How To Avoid Getting Skunked Inshore
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Can you avoid getting skunked inshore fishing?
What are the most efficient ways to ensure you will catch fish on any given fishing trip?
Avoiding the dreaded skunk is never easy, but if you implement these tactics mentioned below on your next trip, you will set yourself up for success!
Check it all out here!!
Avoid Getting Skunked On Inshore Fishing Trips
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Live Bait Scenarios
If you are out fishing at off times or fishing a slow bite, it is in your favor to then use either live or dead shrimp.
Cut-bait will also work in this scenario.
You want to place yourself around structures, whether they be natural or man-made, and stick close to the bottom.
Additionally, be on the lookout for some current around structures.
Artificial Lure Options
You should always have a paddletail lure such as the Slam Shady 2.0 with you on just about every fishing trip.
You can rig a paddletail on either a jighead or a weighted hook to ensure it is close down to the bottom.
The key to fishing with artificials to avoid getting skunked is to powerfish until you find fish.
Most anglers will begin fishing a new area with a paddletail lure because of how tried and true the lure profile is.
The vibrations and action mimic most baitfish and will induce strikes from predatory fish in the area.
A paddletail lure can help contribute to unveiling the trends for that particular day and help you to locate where the fish are.
Avoid Getting Skunked On Inshore Fishing Trips [VIDEO]
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Conclusion
A lot of what we learn and take away from fishing trips comes from the skunked inshore fishing trips.
If you had caught fish on every trip, there wouldn’t be much left to learn, however, that is not the case and mistakes and lessons are always present and can be improved upon with each new trip to the water.
Try your best not to focus on catching just one species, but set out to catch fish with an efficient game plan!
Do you have any more questions on how to game plan against the dreaded skunk?
Let us know down in the comments!
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Evan I fished yesterday in New River with no luck. We found a lot of fish on the screen we believe to be trout. Used mostly paddle tails with a kinds of colors also prawns all with no luck. When we started about 8 the water temp was below 40. Later that day it got as high as 45 where we were. We fished deep holes with plenty of bait around and also flats later on in the afternoon. Do you think water was to cold and what will it take for them to bite. We are expecting a warm weather pattern for the next few days.
Probably a bit too early of a start. I would fish later in the day. Just a few degrees of water temperature change can make a difference in the bite.
I would like to hear the consensus on the NUMBER 1 method ( only one allowed) for not getting skunked
To catch anything? Would have to be shrimp on a small circle hook around bridges and pilings. For the more targeted species Like trout and reds, it would be trolling the edge of a flat with a paddle tail.
One way not to get skunked. Stop at the fish market. :-0 Actually, I think getting set on one method and/or area that isn’t panning out is a big factor. Change the plan, change the area, don’t stay committed to a failing strategy. It won’t eliminate the skunk, but will reduce it.
Haha thats one way to do it!
For sure! “Spots” change all the time. Not even just season to season, but month to month, week to week, and even day to day.
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Can’t knock all the catfish! We catch channel and blue cats up here in SC In our brackish rivers. Great fighters and good eating! I think y’all are referring to the salt water cats though.
Meeeeowwww mix! I agree they’re not bad eating, I’ve tasted all saltwater and freshwater catfish and they’re not bad at all. It’s kinda the misconception catching Shark and certain trash fish. I got to learn not to just catch any fish to only harvest…it’s the sport of it as well. It’s pushing your limits to not just throw any dead bait and hope for the best. I’m enjoying the hunt for trophy fish for my own bragging rights and learning.
Not all cats are bad! Sail cats can be a fun fight and from what I hear are actuallyu good eating. Those slimy spiny hard heads are a pain though.
No catfish lol
No thanks haha
aw man I want to see the whole Q & A but I can’t find it! Can you link me to it please?
Hey Franklin!
Here is the full video:
https://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-tip/inner-circle-10-21-21/?utm_content=&utm_term=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_source=
please do not keep requiring me to sign up for stuff just to watch a video. thank you.
Hey William!
It looks like you are already a member with us so there is nothing to sign up for. You already have access to all of the Inner Circle videos. This is a public video to give a snapshot of what those inner circle videos contain.
Our Insider Only content does not promote or sell anything. You will see “insider only” on the thumbnail image for the article for the Insider Only material.
Ah yes, the despised catfish but those topsail bycatch can be a lot of fun and tasty too. Just be careful handling them.
Sail cats just get me more frustrated thinking I hooked into a nice red haha. You know you have one on when you feel those repetitive tail kicks. But definitely strong fighters!
Easy like I told a few members already especially for me in winter trolling Is the way to go I rarely about maybe 2 percent of the time go home skunked and those 2percent it’s usually because the wind picked up and boat control was very difficult I troll from a job 17 Carolina skiff with a 40hp four stroke Yamaha outboard and usually i just put the motor in gear and on my fish finder that has a speedometer on it at about 1.5 to maybe 2.0 is the preferred speed i have found best i use mostly gulp swimming mullets and gulp paddletails with quarter ounce jigheads and craps in gold and black and black and silver trolled by docks and grasslines in water between 5.5 to 12 ft can be deadly especially for trout only caught a couple reds but tons of trout anyways Joe did a report on trolling couple months back and he hit it spot on works for me thanks for all you do😉👍
Sorry I’m getting a new phone this one likes to incorrectly spell it jv 17 Carolina skiff and the lures are xrap rapalas
I hope your new phone has a period key! It sure helps make sense of your post.
Trolling is definitely a great strategy!
I like trolling also. We troll with trolling motor but stay around 1.3 to 1.6. We use 1/4 ounce and paddle tails. Some spots are 20 feet deep. I was wondering if at 1 to 1.3 mph does the paddle tail have enough action most are zman minnow z.
I have used all sorts of paddletails as well as curly tails and hard crankbaits in soft baits gulp swimming mullets and the new gulp paddletails work great for trolling and I believe the main reason being that gulps all create a scent trail that the fish can follow and I use procure scent on my hard baits as well I usually use a quarter ounce jighead that seems to work best in water anywhere from about 5 to 10ft depths if going deeper I use more hard baits ones with diving lips to prove the depths in shallower water then 5 ft I usually prefer about an eight ounce jighead on my plastics works for me and I have been doing it for years when everyone else is fishing one spot I usually find the fish by trolling covering more water😉👍