“No Boat? No Problem!” Ten Tips for Guaranteed Shore-Bound Success

“No Boat? No Problem!” Ten Tips for Guaranteed Shore-Bound Success

#1 – Location…Location…Location

As with any angling expedition, proper location is a prerequisite to achieving maximum shore-bound success. Before casting your first bait, study your surroundings. If you are fishing an inshore river or bay, focus on key points where bait will likely be holding. Docks, drop offs, mangrove shorelines, and/or flats with moving water are almost always ideal places to start.

When fishing from the beach, deep cuts and distinct troughs should immediately catch your eye. When scouting your favorite pier or jetty, invest the time it takes to pinpoint key focal points. If you are specifically targeting pompano, permit, flounder, or whiting, you generally want to be fishing over sandy bottom where crabs, sand fleas, clams and small minnows thrive. Avid pier rats have the advantage of getting somewhat of a bird’s eye view of the bottom. Before wetting a line, walk the entire length of the pier and scan for areas littered with rocks or concrete – which are not always at the very end of the pier. Focusing on these specific areas will surely lead to success.

If you’re after structure-oriented snapper, grouper, sheepshead, margate or black drum, fish very close to or directly over rocky structure. If you can fish directly off of or adjacent to a jetty, you should have no problem getting plenty of strikes because you will be presenting baits directly in the fish’s living room.

When chasing the most popularly targeted inshore duo in Florida - snook and redfish - anywhere there are rocks, piers, jetties or docks coupled with moving water will surely hold either one or both of these masters of ambush. Yes, there are times of the year when countless snook and redfish patrol the beaches along both coasts of Florida, but for consistent year-round success, fish structure!

#2- Fish the Tides 

#3 – Optimum Time of Day

#4 – Tackle & Accessories

Have you ever seen a trophy snook or redfish taken on a Snoopy push-button rod & reel combo? I have, and on more than one occasion. Now I know why they are still in business. One incident that I can’t seem to forget is about a guy fishing with his two children from a Sanibel beach. There I was with my fancy-schmancy light tackle top-quality combo and next to me was this family of amateur anglers. After watching them land a pair of snook upwards of 20 pounds on their colorful combo, I started to consider if it was really necessary for me to have spent several hundred dollars on superior tackle. All kidding aside; quality tackle is a must. When fishing around piers, jetties or docks, large powerful fish are always a possibility. While hooking them may be one thing, landing them is another story altogether. Quality rods with serious backbone combined with reels equipped with silky-smooth drags and loaded with fresh line are a must for landing these fish. Don’t let tackle failure affect your success ratio.

#5 – Best Baits 

#6 – It Pays to Pay Attention

One example of this hit home while targeting Spanish mackerel at a local pier. I noticed that the fish were feeding on very tiny minnows. Everything that I was throwing was being ignored. After watching a fellow fisherman hook up on nearly every cast, I decided to ask him what he was using. He simply replied, “A crappie jig.” At first, I thought he was joking, but after paying close attention I could see that he and several other fishermen were indeed fishing very small white crappie jigs typically used for panfish in a pond. The tiny jigs perfectly mimicked the primary forage. That afternoon, I purchased a 10 pack of crappie jigs from a local WalMart for under $5.00 and put them in my tackle bag. I have two left.

#7 – Be Prepared

#8 – Technology Meets Fishing 

#9 – Personal Needs 

#10 - Know the Law

 You’re strolling down the beach toward the parking lot and notice a school of bait getting terrorized. You cast your X-Rap into the frenzy and before you can even turn the handle, a mamma-size redfish smashes your plug. It’s game on! After a tough and exciting battle you’re finally able to pull the fish up on the beach. You estimate the redfish’s weight between 20 and 25 pounds. As you stop to catch your breath, you think to yourself what a tasty meal this fish is going to make.

While you were admiring your fine catch, the bite has fizzled out. Several additional casts produce no more hook ups so you decide to call it quits. As you are loading your gear into your vehicle, a friendly voice over your shoulder says, “Wow, that’s a nice fish! Did you just catch that?”

Proud of your accomplishment you reply, “I sure did, and I’m going to go home and cook it for dinner.”

At that very moment, you turn and suddenly realize that you are speaking to a Florida wildlife officer. The friendly voice proceeds to inform you that you are about to receive a hefty fine for harvesting an over-size redfish and that you won’t be taking anything home for dinner but a fat fine.

To avoid this ever happening to you, download a copy of the current rules and regulations which are updated every January and July (www.Myfwc.com) and have the sheet laminated. Keep this in your tackle bag at all times.

So there you have it; our top ten tips for guaranteed shore-bound success. Whether you’re wade-fishing, surf-fishing, or simply scouting your favorite pier or jetty, Florida offers phenomenal land-based opportunities for anglers of all ages and all skill levels to enjoy. Taking the above information into consideration, will surely keep you in the game!

Fish on!