How to Find Inshore Fish During High Water

Water levels are HIGH across a lot of the Southeast right now.

And when all that extra water floods shorelines, grass, trees, and creeks, the fish suddenly have a whole lot more territory to explore.

That can make them tougher to find.

But there’s one simple rule I use to adjust.

Here’s what that looked like on my latest trip.

Featured Gear

• Rod: Slot Machine Medium
• Reel: Otis 2500
• Lure: 2.0
• Hook: Hoss Helix Hook 3/0 1/8oz
• Mainline: Diawa J-Braid 10lb
• Leader: Ande 15lb Mono Leader w/30lb Tippet

High Water Opens Up New Feeding Areas

When water levels rise, fish can reach areas that normally aren’t available to them.

That includes flooded grass, mangroves, trees, shoreline cover, and areas farther back inside creeks.

So if I’m fishing water that’s noticeably higher than normal, one of the first things I’ll do is move tighter to the shoreline.

On this trip, that paid off with a solid redfish sitting right along a flooded treeline.

The important part is not simply fishing “shallow.”

It’s recognizing that the productive edge has moved.

Look for Shorelines That Keep Fish Within Reach

Not every flooded shoreline is equally easy to fish.

If high water extends 20, 30, or 50 feet back into heavy cover, fish may push so far back that you can’t effectively reach them.

I prefer shorelines where the water has risen into cover but there is still a defined edge I can target.

That concentrates the fish into a smaller area and gives me a much better chance of putting my lure in front of them.

The same idea applies to flooded grass and creeks.

If the water gives fish access to a new feeding zone, expect at least some fish to take advantage of it.

Follow The Water

This is the simplest way I think about changing water levels:

Water comes up, I move up.

Water goes down, I move out.

When water levels are low, many of those fish are forced away from the shoreline and into slightly deeper water.

When the water comes back up, those same fish can move right back into areas they couldn’t previously access.

Instead of fishing the exact same spots regardless of the conditions, adjust with the water.

Don’t Get Tunnel Vision

High water doesn’t mean EVERY fish will be buried against the shoreline.

That’s something this trip reminded me of pretty quickly.

While I was focused on the flooded cover, I spotted a speckled trout cruising through floating grass roughly 20 feet away from the bank.

A quick cast in front of him produced another quality fish.

So even when you have a strong pattern going, keep scanning the water around you.

Look for wakes, nervous bait, movement through floating grass, and anything else that might give away a cruising fish.

Sometimes the best opportunity is sitting right next to the spot you’re focused on.

Find The Productive Water Faster

One of the challenges with unusually high water is simple:

There’s more water for the fish to use.

And if you haven’t been on the water recently, figuring out where the fish have moved can take a lot of time.

That’s where current fishing reports, recent community intel, and Smart Fishing Spots can help narrow down the search before you ever launch the boat.

Instead of blindly covering miles of shoreline, you can start by identifying the areas that give fish the right combination of structure, depth, current, and feeding opportunities for the conditions you’re dealing with.

Final Thoughts

High water doesn’t necessarily make the fishing worse.

It just changes where you should be looking.

If water is flooding new shoreline, grass, or creek habitat, start by following it and looking for fish that have moved into those new feeding zones.

But keep your eyes open.

As that trout proved, they’re not all going to be against the bank.

Are you seeing unusually high water where you’re fishing right now? And where have you been finding the fish?

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do redfish go when water levels are high?

Redfish will often move into newly flooded shoreline habitat, including grass, mangroves, flooded trees, creeks, and other shallow feeding areas that aren’t accessible during lower water.

Should you fish closer to shore during high water?

Often, yes. Rising water can allow baitfish and predators to move closer to shore and farther into flooded cover. Focus on areas where fish can access the new habitat without moving so far back that they’re impossible to reach.

Is high water good for inshore fishing?

It can be. High water creates new feeding opportunities for redfish, speckled trout, snook, and other inshore species. The challenge is that fish also have more available habitat, so locating them can take more effort.

What lures work well during high water?

Paddletails are a great option because they allow you to cover water efficiently and can be worked around flooded shorelines, grass, and other shallow structure. I used the Slam Shady 2.0 paddletail successfully on this trip.

Should I only fish flooded shorelines during high water?

No. Flooded shorelines can be productive, but fish may still cruise farther away from shore. Keep watching for bait activity, wakes, floating grass movement, and visible fish while you’re working the shoreline.