another transplant to the area with questions…for a few weeks now i’ve been exploring the flats around Long island, off folly creek, at various tides in the Kayak. While my adventures have yielded few fish and NO glimpses of tailing reds, run ins with dolphins, and the tranquility of dusk on the water has been worth it…that being said doa shrimp and not-so durable menhaden have yet to be successfull. Should I fish bait on the bottom for better results and more importantly should I change locales in an effort to see the ever elusive tailing phenomenon? I’m beginning to think that all these grass flats around long island and Bowens aren’t the best red habitat…(disclaimer: I’m knew to all this) Thanks all.
plenty of reds around Bowens in the past. I haven’t explored there so far this spring.
Popping corks are great for trout and ladyfish, ok for reds. I catch more and bigger reds on the bottom. Bump a DOA along some structure on the bottom or fish mud minnows on a carolina rig.
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
The finger mullet are starting to show up and deffinetely easier to keep alive in a small bait bucket than the menhedans. I usually don’t see “tailer” unless I am specifically fishing a flat, at the right tide. Like Busy says, I like the float rigs more in the fall/winter for trout… or when the bottom is snaggy.
I say try new spots, but know that the more you fish that area, you will find what works… just takes time.
Personally, I am not a fan of premade rigs. My favorite is a 12" floro leader with a lg split shot dragging the bottom.
Let me know what afternoon you are going, I’d like to try that area again.
Scott