Discover the Best Florida Flats Fishing Tips and Techniques

If I had a dollar for every time I fished a hot spot that wasn’t panning out, I’m pretty sure I could retire.

Countless times, I have pulled up to a spot where all the planets were aligned.

Tide, perfect! Wind, perfect! Water temp, perfect! Fish, NOT BITING!

What gives?! In the past, I would start the tedious task of switching lures after a dozen or so casts without getting any hits.

Is it a wrong move? No, it has worked before, but more often than not, the fix was much simpler than retying a new lure.

A Lesson Learned from Clients

A few years back, I fished with some clients from the northeast.

They wanted to fish the glades and didn’t care what they caught; they just wanted to have a good time.

They asked if they could bring their rods and tackle with them.

I told them it was unnecessary, but they were more than welcome to bring them along.

They showed up at the dock the next morning with their rods and a big ol’ tackle box.

The Tackle Box Incident

I suggested what they should start out using, but they wanted to use their stuff.

They threw their baits for a little bit, and when there were no bites, it happened.

They began to snip off their baits, dig out a new one, and tie it on.

This process went on for quite some time.

I was a little taken aback, but I understood. I’ve unfortunately been there.

This situation could have gone a little smoother with a minor change.

The Simple Fixes for Better Fishing

Change Your Retrieval Rate

The first and easiest fix is to change the retrieval rate of your bait.

Sometimes slowing down or speeding up your retrieval is all you need to trigger a strike. You can also switch up the retrieval pattern.

For example, stopping mid-retrieve and letting it sink, or giving it more or fewer jerks (That’s what she said).

Experimenting with different retrieval speeds and patterns can often be the key to enticing a bite.

Change the Color of Your Bait

My biggest game changer is changing the color of the bait I’m using.

Countless times, I have been throwing bait with no results.

I’ll give it a little bit, change the color… Boom! Game on!

Fish can be surprisingly particular about color, and sometimes a simple change can make all the difference.

Consider carrying a variety of colors to switch things up when the fish aren’t responding.

Keep It Simple and Enjoy Fishing

The choices are limitless for what you can use and how you can use them.

Don’t let it overwhelm you.

Keep it simple.

Whenever I am fishing in a new area and start to stress about what bait to use, I default to throwing a shrimp pattern.

It’s an easy and productive rig, and everything eats shrimp.

Have fun with it. Try new things, and if things get rough… empty your box.

Fishing should be enjoyable and relaxing, so don’t let the details bog you down.

Remember, fishing is about patience, experimentation, and a bit of luck. Happy fishing!

Capt. Vince Bini