When bad weather dirties the inshore waters, I like to target the residential canals closest to the area passes.
This time of year, these areas teem with migrating redfish and snook. During daylight we have seen large snook cruising close to the seawalls at high tide. The redfish are hanging in the mullet schools close to the docks.
I like to target these fish with a 1-ounce stripped shadtail jig. I look for canals that were blocked from the recent winds. The water will be cleaner in the canals that had a wind block and good water flow. Drift through the area while casting as close to the seawall as possible. Then drag the jig across the bottom in a slow retrieve. The best places to target are the fronts and sides of the docks and the areas where you find mullet jumping. Use 20-pound tackle or larger when working the canals. The action won't be steady, but the fish will be large.
If canal fishing doesn't pan out, head to the flats for some nonstop trout action. The bite has been hot in depths of 4 to 6 feet at the peak water movements. Look for areas that have bait spawn raining on the surface. Dragging a jig or floating jig combination around the bait schools should produce all the 15- to 20-inch trout most anglers would want.
Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.
