If this Upstate guy can learn the basicdown for Redfish, Flounder and Trout i would be more comfortable about fishing on the coast.
Do anyone mind sharing some helpful tips.
I’m probably one of the last people to share any fishing wisdom but here are a few things I learned from a couple of folks here on CF. One, bigger baits, bigger fish. When I would throw my cast net out, I’d often throw back the mullet that were over 4-5", thinking they were too big for what I was fishing for. After seeing a 16" trout almost choke itself on an 8" mullet I saw you almost can’t go too big.
Someone here taught me fishing with a jighead and a mud minnow. Hook them under the chin, cast out to points of creeks, oyster mounds or under docks and bump it back slowly along the bottom. I’ve caught reds, trout and flounder this way. This same person convinced me to fish some days with artificial baits only as you may not always have live bait. I got better and now enjoy using plastics, etc… Nothing earth shattering here but just a couple of things. The most important thing…time on the water, paying attention to tides, etc. Unfortunately, THAT is the hardest part for me, not enough time.
I’m sure there will be far more knowledgeable folks that will come along and fill you will great tips and advice. I’ve seen your posts, you won’t have any problems catching what you want.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I’m having a similar problem. I am currently catching trout pretty consistent but no redfish. I am newer to inshore fishing and the more time I put in helps because my catch number increases. I have caught redfish in brackish water just not yet in Beaufort. I figure if I keep trying eventually I’ll find one to bite.
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Originally posted by gonefishingIf this Upstate guy can learn the basicdown for Redfish, Flounder and Trout i would be more comfortable about fishing on the coast.
Do anyone mind sharing some helpful tips.
The best thing I can recommend is time on the water. Now, with that said, I am going to give you some pointers I have learned over the years. My favorite tide to fish is falling into low, then the first couple hours of incoming. Once high tide comes in, I still pick up a few fish it just seems a lot more difficult. Mostly due to the fact the reds are pushing up in the grass looking for food. Trout can be consistently caught as long as there is water moving. I only use artificials but here is my gameplan:
Reds: Fish structure(docks, oysters, trees etc) with jig heads and assorted soft plastics. I mostly use Zman products and have great success. Fishing grass points and around oysters with deeper edges you can float a popping cork with an artificial shrimp (Vudu, DOA etc)
Trout: Look for water in the 6-8’ range. A jig had with a trout trick, paddle tail or curly tail grub with bright colors usually results in a good bite. I look for grass points/oyster bars where there is a strong current break and will throw in the edge of the current. Let it hit the bottom and lightly give two twitches up and let the lure fall back to the bottom. The trout will usually hit on the fall. Trolling is also a good way to locate trout. You can set up a couple of rods with different color lures and troll two behind your boat/kayak. Once you hook up, there will usually be more in that area.
Flounder: Same setup used for reds and trout will work. Throw up into feeder creek openings, sloooooowly bump across the bottom and wait for the inevitable “tap tap” then wait 3 seconds and slowly reel.
Thank you guys for the helpful info. I am definitely about to change my game plan up and start targeting them more…
Low incoming tide near structure with live bait or really fresh bait like shrimp or cut mullet.
Appreciate it
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Originally posted by gonefishingIf this Upstate guy can learn the basicdown for Redfish, Flounder and Trout i would be more comfortable about fishing on the coast.
Do anyone mind sharing some helpful tips.
One thing I’ve learned about reds and specks is that what works one place usually works in others. If you have some time on your hands and like to read, here are some recs: (1) A. C. Becker’s books on redfish, flounder and trout. He was a big time writer years ago in the south Texas area. Full of info. (2) If you want to target trout and are looking for tech info look into Jerald Horst’s Trout Masters and Trout Masters Too. They are primarily about guides and fisherman in certain areas but goes into a lot of details about equipment, lures, etc. You can find all these on either eBay or used on Amazon. Todd Masson is the co-author on the latter and wrote a very good book about New Orleans after Katrina and the government declaring martial law and seizing guns from people who were staying in their homes. Pete Cooper has written a pretty good primer on redfish and Frank Sargeant - Florida Sportsman magazine - has written a book on reds and on specks. Tight lines!!
I always carry a rod with popping cork and DOA - A Carolina rig with a circle hook for a finger mullet or chunk of cut mullet - and a rod with a jig. And often a top water plug - gold spoon, and swimming hard or plastic bait. My top confidence setup is a chartreuse bucktail spro jig tipped with a mud minnow - fish it just like you would a plastic worn or jig for largemouth.
J Ford
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Originally posted by jfordI always carry a rod with popping cork and DOA - A Carolina rig with a circle hook for a finger mullet or chunk of cut mullet - and a rod with a jig. And often a top water plug - gold spoon, and swimming hard or plastic bait. My top confidence setup is a chartreuse bucktail spro jig tipped with a mud minnow - fish it just like you would a plastic worn or jig for largemouth.
J Ford
What do you catch with this setup? Reds, trout and flounder? Or mostly just one of those?
And when you say “top confidence” do you mean that you catch more fish with that than a popping cork or other setups?
I like a flounder and trout to eat the most. I get all three with the tipped jig but, get more flounder that way. My top eats. At times you can get after some trout with that popping cork and slow reeling a Zman or paddle tail is money on the reds. Same with the other methods. I don’t ever recall catching a flounder on a popping cork - not that it can’t be done.
J Ford