Shaugnessy Hooks

December 13, 2010 2:48 am | Fishing Lures

What is the best combination of hook/line for FL Gulf fishing? Casting from a dock. Snook Redfish Snapper?

Been studying on my spare time. Looks like maybe a size 1/0 or 2/0 hooks. What type? Kahle...or O'shaugnessy? What brand? Looks like Eagle Claw is a good brand. I notice red-colored hooks. I might get red ones.

I have no idea what size of line.

What size/type of rod & reel do you recommend? I'm on a budget.

By the way, I have fished a hand-full of times on other people's gear lately. So I know the basics about fishing. We have been using live shrimp and sliced squid.

Thanks a lot.

Here's some options for catching bigger & better fish while fishing from a dock in Fla:

1. Instead of "bottom fishing", rig-up a 1/4-1/2 OZ "Chartreuse-colored" Jig with a live Mud-minnow or Live Shrimp.

Slowly, bump it along the bottom. This will "weed-out" the dinks and "trash fish" associated when using a bottom-rig. A Jig/Mud-minnow combo is deadly on Reds, Flounder & Spec Trout!

Variation: Instead of a Jig, rig-up a "Carolina Rig" with a 1/2 OZ barrel-weight and 18-20" Flurocarbon leader. Use a live Finger Mullet or Mud-minnow as bait. A 1/0-2/0 Gamakatsu Circle Hook works well with this rig. 12-14LB "Main Line" is FINE for most situations.

If I were you, I would have 2-3 rods fishing at once!

One with a popping cork with either a Live Shrimp or Live Finger Mullet and one rigged with either a Carolina set-up or a Jig.

Creek fishing 101: Cast out the floating-rig rod (with live shrimp, or Finger Mullet) and leave it in a rod-holder.And while you wait, be Jigging or Carolina rigging! If you get bored with Carolina or Jig, have a rod rigged for lures.

Lures: Lures work exceptionally well in fast tidal current because they can mimic natural bait fleeing through the tide. Colors?- Greens, Chartreuse, Redhead/White, Pink, White, natural Mullet, Pogey, are all good colors to use.

Berkley Saltwater Powerbait & Gulp works AS GOOD AS Live Bait in most cases, (These are Soft Plastic lures designed to be threaded on a 1/4-1/2 OZ Jighead or Offset Hook. My fav Gulp is a Jerkshad and an offset hook-

Jerkshad- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_75761____SearchResults

Gamakatsu Offset Hook- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_53661____SearchResults

Jerkshads work esp well for Snook, Reds & Trout. Even Mangrove Snapper like these...

Copper and Gold colored spoons can be very productive around oyster bars & structures! Make sure to use a 4" Curly-tailed Grub as a trailer on your spoon.

Spoon-http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_89224____SearchResults

Strike King and Booyah "saltwater" Spinnerbaits in 3/8-1/2 OZ work well too- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59508____SearchResults

Make sure to "sweeten" all lures with some Pogey or Shrimp aerosal spray attractant- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_72020____SearchResults

Throw all lures UP-current and retrieve WITH the tide!

A tip: BUY some CHUM! When you are stuck on a dock waiting for the fish to come to you, a nice CHUM-Slick will attract fish to your area and save you time. Either buy some already-made chum and "bait it up" OR buy some fish flavored "dry" Catfood / crush it up/ mix with some creek mud/ and create a barrier of "chum/mud balls" around your property & dock!

Do this at LOW Tide and by the time mid-tide arrives your dock will be the #1 "Hotspot" on your creek/canal.

Another tip- Most "Gamefish", (Snook, Redfish, Spec Trout, Flounder, Etc), PREFER live bait. You might occasionally catch a "good" fish using dead Shrimp or cut Squid on a bottom-rig but you will have 80% more luck floating some LIVE Shrimp, Mud-minnow, Mullet or using a lure.

Hope this helps ya?