Bottom Fishing Shallow Waters

Bottom fishing in 50 feet of water or thereabouts requires a different approach than deep-water techniques, combining the precision of shallow-water fishing with the structure-reading skills needed for offshore success. Your electronics become critical tools for identifying the subtle bottom changes and fish-holding structure that make the difference between a slow day and consistent action. The key lies in understanding how fish position themselves relative to structure at this depth and adapting your tackle and presentation accordingly.

• Use electronics strategically - If you have a boat with a side-finding fishfinder, when you arrive at a likely location like an oyster bar or a reef site with oyster balls, spend some time idling slowly through the area to ID the best structure. Create waypoints where you spot clusters of reef material or fish
• Optimize tackle for intermediate depths - Select medium action, 6- to 7-foot graphite spinning or baitcasting rods that provide enough backbone for structure fishing while maintaining sensitivity for detecting subtle bites
• Choose appropriate sinker weights - Use 2-4 ounce sinkers that allow you to feel bottom contact while maintaining bait control in current, as the heaviest sinkers and or jig heads I've used are 2 ounces. At 3 ounces the tips of the rods are pulled down and lose the characteristics needed to fish effectively
• Target specific structure zones - In 50 to 90 feet, the fish are smaller, anywhere from 1 to 4 pounds. In deeper water, they're 5 to 10 pounds, but also 20 to 30 pounds, making 50-foot depths perfect for consistent action with quality fish
• Position precisely over structure - If you're fishing over isolated structure like a wreck, or you've drift-fished until locating a specific hotspot within a larger area, stick to it like glue. This means anchoring over the structure
• Select proven bait combinations - Use frozen bait works very well for grouper, sometimes even better than live bait. Spanish sardines are a top bait, as they put out a lot of oil and scales as they thaw. Squid is a great universal bait that catches everything that swims
• Apply proper retrieval techniques - When saltwater fishing over reefs or structures, it's common practice to let the bait hit the bottom and reel up about a foot off the bottom. This is done primarily to prevent hang-ups and to make your bait easier to find for predators