Fishing the First Step

You step out of your vehicle onto the beach of the awakening morning. The Sea is just starting to show signs of life, and the beginning of a new day. As you slip into the surf, passing through the rhythmic swells to the first bar, you feel the notable bump of a good fish at your ankle. As you slip up to the bar, and cast a line past the breakers. You work it enticingly through the trough on the opposite side of the bar as you feel another bump on the back of your knee.  What you begin to realize at that moment, is the fish are chasing bait behind you, in the wading gut, in less than 18 inches of water, between you and the beach. As you turn around and toss your lure towards the beach, your line immediately runs taught, and the flex of the rod tip begins the tale of a decent fish on the other end.

This scenario has been played countless times on many stretches of water, in the surf, bays, and lakes. Many of us have fallen into this same pit during one or more of our angling endeavors. We jump into our fishing modes with a target area in mind, weather it is slipping into the surf towards the first bar, or slipping off your kayak or skiff into the water towards that shell reef or grass line. The first cast should always be into water immediately in front of you before entering. You never know what could be holding under that small rippling ankle wave, or next to the grass line you just pulled up on, or the shadow of your kayak for that matter. Often times we have stumbled right over the very fish we are after by assuming they are only in the “prime area”. But what we forget, is that the reason we are there in the first place, is because we believe it holds fish. We already know that fish frequent very shallow water. We can see them running in the waves of the surf, or tailing in a shallow bay, or chasing bait. But they don’t always leave signs of their presence; in fact usually they don’t leave visible signs. What makes these fish successful predators is they can lie there undetected until it is time to rush and pounce on their prey. We can try our best to guess where they will be, but after all the preparation, and trouble we took to get to this “fishable water”, why not take a few seconds more and try a few casts before moving into that potential hot spot.

It is absolutely astonishing to see the size and quality of fish that can be taken by casting from the beach, or your craft, and not even having to wet your feet. This is even more evident during the finger mullet migrations of the fall, but also in the warming water of spring and summer. We often are amazed that a bull Red, or a Jack Crevalle are running through water less than knee deep. But it is clearly notable by the unmistakable silhouette of these speedsters as they ride the waves. Even more impressive and probably startling, is the site of a 5ft Black Tip or Bull Shark running bait right up to the sand. That is when the message really hits home as to what kind of fish the shallow water attracts and hides. I myself have personally witnessed several sharks over 5ft caught from bait casted into shallow water from the beach. Remembering to make those first few casts before touching the water will definitely make a difference in your fishing.

So the next time, you get to the good water, and prepare to wade to that hot spot, stop, and take a few casts first, you may be surprised, and “stumble” onto your limit before you even get there.

by Victor Delgado

aka " Whopper" on the Surf-Masters Saltwater Message Board

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