How to get out of a saltwater fishing SLUMP
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
Hey Salt Strong Nation!
Joe Simonds like diamonds here. And if you’ve been feeling stuck in a fishing slump… you are not alone.
We’ve been seeing it all over the community lately. You fish hard all spring (or maybe life’s been crazy and you haven’t been able to fish much at all), and now summer rolls around… and it’s just not clicking.
Maybe the bite feels off. Maybe you’re overthinking every trip. Maybe you’re carrying more tackle than Bass Pro Shops and still walking off the water empty-handed.
The truth? We’ve ALL been there. And in today’s video, we break down exactly how to snap out of that fishing slump — no matter your skill level. This is the same system Luke and I use when things get tough, and I promise… it works.
👇 Watch the full video here: 👇
Featured In Video:
- 2.0 Paddle Tail (Slam Shady)
- The Prawn & Prawn Jr.
- Smart Fishing Spots App
- Salt Strong Fishing School
What’s Inside This Video:
✅ The biggest mistake anglers make when they’re in a slump (and what to do instead)
✅ Why trying to get “too fancy” often makes things worse
✅ The “Basketball & Baseball” analogy that’ll instantly click for you
✅ How to use deep structure and current to GUARANTEE action
✅ Our go-to spots when we need a confidence boost (yes, even pros get skunked sometimes)
✅ Live shrimp vs. lures — when to keep it simple and when to experiment
✅ Smart Fishing Spots: How we use it to find productive areas BEFORE launching the boat
✅ The confidence lure we always go back to when nothing else is working
✅ Simple tricks to avoid wasting time in dead zones
✅ And most importantly… how to start having FUN again out there!
Conclusion:
Look, fishing isn’t supposed to feel like a job. But when you’re in a slump, it’s easy to overthink, overpack, and overcomplicate everything.
Instead, do what the best athletes and anglers do — go back to the basics. Keep it simple. Find productive structure with current. Don’t sit in dead zones. Move around.
And if you really want to shortcut the process? Join us inside the Insider Club. You’ll get access to Smart Fishing Spots, step-by-step game plans, and a private community that’ll have you back on the fish in no time.
-Joe
Related categories:
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 ever 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).
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).
Great info! KISS method!
Good video and information. Thanks
Anybody know a good wading spot on Texas city dike
What happens when you fish a open bay only
I’m diggin the weekly news letters !! Always ALWAYS helpful info
Thank you
for a 20′-25′ deep at a bridge, what weight would you use also how would you rig it
drop rig, carolina rig, texas rig?
That’s the problem with kayak fishing. If the spot near the launch is not working, it’s hard to get much further from there, unless you’re motorized. Putting your kayak back on the car to move somewhere else is very labor and time intensive. Comes with the territory–kayaks can get where power boats can’t, but if the fish aren’t there, you will probably skunk.
I’ve fished off the old Copano bay bridge catching Big ugly’s using 30-40 lb mono with 4-6 ounce weights to hold it in the bottom.
I used the big circle nets to lift them from the water
I agree that I have become stagnant in moving enough. I remember as a kid wading a mile on the flats yet in the boat even with the trolling motor getting stuck for way too long in one spot. Great video guys!
Awesome video And very well presented…. These are also things most saltwater inshore fishermen/women know already … However, have a tendency to forget in the long run and as you pointed out in the video, Keep it Simple and Go Back to Your Basics and you’ll see a huge turn around in your productivity on the water … Once again, thank you both, very helpful information indeed ……. ! THANKS