It's that time of year again, when the new moon brings beastly high tides to Northeast Florida. These "spring" tides (the name for a higher than normal tide) come every fall, and usually occur around the new moon. Any east or northeast wind can also raise the water during the days between the new moons. If you are looking at the local tide charts, any tide above a 5.1 can produce a good flood. A 4.5 or better combined with a hard wind can also bring on water that would have the resident wildlife lining up two by two! No matter if the flood is predicted (by chart) or unexpected (pushed up by wind), the Redfish know it's coming, and they can't wait to storm the grass and chow down! This is the best time of year to find our resident fish tailing like mad, and fishing for these bruisers is more akin to hunting than fishing. You get to see your fish before you make your cast, and it is not unusual to make multiple casts at the same fish before you trick him into slamming your lure. Here's a little video from the other day, we have the boat poled up on a grass field that sees water just a handful of days out of the year. This was Malcom's first flood tailer, caught on his first flood trip!
We are using scented Gulp! baits with Mustad weedless hooks for pulling through the grass, but any soft plastic/weedless combo will work just as effectively. The key to success is presentation, not specific lure type or color. The best technique is to cast at least five feet beyond the fish and pull the bait slowly back to the fish. Spooked fish may only move a few feet and start tailing again, or they may bolt off the flat altogether. We often fish from the boat, but wading can sometimes be the best and only way to get to fish working in seven inches or less of water. The biggest floods of the year are right around the corner, so get ready to chase some tail!
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