Do any of you guys spend much time fishing the lights at night in the bay? I'm taking my boy in a few weeks and was wondering how it's been. Will freelining shrimp or putting them under a cork work? What artificials should I bring? Thanks!

I fish an underwater green light at my cabin in Baffin Bay. There's a lot of undersized trout, so I use a smaller lure. I like to throw Trout Rigs for the double drop as well as the size of the lures. I never use bait (dead or alive) at any point in my life.

up-n-aTm said:

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I fish an underwater green light at my cabin in Baffin Bay. There's a lot of undersized trout, so I use a smaller lure. I like to throw Trout Rigs for the double drop as well as the size of the lures. I never use bait (dead or alive) at any point in my life.

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Well aren't you special.

Spec rig or small gulp would work well. Free lining shrimp or with a really light drop shot would work also.
You'll find a lot of dinks in the lights and sometimes you can get some quality fish on the edges of the light.

Helps if you can bounce around in a kayak or a boat w/ a trolling motor like in the canals vs. fishing the same light all night.

Free lined shrimp will work. I'd ditch the popping cork. Specs can be finicky and spooky under lights at times. Then again, sometimes they aren't.

There are a variety of styles, colors, etc. of spec rigs that will work. So will spoons, flies, touts, etc.

SquirrellyDan said:

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up-n-aTm said:

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I fish an underwater green light at my cabin in Baffin Bay. There's a lot of undersized trout, so I use a smaller lure. I like to throw Trout Rigs for the double drop as well as the size of the lures. I never use bait (dead or alive) at any point in my life.

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Well aren't you special.

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I can't imagine teaching a toddler how to fish artificials. So his father/grandfather was the most patient man on earth. That or he is full of it.

clear colored baits will work well in artificials. Maybe try some of the H&H glass minnow rigs or anything small in opening night or glow is usually good. We also have had success with a clear super spook jr sometimes. Lastly, I often throw a DOA shrimp in 1/4 oz.

They can be finicky if the night is calm. Also, sometimes your best bet is to go to sleep, set your alarm for about 2am and leave that light on the whole time. Get up and fish until sunrise and many times you will do better then, than you do fishing in the heat. We used to fish midnight to 10am a lot in the summer when we had access to lights.

Duncan Idaho said:

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SquirrellyDan said:

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up-n-aTm said:

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I fish an underwater green light at my cabin in Baffin Bay. There's a lot of undersized trout, so I use a smaller lure. I like to throw Trout Rigs for the double drop as well as the size of the lures. I never use bait (dead or alive) at any point in my life.

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Well aren't you special.

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I can't imagine teaching a toddler how to fish artificials. So his father/grandfather was the most patient man on earth. That or he is full of it.

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Don't forget, this IS the freaking OB.

Where no one has ever fished with bait. Where a 1,000 acre property will always be too small to hunt. Where everyone drives a 2020 truck. Where briskets are smoked to perfection on pellet grills whilst working 15 hour days in the office. Where everyone's wife is a 10/10 WB.

Fishing the lights is great. I have caught specks, sand trout and reds from a kayak as well as a small Jon boat. Used speck rigs, gulp and Live bait. I always start at the outside.

Fun part is it is cooler and you are normally by yourself. Later is better For me because folks will have gone inside and you wont have to skip as many occupied piers.

SquirrellyDan said:

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up-n-aTm said:

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I fish an underwater green light at my cabin in Baffin Bay. There's a lot of undersized trout, so I use a smaller lure. I like to throw Trout Rigs for the double drop as well as the size of the lures. I never use bait (dead or alive) at any point in my life.

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Well aren't you special.

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mfbarnes?

Aggieangler93 said:

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clear colored baits will work well in artificials. Maybe try some of the H&H glass minnow rigs or anything small in opening night or glow is usually good. We also have had success with a clear super spook jr sometimes. Lastly, I often throw a DOA shrimp in 1/4 oz.

They can be finicky if the night is calm. Also, sometimes your best bet is to go to sleep, set your alarm for about 2am and leave that light on the whole time. Get up and fish until sunrise and many times you will do better then, than you do fishing in the heat. We used to fish midnight to 10am a lot in the summer when we had access to lights.

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This.

Artificial aren't for everyone. I've seen lots of days when lure chunkers zero or come in with few fish. The bait guys catch limits. It's just your preference.

I love throwing bait. Sitting in the boat. Beer in one hand rod in the other watching nature. That's just me though.

Thanks for the replies. We'll be going from light to light via nucanoe and trolling motor.

Bit of unsolicited advise. Put some reflective tape on the hull, have a 360 light and a hand held light. Make sure the boats see you. I have been amazed at the drunks on the water at night who are oblivious. Another reason I go very late.

This is at little bay in rockport for the most part. Also Sargent a few times.

I have had a few people come out yell at me for fishing lights that were on their docks. One night a guys was yelling at me so I took another cast and caught a 21" trout, boxed it, threw back and caught a 20". Dude was pissed. F' people that think they own the water. I just told him if doesn't want people fishing there turn off your light. He did and I moved. I just use my spot lock on my boat. It's easy and can be productive.

Agreed that if you go with shrimp, free lining would likely be best. It gives more flexibility in depths to fish, plus as someone mentioned they can sometimes be skiddish so popping corks can be a bit much.

I love fishing the lights at night. Its quite and calm, so peaceful and especially fun when there's plenty of fish catch.

We try to be respectful when fishing folks' lights. If someone is there fishing from the dock, we pass the light up. We had a grumpy old battleaxe yell at us one night from her balcony in her robe about fishing her lights. We politely asked her to call the Game Warden. She went back inside. Harassing legally engaged fishermen, is a ticket-able offense in Texas. Most game wardens won't put up with it.

Now, if we had been making a bunch of noise or something, I could see her being pissed, but we were just trolling along from light to light quietly putting every 3rd fish in the cooler. We would even troll 50 yards or so farther around the corner away from the houses and out into the main canal before starting the big motor. Some people do not, but we try to be very courteous when we are in the canals and respect folks' property.

It's not too far from those docks, and I don't want to get shot by some loose cannon that thinks they own the whole damn world.

Every once in a while, we would bring a cheap ultralight, just to mess with the 12 inch schoolie trout. They fight like hell when you are on a super thin ultralight!

my two go to lures under the lights are DOA 3" Shrimp (clear/gold flakes or clear/silver flakes) and a Zara Puppy.
I find that the topwater with no rattles works best, and smaller presentations seem to be produce better.

Other lures we use include small paddle tails, weightless white bass assassins, and lastly GULP if we have to.

The DOA catches probably 80% of our fish.

When it gets tough (windy or picky fish), you can't beat a live shrimp or 2-3" mullet floated 18" under a cork.

i know people that like speck jigs and curly tails too. I just haven't ever tried them.

When they are feeding good, I think you could catch them on a bare hook.

DOA is great. Also the Paul Brown Corky is effective.

https://fishgame.com/2020/06/critical-night-fishing-gear-the-green-light/

I haven't tried the black lure yet