Know the Tides


Fish an Incoming Tide


An incoming tide is a productive time to fish for spotted sea trout.  As soon as the tide starts coming back in from a low tide, the fishing starts to improve.  When the water is still low, you will have better success fishing the cuts and channels that hold some deeper water near the grass flats.  As the water gets closer to high tide, sea trout can be found moving onto the flats and into the tidal creeks to find an easy meal.


Fish an Outgoing Tide


Outgoing tides are good times to fish for spotted sea trout.  Most anglers prefer to fish the beginning of an outgoing tide so they can still take advantage of the high tide.  Spotted sea trout will still be on the flats and back in tidal creeks feeding on small crustaceans, shrimp and bait fish.  As the water continues to fall, the shallower water will push fish off the flats and into the cuts and channels that offer some deeper water near the flats.


Fish a High Tide


The high tide offers better fishing on the grass flats and in the tidal creeks.  Spotted sea trout will move into these shallow water areas during a high tide to feed on small crustaceans, shrimp and bait fish.  You can usually find plenty of sea trout in some of the same places as redfish, so don’t be surprised if you hook into a big bull redfish while fishing for sea trout during the high tide.  Fishing in high water at the end of an incoming tide or at the beginning of an outgoing tide will both be productive.  Moving water is key, so make sure to get out there during a tidal change.


Fish a Low Tide


The low tide is a good time to target spotted sea trout in the deeper water near shallow grass flats.  Sea trout will often be found on the flats during a high tide, but the low tide will push them off the flats into the deeper water in the nearby channels and holes.  The deeper water near these flats can offer some very good fishing.  Some of these spots will have good numbers of fish in small sections of water.  Add some moving water from a tidal change and you should be able to catch plenty of trout.  Anglers also like to go out and scout new areas during the low tide.  Some of the flats that are exposed at low tide can be outstanding to fish during the high tide.