Finding Fish (Fresh or Inshore)

**Black Bart** · 03-18-2022, 06:22 AM

Catdaddy's thread about the elites got me to thinking:

How often do y'all fish new/unknown spots compared to your "go-to" spots where you're certain to catch fish? How long do you fish the new spot until you move? What about water clarity, depth and temperature? How much do you depend on electronics? And any of the dozens of other variables that factor in? Holler back.

**hunterjw** · 03-18-2022, 06:51 AM

I have a general rule that every fishing trip I spent at least 20 percent of my time fishing or trying something new.

**SouthernWake** · 03-18-2022, 06:51 AM

How often do y'all fish new/unknown spots compared to your "go-to" spots where you're certain to catch fish?
Any time it is just myself on the boat I will work through "new" areas or cycle through places I have not fished in awhile.

How long do you fish the new spot until you move?
I rarely fish. I will pole or stake out and look for fish, observe their movements through an area and where they want to be within a particular zone.

What about water clarity, depth and temperature?
All important and often tie in to affect each other.

How much do you depend on electronics?
Minimal

And any of the dozens of other variables that factor in?
Lots

Holler back.
Holler

**Duck cutter** · 03-18-2022, 07:14 AM

Smell for them

**FishSticker** · 03-18-2022, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by Duck cutter

Smell for them

Learned this from my grandfather...

**Hogg** · 03-18-2022, 09:25 AM

No electronics. If I am in a spot where I am confident about the stage of tide and I haven't caught anything in 15 to 20 minutes, I will move. I like to try new things. I have been fishing out of my canoe a good bit recently trying to unravel the 5# plus trout mystery. I would say I am about 80% focused on trout. I do enjoy poling the low and high tide flats for spottails.
I try to find moving clear water or where there is a clear/muddy dividing line.
Shoot me a PM if you would like to take me in your boat (mine is in the shop right now) and I'll show you what I like to do south of Georgetown. I fished with a guide yesterday in NC for big trout and it has me wanting to explore an area near Georgetown.

**Black Bart** · 03-18-2022, 09:35 AM

Thanks for the replies. I know a little bit, but what I know < what I don't know. Do artificials vs bait require different techniques in regard to the tides?

**Hogg** · 03-18-2022, 09:50 AM

I like to fish artificials even in the summer. Hence my search for the clean water. When I do fish with bait, I am not really doing anything different than what I would do with artificials. I fish the same spots and areas the same way.

**Black Bart** · 03-18-2022, 10:04 AM

That's exactly the answer I was looking for regarding my last post. Thanks for the intel.

**tman** · 03-18-2022, 10:15 AM

When I moved from sc to South FL almost 4 years ago, I pretty much completely taught myself how to inshore fish for species that we don't even have up here at SC. It was a lot of trial and error, but I find a lot of spots with Google earth and navionics. But essentially, predatory fish (excluding blue water) are predatory fish. They rely on a food source and ambush techniques. Structure, water flow, and shade are how I find new spots. If I have a known fish-producing bait/lure on a certain species, and I try a new spot and it doesn't work, I may only fish the spot for 30min to an hour then move on. BUT I will hit it again if I think the weather may have impacted the spot on another day. I.e. unfavorable wind.

I like to visit fish producing spots regularly.... that's why I'm out there, to catch fish.

**jws** · 03-18-2022, 10:30 AM

Think like a fish. Time of year, water temps, wind and depth are things that I think about when going to look for a target species of fish. Time of year is the biggest factor to me. Spring time in the lake, I know I'm fishing shallow for bass, crappie and shellcracker. In the fall I'm going to try to find that clear water for trout, reds and flounder. I grew up bass fishing so I tend to fish like that for inshore fishing. Trolling motor down and covering water until I find a spot holding fish. Work the area thoroughly until I feel like I should move on. Offshore, early spring is tuna and wahoo. Mid to late spring is dolphin. Fall/winter is the time to be bottom fishing. I don't do a lot of summer time fishing because its too damn hot.

**Sportin' Woodies** · 03-18-2022, 11:00 AM

In your case, if they're not biting, just switch to the other lane of the bridge.

I know that's a racist joke. Don't come after me John Coffey.

**dixiedeerslaya** · 03-18-2022, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Sportin' Woodies

In your case, if they're not biting, just switch to the other lane of the bridge.

I know that's a racist joke. Don't come after me John Coffey.

**wob** · 03-18-2022, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Sportin' Woodies

In your case, if they're not biting, just switch to the other lane of the bridge.

I know that's a racist joke. Don't come after me John Coffey.

That's wrong, but funny. I fished many a bridge in my younger days. Quit when someone drove past me and a whizzed a liquor bottle past my head and it shattered on the rocks behind me.

**MolliesMaster** · 03-18-2022, 11:16 AM

I just wait until my friends find them and call me for an invite.

**Sportin' Woodies** · 03-18-2022, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by wob

That's wrong, but funny. I fished many a bridge in my younger days. Quit when someone drove past me and a whizzed a liquor bottle past my head and it shattered on the rocks behind me.

I stomped the yard every Saturday in college. I even own the blu ray box set. But I ain't bridge fishin.