First, it should be said that tips and tricks like these that I have put together can only take you so far. It is important to hone your skills and practice observing the conditions while you are out fishing. These tips are a few that I have put together over many years of guiding but are by no means the only way to catch fish. Make sure that you are familiar with the places that you are fishing so that you can key in on certain conditions and look for your "target".



One of the first areas I look for are grass lines. Baffin Bay, especially the south shoreline, has many areas where the grass lines make strong transitions and stop in shallow water. Typically in these areas you will see a change to a white sandy bottom from the dense shoal grass found elsewhere. On a good, clear day with high visibility the contrast from these transitions sticks out like a sore thumb.

In addition to the shallow water transition, you can also look for grass lines that coincide with a depth change. When fishing in the Laguna Madre this change in water depth may only be a few inches, not the usual three to four foot channel drops that we often look for in Bass fishing. Even these subtle changes can impact fish behavior. Instead of transitioning from the shoal grass to sand, what we are looking for here is a change from long dense grass to very sparse short grass in shallow water. Redfish are very attracted to these places because of all the baitfish and crabs that hide out in these areas without a lot of cover.

Once you have spotted a key grass line, the next step is to focus on your retrieve. I typically start off fast and then work slower and slower until I find what they like. Often times you will get a reaction strike with the fast-steady retrieve, which is a nice immediate result. Mix in a "wave" motion with the fast or steady technique by raising and lowering your rod. This technique has worked very well for me, but the key thing is to keep experimenting. Some people may work their lure extremely slow, dragging it along the bottom with great results. Just remember to pay attention to what works so you can use it in the future.

Potholes are another one of my favorite grass line features. These are often small, but sometimes can be several feet across, so be looking for both sizes. Smaller baitfish love to hang around the edges where they can keep an eye on the openings, so there is usually a bigger fish somewhere nearby waiting for the surprise attack. Some times these edges are smooth, but often in Baffin Bay they are steep and rocky, with the rocks sometimes reaching out past the surface and then going deeper than you are tall. This is another situation where some old-fashioned Bass fishing tactics can come into play. Key on these areas and work around the edges, but be careful to not lose your lure on the rocks.

When working a slower technique I prefer to throw soft plastic lures like Brown Lures' Devil Eyes. These saltwater lures work great in short, quick bouncing motions with intermittent pauses, especially when Texas rigged on a quarter ounce sinker weight. This has been one of my staples since I started saltwater fishing. I find that the technique works whether fishing potholes or those rocky edges because of the "fluttering" motion of the lure which draws aggressive strikes from fish. The large eye on the lure also provides a nice target for the fish to lock on to.

The weather has been very cooperative and the winter fishing looks to be very good this year. We have already seen a few small flocks of teal, while mourning and white wing dove are everywhere. Give us a shout and we'll "hook" you up for your next Outdoor Adventure.