| 1)
Check the local tides.
The bigger tides like 2.0+ are best. Its important to know
when the tide will be at its lowest level (low tide) in the
area where you plan to fish for sea trout. You need to be
at your spot shortly after dead low tide, just as the
water is starting to come in. Sea trout feed best
during the early incoming tide. They will continue to hit
through the slack tide as well, but not as good as on the
rising tide. 2)
Where to fish for
Sea Trout.
Fish the creek mouths and pot holes
leading up to the mangroves on the grass flats. As the tide level
increases you can start working under the mangroves as well,
but trout will normally be located in 2 to 4 feet of water
in pot holes on grassy flats. When the
sea trout detect the tide is changing and going out, they will move
from the grass flats to the
deeper channels and holes. Try to find areas on the grass
flats where you can see sandy patches (also knows as pot
holes) scattered throughout the grass areas. The sea trout
use these pot holes as ambush points to catch small shiners,
shrimp and pin fish as they move across the grass flat. If
you use your trolling motor or push pole to quietly move
across the flats, cast into these sandy pot holes and get
ready.
3)
Wade fishing
with white bait, shrimp or pinfish is the absolute best
way to catch sea trout.
Anchor your boat at high tide and wade
across the grass flats casting live shrimp into the pot holes. This is the
best way to catch a big gator trout. Always drag your feet across the sand as
you walk to make sure you detect any rays that may be buried in the sand. You
definitely don't want to get hit with a ray's tail as he shoots away. This would
require medical attention and kill your fishing day.
4)
Another productive way to
catch sea trout at high tide is to use a popping' floater
with 2 feet of 15 lb leader and a small
hook baited with shrimp.
Toss the rig as close to the sandy pot holes as possible and every 3-4 minutes jerk
the rod and pop the floater very loudly. This noise will get the attention
of sea trout several yards away.
When the popper disappears set the hook! This method always works on high
tides and incoming tides in areas with deeper water.
5) Seasons on the year. Sometimes
they school up into hundreds of
sea trout prowling the flats, sometimes they scatter out and you will only
find one here and one there. There are always trout on the flats year round,
but you have to look for them in different areas of Pine Island Sound during the
different seasons. During cold fronts it can be difficult and you might be
better off fishing in the deep canals instead of the flats. |
