How to catch fish under docks in Florida; snook, redfish, speckled-spotted sea trout

Fishing under residential docks in the wintertime is personally one of my favorite things to do. The excitement and the challenge to turn a snook or redfish so it doesn’t take you right into the pilings and break you off – is in my book –the best rush you can get fishing! This quick break down of an article called “Fishing Docks in the winter” in TheOnlineFisherman.com will definitely help you in your quest to find fish!

How to get your bait underneath docks effectively; skip cast

The most important thing you have to learn to do to be productive while dock fishing in the wintertime is to skip-cast. Most fish species that hang around docks are going to be way in the back warming up and waiting to ambush baitfish. Sometimes there will be some game fish around the edge, but most will be sitting way in the back. You will have to practice skipping your bait – just like you would skip-throw a rock – sometimes 3 or 4 times to get it where the fish are.

How to Position your Boat to Fish under Docks

Tides and current are a major factor in fishing under residential docks, but wind will also be a big factor. If there are 20 knot winds it will be difficult to keep your bait in the “zone” no matter what the current is doing, but if you position yourself with the wind at your back it will help out in a major way. Now if the current is going side to side you might try moving a little bit to the side, but not all the way because the wind will almost always override current. Now, go catch and fight fish!

TheOnlineFisherman.com is the World's ONLY online ONE-STOP fishing resource. Anything you could ever want to know about fishing can be found on this website. How To Fish, Where To Fish (Google maps to local fishing hot-spots!), When To Fish (Tides, Weather and Solunar Calendars), Fishing Reports (From reputable captains and guides), Fishing Forums, Fishing News, Fishing Products & Services and Fishing Politics.

How to cast a fly fishing rod

Unfortunately, you’re not always in the wide open when learning how to fly fish in saltwater. A lot of saltwater fly fishing (especially in Florida) takes place while wade fishing in shallow water close to mangroves. Some of your time fishing will be parallel to the mangroves, but to cover the most ground you will eventually have to cast your fly rod straight out. The only way that’s going to be possible is to learn how to spey cast.

Here is the first how-to video that will teach you how to spey cast a fly fishing rod:

Back casting a fly fishing rod is necessary when re-adjusting your flies position

Back casting a fly fishing rod is probably the most common cast used.The reason back casting is a must have in your bag of tricks is because once you learn it well you will be able to lift your fly line up from wherever your fly is and reposition it to a different target.

Learn how to back hand cast a fly fishing rod in yet another great instructional video:

The difference between roll casting a fly fishing rod and spey casting a fly fishing rod

To roll cast a fly fishing rod you must lengthen the string and get it out in front of you. Then, you sweep the line in an arc-like motion behind you, whip it forward and the line seems to form a loop. It then "rolls" out in front of you and that is where the name "roll cast" comes from.

Here is our last instructional video on how to roll cast a fly fishing rod:

So, the difference between the spey cast and the roll cast is: in the spey cast, the back cast is made under the rod tip. Several feet of line touch the water before you cast. The line hitting the water creates an anchor that creates tension and seems to work better for most anglers.

If you liked this article and found it informative, visit TheOnlineFisherman.com. It is the World's ONLY online ONE-STOP fishing magazine. Anything you could ever want to know about fishing can be found on this website. How To Fish, Where To Fish (Google Maps to our Hot-Spots!), When To Fish (Tides, Weather and Solunar Calendars), Fishing Reports (From Reputable Captains and Guides), Fishing Forums, Fishing News, Fishing Products & Services and Fishing Politics.

The right saltwater fly reel

Saltwater fly reel selection is not always as easy as one would think. There are small ones, big ones, light ones, heavy ones, some with a lot of bearings, some with a little, some that hold 400 yards of fishing line and some that only fit 100.

Understanding what saltwater fly reels are made of

Understanding the difference between choosing a freshwater reel and choosing a saltwater reel is important. Let's go over a few different types of metal saltwater fly reels are made of:

• Cast aluminum
• Forged aluminum
• Carbon fiber
• Aero space aluminum

The best option is aero space aluminum. They are built to last in tougher conditions than freshwater reels are. They will be a little more expensive, but worth it in the long run.

