When Fish Are Skittish, Focus on Precise Presentation
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Reports, Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing
Calm days can often be nice and comfortable to fish. When they happen in the summer, though, it’s more often that it leads to a tough bite.
On a recent trip, the water was clear, calm, and low which can make fish very sensitive to any disturbances nearby. Even when you find fish on days like this, it can still be a recipe for skunk stew!
In this report I’ll show the critical keys to triggering strikes on calm days with skittish fish.
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On-the-Water Action and Analysis
Trip Details
- Location: Oak Hill, FL
- Time of Day: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Air Temperature: 83°F – 92°F
- Wind: SSW at 3 – 5 MPH
- Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy
- Tide: Weak Incoming
- Water Depth: 1.5 to 2 Feet
- Water Clarity: Clear
- Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Equipment
Rod and Reel Setups
- Rod 1: 7’6″ Slot Machine
- Reel 1: Otis 2500 – Coming soon!
- Mainline: 10lb Power Pro
- Leader: 20lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon
Lures
- Lure 1: Gold Digger 4″ Mulligan
- Hook 1: 3/0 Hoss Helix 1/8-oz Hook
- Scent: Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Formula
Vessel
Key to Success
- Keep in mind that on some days, the weather and water conditions create challenging situations. In those situations, success might be defined as getting the skunk off rather than having double-digit catches or setting a new personal best.
- On this day, redfish were scattered around flats that were in close proximity to mangrove shorelines with seagrass.
- With the combination of low water levels, calm wind, and clear water, stealthy boat movement was critical to avoid spooking fish.
- Precise lure placement was the second key to avoid spooking fish. I needed to cast far enough away to avoid spooking them but also accurately enough to bring the lure right in front them.
- Sometimes you have to switch things up. Try different lure presentations before changing lure colors or profiles.
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