Guide Clayton Crawford said that one of the keys to successful fishing in low water in the back of the creeks and sound is getting in and out safely.
“Redfish will be in ultra-shallow water at low tide, and I strongly recommend that fishermen take the time in advance to slowly motor in and out of various creeks and sounds to explore the right travel routes,” he said. “It is amazing at how many shallow oyster pods are exposed, — or even worse — are just under the water at low tide. We have seen a number of boats get landlocked at low tide as well as run aground on oyster beds. Neither one is a good experience and will ruin an otherwise potentially great fishing trip. We’ve taken the time to learn the routes, and it is worth the effort to ensure a safe way in and out.”
Crawford said it’s also easy to get caught up in the fast-paced fishing action and not pay attention to water levels.
“As a guide, I watch for fish and constantly pay strict attention to what the water level is doing,” he said. “We’ll have tides that are higher or lower than normal, and knowing what the specific tide will be is important in terms of where you can fish and how long you can stay there. If you don’t get out of some areas when the water reaches a certain level on the dropping tide, even if the fishing is good, you’ll likely have to wait a few hours for the tides to drop on out and then rise again before you have enough water to float the boat and go.
“Pay attention to the water level, know the tide predictions for the day you are fishing, and then factor in the wind and direction of the wind, because a strong can influence how far the tide will move in or out. It’s not really difficult and should not deter anyone from fishing, but it is a point that needs to be considered when fishing the back of the sounds and creeks, especially during cold weather.”
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