Finding Fish When a Hurricane Disrupts the Pattern
- By: Matthew Lanier
- on

Hurricanes and tropical storms can push a tremendous amount of water in, and the storm surge can extend well beyond where the storm makes landfall. Once you’re able to get back on the water, it can still be high and it’s almost a guarantee that the pre-storm patterns have changed.
Check out the video below to see how I found fish after a hurricane and what we used to trigger the bite. Enjoy!
Fishing Fish When a Hurricane Disrupts the Pattern
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Equipment
Rod and Reel Setups
- Rod 1: Slot Machine 7’6″ Medium Action
- Reel 1: Otis 2500 Spinning Reel
- Rod 2: Fitzgerald Aquafin 7’0 Medium Action
- Reel 2: Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT 3000 Spinning Reel
- Mainline: 10# Daiwa J-Braid x-8 Grand
- Leader: 20# Ande Monofilament
Lures
- Lure 1: Moonwalker Topwater
- Lure 2: Salt Strong Wakebait (coming soon!)
- Scent: Dr Juice Inshore Slam Formula
Vessel
- Hobie Outback
Key to Success
- Keep moving until you find the bait and signs of fish activity. These storms disrupt the pattern and often scatter fish from where they were previously.
- The same structure rules still apply—oyster bars near depth changes will continue to hold fish.
- An outgoing tide can help funnel fish around the points on creek mouths and make finding them a little easier.
- Once you fish signs of life, start with baits that let you cover the area quickly. Topwater lures (like the Moonwalker), wake baits, and paddletails are all great options.
- Once you’re getting hits, slow down and work that area more thoroughly.
The App That’s Like an Inshore Cheat Code
Salt Strong Members enjoy access to our game-changing Smart Fishing Spots app. Available on your computer and your phone, it puts a ton of information at your fingertips to help you catch more fish in less time!
Smart Spots point out places that are likely to hold fish. It’s not just a spot map, though. Taking into consideration the season, tides, and more, it updates every 15 minutes to show what areas to target and how productive they should be. You can even look into the future to help plan ahead.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. We have A TON OF FEATURES built in:
- Hourly Strike Score feeding predictions
- Tides
- Weather predictions
- Weather radar with cell direction and lightning detection
- Seagrass and oyster layers
- 1-foot bottom contours
- Multiple satellite images and shaded relief
- Boat ramps and launch spots
- Public and private lands
- And much more!!!
We’re working hard to ensure that Smart Fishing Spots is the best fishing app available. We’re not done, though. Our talented development team is constantly finding new ways to improve the app and make it even more valuable for both planning your trip and making decisions once you’re out there.
Get access to this innovative technology and much, much more when you become a Salt Strong Member!
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
thanks sharing
Great video. Who would have thought it would apply again so quickly?
No kidding! Thanks for watching, John! 💪