Oz's Christmas Wish List

As cooler temperatures replace the long hot season along our Texas coast, a cheerful feeling permeates the air. Although many people abandon our favorite surf fishing activities this time of year, the potential for great action on our beaches does not diminish. In fact, December can be one of the most active times for some creatures who live in the surf.

With this past fall producing such longstanding warm air and sea-surface temperatures, I fully expect the fishing to remain productive this Holiday season on our beaches. Warm Decembers rank high on my list of favorite months to work the Texas surf. Among the thrills we can expect are hordes of bull reds storming the surf, pompano appearing in great numbers on the clear and calm days, and better than normal activity among the apex predators. If the warm trend holds, December will provide chances at blacktips, sandbars, tigers and possibly even mako sharks. As the year winds down, I anticipate some stellar outings.

I like to take some time at the end of each year to reflect on a few aspects of my surf fishing adventures that play prominent roles in my success on the sand. So many different tools and strategies play a part in making the hard work of surf fishing productive. Some people seem to think it's easy―just pick a spot, toss out some baits and get ready to make countless catches. Such thinking couldn't be further from the truth.

Much of the success in angling comes from learning how to use the right gear and tackle, and this takes time and experience. In more than 20 years with numerous trips to the coast, I've tuned in to many of the Gulf's patterns. At the same time, I've developed an efficient system, utilizing personalized gear to make my trips consistently productive. I have no way of spilling a few words on the page and passing along all the experience I've worked so hard to earn, but I can speed up the learning curve by identifying things I consider optimal gear for the surf.

Some anglers will toss lures for a variety of species along the beachfront, but most are soaking baits, and soaking baits properly requires using the right leaders. One of the most crucial aspects of surf fishing gear is terminal tackle, with leaders being some of the most important components. Importantly, targeting different species effectively means using different types of leaders, which generate different presentation styles for the baits.

I use different types of Catch Sharks leaders (available at catchsharks.com) for the various applications. I use the Drum Master leaders this time of year when I'm tossing out mullet and large cut baits for reds and jacks. These are strong, thin, coated cable leaders which cast easily and can withstand attacks from small and medium-sized sharks. When I'm targeting sharks specifically, I use the entire array of Tru-Sand shark leaders, everything from the standard kayaking versions to the more recently acclaimed drone versions.

Many friends and followers often ask me to list other essential equipment that I recommend specifically for targeting big sharks. I've had many brands and models of reels in my arsenal over the years and I've found more than a few of them worthy, but right now the two main reels I'm using are the popular Avets and higher-end Alutecnos brands. I recently began experimenting with the Italian-made Alutecnos models, which are like the Lamborghini of fishing reels. Overall, I've been very happy with these reels; they're built like tanks but remain ultra smooth and extremely well balanced.

I match up all these reels with my OZMOSIS shark rods. I personally designed these rod blanks to match the heavy 50W and 80W class shark reels. Over the past year, I've tested these setups in battles with sharks pushing one thousand pounds. Supplies of the OZMOSIS rods are limited, but both Roy's Bait and Tackle and Breakaway Tackle in Corpus Christi keep blanks in stock. Anyone interested in owning a dream shark rod can get the experienced rod builders at both these establishments to put one together.

Beyond the terminal tackle, reels and rods, recent advances in technologies have given us effective new tools to use in the surf. Ranking high on the list of best new innovations are the drones. Though drones have been around for a while now, the newest models rise head and shoulders above the older ones.Specifically, the XPECE ONE fishing drone (available on xpece.com) is making the biggest mark in the industry. The company excels because they blend continuing smart research with unequaled customer service and support.

Drones are effective for bait deployment on most of our beaches. With the Xpece, it's possible to safely deploy a seven-pound payload several hundred yards out from the shore. On days when rough surf makes kayaking dangerous, these little aircraft are pure gold. Significantly, the Florida-based company making the XPECE ONE is dedicated to optimizing the ease of using their drone. Most people can master their use with a variety of baits in a New York minute.

Beyond learning to use the equipment effectively, experience is the key to becoming a better angler. Few things provide a faster learning curve than hiring someone in the know and making an epic surf-sharking charter down on Padre Island. The Padre Island National Seashore is a kind of Jurassic Park to me. For more than a decade I've been bringing virtually all skill levels of anglers to this famous beach, from complete newbies and families to the most advanced fishermen.

I focus on educating my clients about our incredible surf fishery while teaching everything from the basics to advanced tricks I've learned after years spent working on the sand. Helping people, especially the younger crowd, catch their first big fish, usually a shark, is one of the great joys of my life. We were all kids at one time, and most of us who are obsessed with being out on the water caught the bug at a young age. It's more important than ever to teach kids to venture into the outdoors, to pull them away from the digital devices that threaten to consume them. Giving them this opportunity and teaching the benefits of conservation for future generations is invaluable.

I run charters year ‘round, targeting a variety of shark species and other sport fish. Information about all my charters is available on OceanPics.com. Due to the fact that I book up early, those hoping to book a winter surf or summer '26 shark trip should contact me ASAP. Feel free to mention this article and I'll honor you with a 20% booking discount.