I took my sister and girlfriend fishing early Saturday morning in hopes of catching a few reds and trout at Bulls Bay. The weather was incredible. On the way to a couple of spots of mine that typically produce some decent trout, and a few smaller slot reds I noticed a lot of movement in the shallow water in the ICW and automatically thought it was reds schooling together. I know I spooked a few coming in casting range to see if I could catch a few, but didn’t think I spooked them all. I was hoping to maybe a catch a few, most of the reds looked pretty good size and you could pretty much sight cast for them.
My question is how in the world do you catch reds like that? I typically do not ask a lot of questions, I try to learn from experience. Every time I casted towards an area where I saw fish I just waited, and waited with no results. I tried different baits, rigs, and finally just let them be. Did I just spook them too much? Any advice would be appreciated! Maybe I need to try to catch some of them on the fly, who knows. I just really want to learn how to catch reds in shallow water like that. Hope that this isn’t a dumb question!
It was a great day anyways, managed to catch a few trout on some mm and DOA shrimp, and likewise with the slot reds.
If you spooked a few then most likely the whole school spooked. Those ICW fish are used to boat traffic, but drifting over their heads is a different story. Try to approach them as stealthily as possible. Hopefully you see them before they see you.
What company/year? Throw an artificial of your preference/ popularity. You will usually only get a fish or two per location. I usually fish in the Bulls Bay area. They are pretty spooked out there because of the ICW and boat traffic constantly. Hope this helps.
I usually use the Trout Tricks or Electric Chicken grub.
Take your time getting to them.
Try to set up ahead of the direction they are moving and let them come to you.
Mud minnows free lined are very effective. Trick worms on very light jigheads (1/16 or 1/8 oz) work pretty well if you don’t have any live bait.
Don’t throw right in the middle of them if you can help it.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
No expert here but I’ve done all the wrong things many times 
Quiet, quiet, quiet. No Trolling motor! use a push pole. Don’t bang the pole drop anything, etc.
A fly is more effective because it lands very soft and quiet. Don’t try to throw a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig anywhere near the school or you should be prepared to wait 15 min or go find another school.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Personal Trout Slot Limit: 16"-20" Creel: 2
Tango 13. Thanks for all of the suggestions, when a school like that is around me I can barely keep my heart from jumping out of my chest. I have had fish do this in the Ashley as well, couldn’t get them to bite anything artificial and that is all I had. I will have to try free lining a mud minnow or mullet. I am trying to learn the Bulls Bay area as much as I can, I keep looking for places to try on Google maps. I will definitely try some of the mentioned above though, thanks again!
All else fails , lay bait !
19’ Cobia bay
Haha ! Henley you lay bait with the best of them !
19’ Cobia bay