So Im out on a flat of 6 inches of water and there are 200 redfish blowing up bait. Im watching them plow through the shallows half out the water. Very small shrimp and mullet all over the place getting torn to shreds. Literally see them every where. I toss live mullet, dead mullet, doa shrimp, gold spoon, trout trick, z man paddle tails in multiple colors… I threw everything at them and nada. The only things I didn’t have was live shrimp or mud minnows. They were definitely feeding. So whats up?Do I need live shrimp? Dead shrimp? Ive been in the same place and killed the reds with artificial anything. Id say its too hot but they were definitely feeding.Ugh
Understand your frustrations Went out yesterday in the Cooper area. Lots of rats, even small flounder but larger fish would not bite at all.
This isn’t meant to be an insult, but are you sure they were redfish?
Low tide or high?
Sometimes you got to hold your mouth just right 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Not an insult at all. There were so many mullet I thought the exact thing at first.The water was so dirty they were literally running into the kayak and at low tide, they plow around in 2 or 3 inches with half their bodies exposed. Definitely redfish and some big ones.First quarter of low tide.The odd thing is this is the same place I have caught as many as I wanted to with anything I throw to them in times past.Im thinking I should go back and try shrimp.
I’ve fished an area exactly like that that recurves lots of fishing pressure. I’ve had success there using quartered crabs where no live bait would draw a strike, but the bite is slow.
Maybe thats the ticket since they are likely digging for crabs at that time.
Digging for fiddlers on the flats. And you got to hold your mouth right to get them to bite
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryDigging for fiddlers on the flats. And you got to hold your mouth right to get them to bite
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
He’s taking about low tide fishing…
quote:
He's taking about low tide fishing.....
In that case they are probably eating shrimp now. It is important to know what they are eating to know what bait to use. On some days they will eat anything, others not. Got to match the food source they are looking for. If you catch a keeper, open it’s stomach to see what it’s been feeding on and match it.
That’s fishing. If anybody ever really figured them out, they would be a very rich man.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
23 don’t you tell Larry his business
Even Peapod knows better than reds eating fiddlers on low tide mud flats, just sayin
Larry hit on it. Match the hatch in this case is difficult because there aren’t baits small enough to match. I have found a fly rod with a very small clouser about 1.5 in long to be the best tool for the job. Another tip is to wait patiently for a strike then try to drop your lure in there within a second. They will often hit it then, I suspect because they think they blew a bait skyward and it’s landing. Lastly I have been able to get them to strike a skitterwalk if it’s very early in the am
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Yeah…Been there and done that. They were eating crabs or shrimp for sure. I been on a school of giant 4/7 lb trout in the Gulf and all they would eat was baby croakers. We got 2, and a boat next to us 25/30. Wanted to barf in my mouth. We were using beautiful live shrimp.
I’ve had good luck with a spinner bait in these conditions when nothing else would work. I prefer a white skirt with a gold Colorado blade worked very slowly letting the blade bump the bottom on it rotation.
PM me the lat/long, and I’ll go research the spot for you!
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Originally posted by skinneejPM me the lat/long, and I’ll go research the spot for you!
x2 wonder why it took that long. Tri I will take you for the research trip???
Ever tried a gig!
Gig would work and I could have easily caught as many as I wanted in a cast net as well.I think the consensus is small shrimp or small artificial that looks like shrimp right as they are feeding in the frenzy. Not sure why the DOA didn’t produce. It has in the past in the same spot in the same conditions.Cant help you guys with the GPS numbers as my buddy who fishes there would have a heart attack and kill me. That spinner sounds interesting as well. Might have to break out the bass lures.Thanks for all the advice.