[Putershark]

Originally Posted by JVES

this inshore flats fishing is a real steep learning curve for me.

Welcome Aboard,
A fish is a fish and they all pretty much think the same way. We have a Flats Fishing section for saltwater skinny water that has a lot of information already in it. As far as the learning curves goes, here is the most basic things to remember....

• Nothing affects a fish more (Snook the most) than water temps and they can detect a 50th of a degree change.
• Remember to look for ambush points this includes docks and points. Many flats fish are ambush feeders with Reds being the ones that "actively" search out food and follow Mullet schools many times much more than all the others.
• Birds feeding and "standing" in certain locations "tells" me a lot
• Stealth is key... One mush shut down and pole or wind drift onto many such spots. Fish in skinny clear water are very nervous fish. You can talk all you want, but CD players, dropping or falling over things on the deck, changing trolling motor speeds, dropping an anchor over the side, and fish finders (which do no good in a foot of water) all will flush out fish like a covey of Quail
• Fluorocarbon leaders and loop knots will increase your hook ups greatly
• Many of your Bass lures will work just fine on the flats, here again a fish is a fish. Match the local forage (both bait fish and shrimp and crabs) and you will get hits.
• I don't get all hung up on tides like many do. I fish when I can and just look for some kind of water movement. I use low tide conditions for scouting since I can see the bottom structure (grass or oyster beds and or small channels) and incoming tides to float into such areas when possible.
• Goggle Earth saves me time and fuel in finding new flats to fish for sure.

Hope this helps?