This Past Sun

[mg4u2nv]

I just started dipping into saltwater fishing. This past sunday i went to haulover inlet. I figured conditions were going to be great(falling tide as sun was coming up). I arrived about 6am and bait in the inlet was EVERYWHERE! i fish the area under a bridge light with one small hookup. I was throwing a gulp swimming mullet on a jig head. I worked my way to the beach and as dawn broke i had caught 4 runners off the jetty. So i started making my way down the beach and caught this small cuda. Had a few more hookups right after that with no size. Anyway, i had a blast and hopefully i can get some drag screaming next time out. Good luck everyone!

Matt

[Bassn Blvd]

Did you eat the Cuda? They are VERY good eating.

[mg4u2nv]

Nah i didnt, he got returned healthy and happy

[mg4u2nv]

So here is kind of a dumb question. Ive heard a few different answers so hear goes. I plan on going to the inlet again sunday morning. At sun up the tide should rippin in(last week it was going out), question is should i concentrate more on the inland side as the water dumps into the intercoastal? Also, ive heard tide is less of a factor on the beach, is there any truth to this? Thank you in advance!

Matt

[SirSnookalot]

This weekend at sunup the tide will be coming in. Tide is most important about 9 months of the year, the other 3 months the abundance of bait over rides the tide issue. It's just not tide, wind, weather, surf conditions are just as important and it varies for different species. Usually outgoing is best for snook, but not this time of the year, bait and weather are far more important. This week on the incoming tide at the inlets the weather was real rough and the snook were on fire, 20-30# were common, I got 6 myself, mine were dinks 10-15# both from beach and inlet. Yesterday the weather calmed down and I had but 1 small snook. Barracuda are the exact opposite calm clean water is the ticket for them, very few are being caught now. As similar as inshore fishing is to bass fishing, that's how different it can be too. Snook ambush much like a LMB and love structure, that said no bait around and the snook are no where to be found.

I would put very little time in the ICW now, a lot of mullet are coming in but the fish don't seem to be feeding, many think it's due to the rain, too much fresh water in the ICW.

[mg4u2nv]

Awesome reply! Im even more excited to go tomorrow now, i know the wind is out of the east so the surf will be churned up pretty good. I had some results last week, water was dead calm which explains the cuda. Hopefully i can hook up a nice snook or jack. Bass fishing has been a little slow lately, although i did catch about 6 or 7 small ones the other day on a fluke. I got a few more swimming mullets for the morning and a new bucktail. Wish me luck and i hope to be posting pics this time tomorrow! Thanks again!

Matt

[SirSnookalot]

You can use that same bass fluke for snook or jacks, I'd put it on a 1/4 oz jig head. If it's weedy out there try the fluke t-rigged with or without a keelhook, it's a killer bait for them. Cast it out about 30 degrees to the shore and let the waves move it in, don't over reel it.

[mg4u2nv]

Ive heard the flukes are great too. I planned on the soft plastics goin on my 1/4 ounce jig heads. And if the weeds are a little thick, i will definately throw the weedless fluke. I always have my freshwater tackle with me and have swimbait hooks for the flukes. Again, thank you for the great info!

Matt

[mg4u2nv]

ugh,

went to the inlet yesterday morning. Tide and wind had the water haulin a** through there. So i worked my way to beach so i can be there as the sun came up. I startede workin the beach, i had one bite, but no hook up. I paid very close attention to the birds as they worked themselves down the beach. And by their behavior there wasnt much bait in the water. At about 745 or so the sky opened up and wind picked up a notch or 2. And it was the stinging rain in the face, not just a little drizzle. So i had to call it quits early. A little disappointing but still a very good way to spend a morning.

Matt