Picking the right drag system for your saltwater fly reel

Here’s the next issue: There are many drag designs on the market. Drag is also one of the most important parts of a reel. If you hook a big fish and don’t have the right drag system, there goes the couple hundred dollars you just spent! Here are a few different types of drag systems for saltwater fly reels:

• Cork disc drag
• Spring and pawl
• Cone drag

The cork drag system is in my opinion the best. Cork is fairly cheap to replace if needed. It’s easy to clean and it stands up to heat very well.

This article is a very quick “break-down” of an article that you can find on TheOnlineFisherman.com. It goes into more detail on drag systems and bearings. If you would like to read more, CLICK HERE.

If you liked this article and found it informative, visit TheOnlineFisherman.com. It is the World's ONLY online ONE-STOP fishing magazine. Anything you could ever want to know about fishing can be found on this website. How To Fish, Where To Fish (Google Maps to our Hot-Spots!), When To Fish (Tides, Weather and Solunar Calendars), Fishing Reports (From Reputable Captains and Guides), Fishing Forums, Fishing News, Fishing Products & Services and Fishing Politics.

How to choose the right saltwater fly

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying before – “Match the hatch.” – This saying holds true with learning how to fly fish as it does with any type of fishing. Learning how to choose a fly is a very simple thing to do. When you get to your "fishing hole", put the rod down for a little while and look around. See what type of bait is around and find a fly with similar color and action.

Fly fishing the saltwater flats of Florida

The Clouser fly is a great fly to use in pretty much any situation when learning what "flies" in saltwater, especially on the flats. You can find (or tie) ANY color fly to “match the hatch”. If white bait is in the area; find a fly that has a dark back and silver-white sides. If shrimp are in the area you’re in; find a tie that resembles shrimp coloring. Flies come in just about every color, but if you can’t seem to find the color you’re looking for tie your own!

Flies with different action for saltwater and freshwater fly fishing

There are flies that are made to stay on top of the water, flies that are made to swim and flies that are made for creeping on the bottom. If you are just learning how to fish, you might want to take a day off just to see how bait moves. Watch to see how they react when a predator swims by. You will want to know this because then you will know what “action” you want in your fly.

If you liked this article and found it informative, visit TheOnlineFisherman.com. It is the World's ONLY online ONE-STOP fishing magazine. Anything you could ever want to know about fishing can be found on this website. How To Fish, Where To Fish (Google Maps to our Hot-Spots!), When To Fish (Tides, Weather and Solunar Calendars), Fishing Reports (From Reputable Captains and Guides), Fishing Forums, Fishing News, Fishing Products & Services and Fishing Politics.

How to saltwater fly fish for baby tarpon

According to the authors of Tarpon on Fly – Donald Larmouth and Rob Fordyce -- baby tarpon eat pretty much any lure you would use for snook fishing. Glass minnows, Clouser Deep Minnows, popping bugs, gurglers and many, many more various flies. On that same note, baby tarpon seem to eat totally different things at any given time.

How to match the hatch when fly fishing for tarpon

When baby tarpon are in backwater locations where there isn’t much traffic, they may be more likely to eat a fly because they have probably never seen one; unlike fish that are in highly-fished, high-traffic areas. Most baby tarpon catching takes place in areas that aren’t often traveled/fished. So, once you are able to find them, study what bait fish are in the area. That is going to be the reason the baby tarpon are there, to eat them! Now, it’s time to match the hatch!

Why fly fishing for adult tarpon is different than baby tarpon

Tarpon are often sight-fished. But, this is usually not the case with baby tarpon. When you see baby tarpon doing what is called "rolling", they are usually in 15-20 feet of water. They are not always feeding when they are doing this, but just gulping air. It could get very frustrating trying to get them to bite when they are "rolling". Try to find fish that are in skinnier water. You will probably have a better chance of catching one in skinnier water. Often times wherever you would normally find snook, baby tarpon can be found also. Fishing docks, mangroves and bridge pilings are just a few places you might find baby tarpon. Pretty much any structure that holds bait, tarpon can be found.

If you liked this article and found it informative visit TheOnlineFisherman.com. It is the World's ONLY online ONE-STOP fishing magazine. Anything you could ever want to know about fishing can be found on this website. How To Fish, Where To Fish (Google Maps to our Hot-Spots!), When To Fish (Tides, Weather and Solunar Calendars), Fishing Reports (From Reputable Captains and Guides), Fishing Forums, Fishing News, Fishing Products & Services and Fishing Politics.