With the water temperature in the mid 80s, bites are hard to come by inshore, especially when the sun beating down on the shallow grass flats heats the water to more than 90 degrees. One of the easiest ways to overcome this is to fish at night.
Night fishing can be productive or disastrous. Avoiding problems is the main concern.
Make sure all vessel lights work properly before heading out. Spotlights should be checked at home. It's also a good idea to carry a spare spotlight.
If you're going into unfamiliar waters, local navigation charts will help familiarize you with the area. Headlamps allow for hands-free lighting for easier knot tying and dehooking.
Residential canals with lighted docks are the best bet while night fishing. Snook, speckled trout, red drum and flounder hang out at these hot spots.
While fishing the docks, be respectful of the landowners' property. Stay as quiet as possible. If you do cast and get hung up on the dock, try to remove the hook without getting on the dock. If you spook the hole getting your bait off the dock, come back later after things quiet down.
- Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at 727 510-4376 or by e-mail at captainrick@luckydawg.com
