Saltwater Flats Fishing Question.?

Question

Im planning on going fishing this weekend. The way the weather and tides are going to be i think ill give the flats a try. Usually I use live shrimp with no weight letting the wind and current take me from one end to the other. It seems to be hit or miss for me. Is that the way the flats are? Any tips will help. Live bait, dead, or lures. thanks

Answer 1

Free lining shrimp is a good idea, but fish the edge of any flats, try to find a channel or pothole, any change in water depth will be better than fishing water where the depth never changes.

Answer 2

What can I add? Tides... moving water... very good if you're in an area that has things like that. Here in the Indian River Lagoon, depending on where you are, there are areas with little to no tide change, and places that do have tidal changes they're off from what's posted in the paper or in the bait shops, so try to keep track of how far behind the tides in your area are compared to main water if you're somewhere like me...

Grass flats get little sandy potholes... drop a live shrimp with a splitshot or small weight into one of these potholes and it should be pretty productive for you. But really I'm not saying anything that SMC didn't say already... structure, whether it's docks (new or so old that nothing but submerged pilings) culverts, channels, bridges, mangroves, whatever you have for the fish to hide in always good things.

Good luck out there.

Answer 3

Several tips from fishing in Louisiana for years. Forget about what time you go out. Early ain't always best. What you need to worry about is tide movement. Fish feed more actively during periods of tide movement than during slack tide. The reason is that smaller fish and bait move with the tides. Doesn't matter if it's a rising or falling tide, just that it's moving. Position yourself around structure or channels and cuts between obstructions, anything that funnels the tide movement and try to fish your bait as naturally as possible. I use either a Carolina rig on the bottom or a lightly weighted hook under a popping cork.

Sight fishing, especially with a fly rod is exciting and very much akin to hunting for fish.

Another trick we use is to look for and fish "under the birds". That is in the bays watch for where the sea birds are flocking and either diving on the water or sitting on the water. This usually means there is bait under the birds and under the bait will be fish trying to eat it! In this type of fishing I use bait under a popping cork. Be prepared to move with the bait, try different things until you find the right combination.

Any way the key is tide or water movement, bait and presentation. Have fun and remember it can take years to figure out an area and it keeps changing. Pros usually talk or go out with local people in their prep days before a tournament so they can get a handle on the area.

Answer 4

I have fished flats from GA to The Keys.

In most situations, barren 2-4 FT flats can be a tough nut to crack.

You have 2 options.

1. Look for "tailing" fish and "wakes". (In the Keys & FLA, this can be productive but time consuming. Reds, Drum, Bones, Sheephead, Permit, Etc are fun to "sneak-up" on and cast to, but you MUST have the right "conditions" for this type of fishing which includes: No Wind, High Tides, & (possible) Full Moon phase. When fishing like this you rarely catch a "boat-load" of fish. But it's fun!)

2. Find nearby structure and depth-changes in or adjacent to your flats area. ( In my opinion, this is the way to fish if you want to catch your limit. Look for drop-off's and shell-bars/reefs on or near your flats area.

A good idea is to go on a "fact-finding" mission with your depth-recorder and pushpole. Scout your local area flats at the end of every fishing trip. Try to find some possible new structure to hit for the next trip. I have found tons of 2 foot deeper "channels" and "mini-shellbars" doing this. Some produced ,some did not. But the ones that DO produce always seem to have something there! Also, look for "grass-lines".
Make sure to remember WHERE these smaller structures are by logging them, GPS, or taking a "sight-bearing".)

Get a map of the area.

Drifting live bait across a huge flat is "time-wasting". If your like me, and only get to go fishing when the "Ball & Chain" LETS you go, you want to catch as much as you can as QUICKLY as you can! (lol)

Here's a good approach to a flats:

Arrive SUPER early (5-6 AM) when the wind is down. Peruse the flats area with Binoculars. Look for schooling baitfish or "tailing" /waking fish. If you see no movement, slowly ,(and quietly with a push-pole), work yourself into the flats by casting 1/8 OZ Jigs with 4" Berkley Curly-tailed grub-bodys or live shrimp/mud-minnows. Constantly, be looking for "movement", "tailer's, & "shadows". A good pair of polarized glasses will help!

If after an hour you see no movement and your getting no hits/strikes, break out the trolling motor, put it on "3" and do a "quick-run" through the area. Just remember to "slow down" if you come across a bait-fish school or find some interesting structure/grasslines, Etc.

By 10:30 AM go to the edge of the flats, (where it drops off to deeper water) and fish it. "Scout" the edge using Jig/shrimp combo or artificial Berkley curly-tails. If you catch a couple, anchor-up, and "float" some form of live-bait WHILE you continue to cast your Jig-combo. (If your in South FLA you can also cruise the canals after 10:30. This works WELL!)

This is a "general" guide to flats fishing. Conditions/Tides change through-out the course of the day and obviously you will have to change with them.

If you want to "troll" live shrimp, troll the edge of the flats-dropoff or a deeper canal. Use your Jig/shrimp combo for this. This can also be a deadly way to fish!

Hope this helps ya? Good luck!

PS:( Peruse my starred questions on my profile for further fishing info).

UPDATE: Thanks for the vote of confidence Ingun!

Answer 5

Fishing in general is hit or miss. Some days you catch them, some days you don't. As far as bait, nothing is better than live bait.

Answer 6

try taking 2 rods with you rig one up with a fish finder rig until you get a strike the adjust your free lining depth on the other rod and go trolling

Answer 7

stop makin cents gets my vote!

I just wish there was more for me to add,lol!!