A pair of DIY anglers solicit insight and guidance from a seasoned guide that increased their success for oversized bonefish plus other species.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

One of the more frustrating experiences for inshore anglers is when you know fish are there but can’t get them to eat. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily an uncommon experience, even with all the elements – weather, tides, active bait, etc. – seem to be working in your favor. Sometimes, fish just have a mind of their own.  Even worse is when you know they are feeding – you see redfish tailing or trout busting bait – but they’re not interested in what you’re offering or how you’re presenting it.  So, how can you convince these stubborn fish to bite?

The good news is whether you see the fish or just signs of them, regardless of whether they are actively feeding or just passively observing, you have some options. While there’s no absolute guaranteed way to get them to strike, there are a few things you can do before throwing in the towel and accepting defeat or moving to another location. After all, you hate to leave fish to find fish. So, if you know they’re where you are, it’s better to exhaust all options before moving on.

GIVE ‘EM WHAT THEY WANT

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, although it may seem obvious, as anglers we often tend to throw what we prefer or have confidence in, without taking the time to see what the fish are actually feeding on at that moment. Sure enough, along the Texas Coast, this approach often works, as redfish, trout and flounder will most often be feeding on shrimp, mullet or pinfish. Therefore, lures that vaguely resemble those items will often get results.

Then there are times when fish, even those which are actively feeding, are hyper-focused on a particular prey item. Common examples of this are when they are feeding on glass minnows or migrating shrimp. In that situation, it’s best to take a page from the freshwater trout fishing playbook and match the hatch, so to speak.

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