Advice for Reds at Desoto

[carey]

So I have a 14ft fishing Kayak that is only two years old, never got around to using it for anything except leisurely river trips. I put an anchor trolley on it and finally decided to put it to use. 

I have fished Desoto twice this week after reading articles and watching youtube videos. I decided to use Cajun Thunder popping corks with a 2-3 3ft 30lb fluoro leader with 4 and 3 inch Gulp Alive shrimp in various colors but mostly penny as it seems most natural. I was using 3/0 circle hooks and hooking them like I could a live shrimp. I also bought some topwater lures to "Walk the dog" with. Tried Spook Jrs and Skitterwalks. The areas I fished: imgur.com/a/NeIsm

I fished along the mangrove, grass flats, potholes in the grass flats or at least they seemed like pot holes turned to sand color and they were deeper, and I tried the little bridge at the southern most tip. I caught zero reds, zero snook and probably around 12 small trout and a number of catfish. None of the trout big enough to keep, pretty frustrating. From the articles I have read it seemed like Desoto is a redfish mecca. I seen people on youtube catching fish the exact same way I was trying, that's why I was trying these tactics. Any advice? The areas I was fishing seemed like prime real estate.  

[bigwman007]

Moving water and fishing in and around active mullet schools, 2ft of water or less. I fish a Zara Spook Jr. 90% of the time, bone in color. Tip, don't cross the Bunce's Pass Bridge to fish. I have been catching reds in that area for many years. If you want to make catching them a sure thing, cut pinfish or ladyfish on the bottom, fresh caught only.

[carey]

There were mullet jumping. I'm not sure which direction you mean by not crossing bunces pass. I was fishing the east side both north st barbe key area and then south between land and tarpon key. I was thinking about trying the west side over by mullet key bayou next. I will definitely try the cut bait. Thanks for the tips.

[bigwman007]

Check private messages.

[aussieguy]

try the last of the out going tide...
the fish will be concentrated in the channels and holes

I got a beauty of a red on live pin fish (free lined) in the channel near my place