BigBendFishing.Net

Salty Gator wrote:You may want to go earlier. Unless there is a slack tide we usually put in at safe light. The spooks, skitterwalks and topdogs all use a "walk the dog" action. Not too hard with a little practice, but does take a little. On the other hand a storm chug bug ( or ang chugger)can be just as deadly on the trout and reds. Easier to get used to. Just pop it, let it sit. Reel a little. Pop it, let it sit and so on. We usually start with one with a spook and one with a chug bug and see what works. If you get " blowups" with no takers, switch to a suspending plug like a mirrodine or Paul brown corkie. I think a spook was originally a bass lure, in fact I think most of our redfish lures are borrowed from the bass guys. Like previously said, try to fish when the tide is moving. Also move around and try different spots and baits until you establish a pattern. Don't worry it gets better. I had a lot of skunks in my boat when I first started. It is sweet when it all starts to come together though. You will be there before you know it

zload wrote:Setty 7 I'm new at the salt game as well, haven't been totally skunked yet but came mighty close. Those suggesting switching up until you have the pattern of the day down make the most sense to me. I usually have a least one other person in the boat so from the begining we fish differently until things start happening. The cork/jig/Gulp is probably the best newbie game out there but I've found that sometimes they want a different color etc. So when we are starting if there are 4 in the boat we use 4 different colors or depths or presentations. Just to see if the fish are being picky. I recently went to Steinhatchee and fished from daylight until about 11:00 with hardly a bite. Went from the grass out to 5'. I like to fish a jig/gulp without the cork more or less bottom bouncing. As I moved out we suddenly hit a zone and caught trout as fast as we could pull them in. Not a single bite on the jig/cork combo but slamming on the jig alone. Switched my daughter to the jig only and she went to slamming as well. Color didn't seem to make a differencem, it was pretty much cast and reel. Had boats all around me, including one who decided to investigate closer but I lucked into the right spot and the right presentation, never saw my "neighbor" bring in a fish. Came back and hardly any of the folks at the docks had caught anything. We probably caught 70+ trout in 2 hours. I wish it were skill but it was luck, other than being willing to change up until you find something that works. I do try and fish moving water as in tide but the JOB is such a pain so I fish when I can, hang in there I think the best is yet to come for this year!

wiseman25 wrote:Try going right out of the river towards pattys island pick a depth and either work in to land or out until u start to find wht depth they are hitting in. Sometimes 2 foot more or less water makes a big difference so search around.

FUTCHCAIRO wrote:YA MIGHT WANT TO USE A SMALLER JIG, LIKE A 1/8 OZ. WITH A NATURAL OR GLOW COLOR ON THE GRUB. THE ONE I USE IS UNDER A CORK ABOUT 18 INCHES. MAKE A SLOW LONG SWEEP WITH YOUR ROD AND THEN LET IT SIT TO THE COUNT OF 5 AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND THE I HAVE DONE BETTER ON A INCOMING TIDE, TRY TO CATCH THE LOW TIDE , SAY ABOUT 5-6 IN THE MORNING, DRAG A COUPLE OF GRUBS BEHIND THE BOAT AND CAST WITH MOST ANY LOUD TOP WATER BAIT AHEAD OF THE BOAT. I USE MOSTLY BAITS THAT HAVE A SPINNER ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE PLUG THAT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, I VARY THE SPEED THAT I JERK IT , GENERALLY JERK IT 3-4 TIMES AND LET IT SIT TO THE COUNT OF 5 AND THEN REPEAT THE SAME ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BOAT. WATCH FOR BIRDS FEEDING OUT ON THE FLATS, IF YA SEE FISH FEEDING UNDER THEM IT IS PROBABLY SPANISH, I USE SILVER SPOONS AND WORK IT REAL FAST FOR THE SPANISH. HOPE THIS MIGHT HELP YA A LITTLE. DO NOT STAY IN ONE PLACE TOO LONG, MOVE AROUND, I GENERALLY WORK EAST OF THE LIGHT HOUSE BETWEEN THE FLOATING MARKERS AND THE SHORE, WORK UP ANY OF THE SMALL CREEKS THAT YOU COME TO, GO UP THE CREEKS AS FAR AS YOU CAN, BE SURE TO GET OUT BEFORE THE LOW TIDE CATCHES YOU.
PA
SEMPER FI

SHOWBOAT wrote:worry less about what you read on forums or in magazines ...

reelcatch wrote:Do yourself a favor and contact a local guide. Pay for a day of fishing. When you get done you will have an understanding of how and where to fish. Should cost around 300 or 350 for the day I think. Worth the money for the lesson and you will have fish at the end of the day. Just my thought, the old saying the blind can't lead the blind means something. Go with someone who KNOWS the flats.

Salty Gator wrote:A storm chug bug is a type of topwater plug. A suspending plug is one that you work lower in the water column. Mirrodine by mirrolure is a type. There are a bunch of different brands and colors etc. Go to Kevin's and get Lin or Miles to hook you up.