I need y’all’s opinion on something: It seems almost everyone prefers to fish the two hours before and after low tide. Is it even worth it to fish a high tide or any time other than the two hours before and after low tide? It seems to me the fish would be up in the grass when the water allows them to be (i.e. high tide). I’d like to go this weekend but low tide’s around 3:30 Saturday morning and I don’t want to waste my time if y’all don’t think it’s worth the effort. As always thanks in advance for your input.
It’s always worth the effort. I usually get the biggest reds on high tide.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
trout don’t go in the grass, so they are often the target around high tide.
topwater, mudders under a cork, grubs- probably the latter since they’re likely to be deeper right now.
this is mostly hearsay- i concentrate my effort around the bottom half of the tide inshore.
I usually catch more fish at the bottom of the tide, but larger fish at the top. Anytime is a good time to go fishing!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Reds move from mud to live shell to grass on ALL flats in my area. Right now, the fish don’t spread out as much as they do when it’s warmer, so when they enter the grass, they do so in large groups. This leads to some of the best sight-fishing opportunities if you can find em. They basically tuck in behind the first “wall” of grass (hiding from Flipper) that receives water on the flat they are on during low tide. They won’t move much as they are not foraging alot on fiddlers like they do in warmer months when you see them “tailing”. As the water gets higher, on some days they stay close to bottom, so they can be tough to see; especially if the water is off colored or there is thick grass. On other days, it seems like they are “sunning” themselves up near the surface and are easy to spot. Just remember, the fish don’t fly away during higher tides. There is just more water for them to be in.
[quote]Originally posted by Cracker Larry
I usually catch more fish at the bottom of the tide, but larger fish at the top. Anytime is a good time to go fishing!
Dang skippy, Cracker Larry!
That’s what I’m talkin’ about! I figured the same but it’s always good to hear what y’all think. Good advice, all. It’s a done deal, I’m fired up now!..
Those fish are always there somewhere, ya just got to figure out where they are, when. Time on the water is the only way to do it.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Another tactic on a high tide is to follow feeder creeks to their end or at least as far as your boat will let you go. Most creeks hold a school somewhere along their length and typically those fish will go to the end of the creek on the incoming type. Most of the feeder creeks end in a flat type area. Although this is more typically a warm water technique, I found fish (and a little bait) way up some creeks last weekend on the high tide even though the water was only 49 - 52. If you time it right and find a good spot like a deep hole, an oyster rake, or just a spot where several creeks join together, you can catch fish as they go up the creek on the incoming and then out the creek on the outgoing. Although people usually say to explore new areas on a low tide, you can also safely do some exploring on an in incoming high tide.
I’ve found its easier to find the fish at low tide because you can see their movements better, high tide just requires more work to find the fish for me.
Look for the grass moving. (Reds) Make sure you have at least 50 lb braid, and throw some cut mullet in there.
Follow the bait!!! Look for birds just like off shore.
Stonoman
Thanks, everyone. I’m heading to one of the local shops this afternoon to pick up a new Penn Battle 4000 to try out tomorrow. Life if good…