TACKLE & BAIT
The knack in these smaller estuaries is to fish light and keep mobile. A two to four-ounce bass rod and either a small multiplier loaded with 15lb mono, or a 5000 sized fixed-spool reel with 20lb braid will cover all bottom fishing for bass, flounders and giltheads. Try twohook rigs with size 2 to 1/0 Aberdeen hooks, depending on bait and fish size. Even big bass can be targeted on size 2/0 hooks.
Mostly though, either a 9ft to 10ft spinning rod and 3500/4000 sized reel with 20lb braid covers a lot of the fishing, especially in the slack water areas away from the main tidal flow.
For mullet, a longer 11ft rod casting no more than two ounces is ample when matched with a 3500 sized fixed spool carrying 8lb mono or 15lb braid. This lighter gear does nicely for the garfish too if you choose to trot a mackerel strip under a float.
A peeler crab is the main bait for the bass, giltheads, plaice and flounders. Lugworms are good but often pick out the smaller fish. Mussels, fished as a bottom bait, can be very effective.
Thick-lipped mullet will take bread flake fished under a clear bubble float. Use a size 8 short-shank hook on a long 4-6ft length of 6lb fluorocarbon for the hooklength. The thin-lips and golden greys prefer a small bunch of maddie rag fished the same way on smaller size 10 hooks. The same gear is fine for the garfish, but use a size 6 shortshank wide-gape hook baited with mackerel strip just nicked in one end for maximum movement.