Exploration Trip To Palmetto: Redfish, Seatrout, Snook, And Crazy Dog
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
It is always fun to get out to a new fishing spot in search of new waters and structures that may be holding big fish.
But how do you know where to set up and start looking for fish?
What kinds of lures are best for exploring new fishing spots?
Check out the answers here!!!
Exploration Trip To Palmetto: Redfish, Seatrout, & Snook [VIDEO]
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Pre-Planning For An Exploration Trip
When exploring potential fishing spots, it is a safe plan to start out with a paddletail and power fish an area to cover ground and find where the fish are.
After you found some nice water that is holding some fish, you can use some finesse lures or continue with the paddletails.
Prior to actually going out to a new spot, it is a good idea to check out maps ot see potential areas of interest to scout where there are ledges or cuts with structure that fish may be held up in.
Just as important are tides, wind forecast, and current feeding trends of fish in that area.
It is also smart to look at a number of different areas to fish so you can hop from spot to spot looking for fish and gaining knowledge about the area.
By setting yourself up in a feeding zone with moving water and structure off of a point or some mangroves, you can tell almost immediately if there are fish in that spot.
Even if you are in a new area, the feeding trends are what will get you in the best position to catch more fish without having to rely on live bait.
Finding schools of bait will also only increase your chances as odds are there will be fish around.
Jumping around to new areas and covering ground will also help you learn more about the new spot you are fishing.
You can truly never gain too much knowledge when it comes to fishing and especially when exploring new areas you want to make sure you soak up as much information as possible.
Best Lures For Exploration Trips
The Slam Shady Bomber is the go-to lure for prospecting new areas and covering lots of ground.
All it takes is casting it out and straight retrieve of the lure and you can include an occasional twitch or pause now and then.
The Bomber will mainly do the work for you in swimming great in all types of water and attracting fish.
Late summer and all of the fall fish tend to strike the bigger lures more often.
If a bite slows down or some of the conditions change, try picking up and moving to a new area that you previously scouted.
You can never go wrong matching the hatch.
If you see there are smaller baitfish around, you can switch your lure to the Slam Shady 2.0 paddletail.
In the case the fish are feeding on small bait and the paddletails aren’t getting as many strikes, the ever-so versatile “Nub” rig might be a good changeup.
By just tearing off the tail of the paddletail, you are left with a smaller jerk bait that has a small profile to match the bait in the water.
Tip For Fishing The Mangroves
Finding some mangroves with overhanging trees and grass hanging off of them creates little pockets and holes that snook or other fish will like to hold up in.
Try to skip your lure right through the overhanging trees and under the mangroves to put it right on those fish.
If you see small baitfish skipping out of the water or getting scared, it is probably because there is a fish holding up against the mangroves.
Gear Used In This Trip:
- Rod: Prototype Salt Strong Custom Rod from Mudhole
- Reel: Prototype Salt Strong Reel (my first time using it)
- Mainline: J-Braid 8 Grand – 10 lb test
- Leaders: Ande Mono – 20 lb & Ande Mono – 30 lb
- Lures:
- #1: Slam Shady Bomber rigged on a 4/0 Owner TwistLock 1/8th oz
- #2 [The Nub]: Slam Shady 2.0 rigged on a 3/0 Owner TwistLock 1/16th oz
- Scent: Dr. Juice Inshore Slam Scent
- Glasses: Smith Optics Guide’s Choice – Green Mirror Glass
Conclusion
Exploring new fishing spots is all about finding the feeding zones and staying up to date on the current fish feeding trends.
If you know the feeding trends, you can head out with a few artificial lures and find fish.
Preparation and knowing the trends are what will set you apart and get you on big fish.
See Insider Report details here
Do you have any other questions about how to approach exploring new fishing spots?
Let me know down in the comments!!
And if you know someone who enjoys trying new fishing spots, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Hey Luke,great video! I just bought a house in Ellenton and am looking forward to the fishing in the area. Have learned a lot from u and Otis! Hope to see u both sometime! Keep up the great videos!
I have not decided what I enjoy best watching you fish – you catching fish or Otis’s antics. LOL!
Haha! Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment John.
Otis reminds me of a sausage dog I had years ago that loved to go fishing. She would get just as excited and one trip out on the St. John’s River, she was on the front bow whole i had a nice bass on. She lost her footing and dove off the front of the boat into alligator infested water. I was able to get the bass in and then netted her with the same landing net. Dogs are so much fun. Enjoyed your video!
Haha!!! I wish I had a net big enough to get Otis back into the boat:)
What would you add to your planning if you do not have a boat at this time?
I’d look for the exact same types of spots… only difference is to simply find similar spots that are accessible by foot or by kayak.
Otis ALWAYS brings laughter to a video! Think he loves fishing as much as you do Luke! Great video showing that just following the “signs” & a good plan for area to fish makes for an enjoyable day
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Bob!
Awesome report!!, Otis does bring a laugh, and he can skip Saturday bath day! LOL
Haha! Yes, he got a nice bath that day.
Great Trip Luke,always fun watching you and Otis. Looking forward to your report
Thanks Jimmy. Here’s a link to the detailed Insider Report if you haven’t yet seen it: https://www.saltstrong.com/insiders/palmetto-exploration-trip-insider-report/
I am a little disappointed. Below you say how pre-tip planning will pay off. But the video does not explain anything for a novice. The video says you need to take into account tide, wind etc but you don’t explain how.
I a m beginning to feel that for my annual fee all I get are ads for Tory products and no real how to information
Am I right or what am I missing? I cannot spread the word – at least now.
Did you watch the Insider Report details from this trip? It explains in detail why each spot was selected while recording the pre trip plan. And then I explained what pivots I had to make along the way. Here’s a link to it fir your convenience: https://www.saltstrong.com/insiders/palmetto-exploration-trip-insider-report/
Otis what a hoot ! Good to see him enjoying fishing as much as we all do. Great to see you in my neck of the woods Luke, that area is hammered pretty hard all the time.
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Stan!
Looks like Otis was ‘catch of the day’!. Good thing you don’t own a restaurant, especially good.
Haha! Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Scott.