics - salt water assassin's are probably the most popular brand here used on the texas coast. Anything in chartreuse, plum w/ chart. tail, or morning glory w/chart tail for early morning or dark conditions. Rig them on a 1/8 oz. jig head and single bump them on bottom with a moderate retrieve. Also you can just reel them in normally w/standard medium retrieve and the paddle tail does all the action for you - no need to work it unless you'd like to.

IMO live bait is too much of a hassle - not only to buy but to constantly rig and mess with. Artificial all the way!

GL

[Reef Drifter]

X2 on reading Aqua Pimp's threads

[IndyKid]

thanks for the tips guys, plan on doing some reading tonight. Arties are much much less hassle, so will be great when i finally start catching something on them haha