Learn to read the water to catch more fish
Fishing is like reading a book. The difference is this is a living book. Like a book, you start out by looking at the cover. Only, when youre fishing the cover is the weather conditions. You look at the wind, sun, tide, humidity, and the temperature of both the air and the water. With this knowledge, you can make the decision about how you will be fishing - by boat, kayak, or wading, using light tackle or fly. Then you can choose where you want to fish and what you are going to fish for.
Knowing where to cast once you are on the water can make all the difference in the world. Early on, be quiet and pay attention to any activity around you. Especially notice any schools of mullet or shrimp that are jumping around. Sometimes they are just playing around, but often times this can be a sign that larger game fish are chasing them. Casting in that direction is often a good place to start. Underneath the surface of the water you may also see smaller crabs that are being chased by predators.
Birds may be the most important wildlife to follow on the water. They always seem to know where the fish are, especially blue herons, pelicans and gulls. They will give you clues on where fish are and what they are feeding on. Learning to read these clues can help you catch way more fish, it just takes a little bit of observation.
Learning to read the structure of your fishing site is another way to catch those elusive fish. Look for drains. Those are gaps in the islands that allow water to flow in or off the flats into deeper water. I call these areas bait highways, and if the bait fish are traveling them, the predator fish are not far behind. Set up to the sides of these highways, especially at peak tidal changes.
When you get into this drain area, try starting off with a top water lure first. This lure is good for recon as fish nearby will usually strike at it, giving you a quick indication as to whether or not there are any fish in the area. Once you see a strike, switch over to a soft plastic fishing lure that will give you the advantage on that big speckled trout. I always throw a weedless lure, about 3 casts into each section before looking for somewhere else.
Whether I am fishing for fun, with clients or in a tournament, I generally go with the Sea Devil by Brown Lures. Pink Hologram seems to work best for me, but they make many different colors that can work great for clear or muddy water.
Learning to read this “living book” can give you a real advantage the next time that you go fishing. As always, pay attention to the weather, wildlife and structure to get the most out of your day. Time and practice will teach you what all of these clues mean, so go out and test it for yourself. Good Luck Fishing!