Fun night wading

[goredwings]

Well I went o one of my favorite wading spots tonight for a little chill out and relax time after work hoping to get some fresh air and a little fishing action at the same time. Loaded up with some nice big select shrimp and off I went.

The wind was heading out of the west so I headed out further from shore than normal so I could cast with the wind. Began casting out towards some nice grass areas and wham! Had a fighter of a red on. That sucker did not want to come in for nothing. what a battle! Finally get him close to grab on and measure him. 32 inches of mean fighting machine. Put him back to grow bigger yet and keep on moving along.

While doing my stingray shuffle I passed so many sting ray it was amazing. The flats were alive with life. Stingrays, horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, mullet jumping everywhere, it was just awesome to be out there. As I came upon an oyster bar I noticed the fella in the pic above chilling on the bar. I tossed my shrimp his way and no sooner after hit hit the water and the fight was on. wrestled this guy in and on the stringer he went. He went 17 inches but I do not have a scale handy so no weight for ya.

I continued on and as the sun was setting I had another red on this one looked to be slot sized and once I brought him within 5 feet of me he spit the hook. Just not in the cards for a keeper red tonight. Guess I will have to try again in the morning. Just an awesome relaxing night. We all need more of those don't we?

Good luck this weekend,
Goredwings

PS
GO RED WINGS, BEAT THOSE PENS.....AGAIN!!!![

[goindeep]

Great report. I gotta get out and do more fishing like that. Sounds like a great night

Oh, and nice feesh


edit: I edited your post to make the pic clickable. It was missing a "[" at the beginning.

[poisonxvenom]

How do you know which areas are "flats" and grass areas?

[goredwings]

Well...In my opinion it is all one in the same. The bottom of a flat may be made up of grass, sand, rock, mud, gravel, or a combination of these. Flats with grass or other aquatic vegetation offer cover and food for a variety of fish as well as shrimp and crabs. You will be able to tell which is which once you start wading the area and learn what to look for. Pretty easy to tell once you are in the water. Usually the darker areas are grass. Lighter areas are sand, rock or other structures.

[poisonxvenom]

So, are they randomly placed throughout the pier, or is it normally near the toll booth, in the entrance?

[goredwings]

I was fishing in Pasco county, but an example for you by the skyway would be the areas around the rest stop by the north pier entrance. I have caught many nice fish wading in that area. You will almost always see people wading in that area when you go to the piers. other wise it is the shore line in the gulf. I like to look for areas that do not get deep and drop too fast.

[montylfl]

You wade fish at night? Man that is crazy. But if you have an itch to fish...... I can see why.

Many years I always wade fished at night. Had a nice hit and as I got the fish within three feet of me a huge shark hit the fish as it broke thru the surface. Scared the crap out of me. Raced to shore, called it a night, and no more night wade fishing for me.

[goredwings]

Monty,

As Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard once said "I may be crazy but I ain't dumb". I was fishing in the afternoon til sunset. Once I got home after some running around I had the wifey take the pic. No way in hell am I wading at night. Do not want to find myself on the menu. Had the same thing happen in broad daylight at honeymoon island. Was brining in a whiting and at least a 4-5 foot shark followed in and took it about 4 feet from me.

[bcc]

I dont even like to wade fish alone after the time i was wade fishing at belleair beach. I was about chest deep and i felt somethin of substancle size rub against me. A few minutes later i was reeling a small fish a it snatch from me about 10 feet in front of me. I also was a little spook at that point and called it a day.