TIDAL TIDDLERS

More than 50% of all Americans live within 50 miles of saltwater. Even the landlocked find their way to saltwater. If you own any freshwater equipment you can match it, and your favorite fly, casting or spinning technique to saltwater without a guide, boat or major investment.

However, if you are new to an area it's probably worth the $100 to $300 fee a guide charges for a day on Florida flats, Texas Bays or Puget Sount Islands. Be honest, tell the guide you'd like to try spots you can reach from pier, bank, seawalls or the shore. If they're available, fishing maps and tide tables are good investments. Maps highlight access.

Tide tables highlight peak periods that are, depending on the areas, the last two hours of the incoming or outgoing tides. Some spots, like mud flats, only produce fish at high water although they may offer clamming, musseling or oystering during minus tides.

As a general rule the best saltwater fishing comes on days of maximum tidal difference between high and low water that maximizes flows and moves fish.

Quarry species do vary. I prefer smaller fish such as smelt or perch to gamefish like striped bass as they species come in numbers to minimize waiting periods and maximize action. Tiddlers, such as pompano, often taste better too.

Methods can run from fly fishing with streamers or crab imitations throught spoons and jigs like those you'd use for freshwater species. However, bait works best most of the time. Try live pile or blood worms, mussels that stick on hooks or even small minnows.

Take the time for "Tidal Tiddlers" and don't worry about the big game types who spend far more for far less action.

Some spots

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic