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Any tips for fishing the grass flats of the gulf of mexico in florida?

Hi, me and my buddies have been having some trouble finding good fish (reds, sea trout...) on the grassflats of cedar key, florida. we've found the sandbars are kinda productive on the incoming tide but nothing id be pround of. Im wondering if any more experinenced anglers can give us a few tips on the tides, ideal locations, and the best ways to find fish. We usually use floats/click clacker bobbers with shrimp.
thanks

Public Comments

1. Brandon is the man.

To me small baits, lightweight equipment and quiet spots are key. Hit those calm areas with a lot of sea grass. Sea grass is good for a lot of fish. I knock them dead wading Tampa Bay in the sea grasses in the summertime..

2. Cedar Key! thats my back yard, well the Big bend area in general. I really like Horseshoe beach and steinhatchee and wacasassa better but Cedar key is fine. First off for redfish fish the oyster bars around snake key, seahorse key and pretty much any of the islands out there. Dont just take off across there on plane because it gets extremenly shallow in spots. Also another good spot a little closer is..well if you launch at the public ramp near all the restaraunts, go out under the bridge back around infront of all the restaraunts and go in the first creek (there are condos on the corner) Dont cut the entrance short go out around the piling and then cut in (SHALLOW) go down the creek and there are several areas to catch reds and Black drum including the old railroad tressel, and other grasslines and bars. Next Trout, Go out of the ramp under the bridge and follow the channel (straight) that cuts out between the islands, once you clear the last island on the left, go a little farther and then turn south and head towards the Crystal river Plant (big plant in the distance) There are PVC pipes out there marking public trout grounds. Look for boats. Find spotty bottom. Also talk to Chuck at the Ramp. He's the guy that you pay to park. He's a good guy. Email me w/ questions. If you want some good redfish I can put you on them in Horseshoe

3. I've also fished the Steinhatchee/Cedar Key area many times. Brandon already covered the "where" pretty darn good, (Thumbs UP B).

I'll give ya some advice on "what" to throw.

#1). Live Shrimp are expensive and don't last as long as Berkley Gulp Shrimp. Plus, you can rig a plastic Shrimp "Texas-Style" which makes it weedless......

A good way to fish is to use a Popping Cork with a 3-4FT, 14-17LB Fluorocarbon leader and a Gulp Shrimp rigged Texas style. Cast to "pockets" in the grass. Once you find a couple Trout slowwwww down and THEN start using your expensive live Shrimp.

Gulp Shrimp- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_72346____SearchResults

Another good "search" lure for Trout, (and Reds), is a saltwater Heddon, "Super Spook Jr", (or any Topwater lure you can "walk the dog" with).

Spook jr- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_27430____SearchResults

If you get a swipe, (or 2), at your Topwater slowwwww down and break out the live bait.

Berkley Gulp Jerkshads are DEADLY when fished around grass beds & oyster bars......Rig them Texas-style with a 5/0-6/0 offset hook.

Jerkshads- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_75761____SearchResults

Understand, if your using any form of "dead bait" your odds on catching Gamefish diminish about 75-80%.

A 1/4 OZ Chartreuse-colored Jig with a dark Green or melon colored curly-tailed Grub can be VERY productive in creeks or deeper channels. (These are cheap and you should be able to pick up quite a few for less than $15)

Gold-colored, weedless, Spoons with a chartreuse curly-tailed grub as a trailer is always a good bet- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59492____SearchResults

Remember- Stay "mobile" and keep tossin' lures until you find a school of Trout or Reds. You cover more water trolling and casting lures than sitting and watching bait.

Thumbs up to Brandon- you get my vote for BA.

PS- You will up your catch ratio signifigantly if you dowse your lures with a saltwater attractant