Fort DeSoto Fishing: Chasing Speckled Treasures
Join Captain Sergio Atanes in this exciting episode of Sergio’s Fishing Chronicles as he explores the productive waters of Fort DeSoto. In this adventure, Captain Sergio and his guest George navigate the challenging extremely low tides of the DeSoto area in search of redfish and trout. Despite the challenging conditions, they demonstrate remarkable persistence that eventually leads to an exciting day on the water.
The journey begins with Captain Sergio explaining their strategy for Fort DeSoto fishing during unusually low tides. Utilising his shallow-draft Beaver Tail Skiff Vengeance model, they access remote spots where other anglers simply cannot venture. This seven-inch draft vessel proves invaluable as they cruise the shallow waters at an impressive 31 miles per hour while achieving excellent fuel efficiency with the Yamaha 115 outboard.
Artificial Lures Triumph Over Live Bait
What makes this episode particularly educational is the side-by-side comparison between artificial lures and live bait. Despite having premium live shrimp and greenback sardines at their disposal, the artificial lures consistently outperform the natural options. Captain Sergio showcases the effectiveness of
Saltwater Assassin Sea Shads in various sizes, particularly highlighting the “Electric Chicken” colour pattern that proves irresistible to the trout.
The episode offers valuable insights into selecting the appropriate tackle based on fish size and behaviour. Captain Sergio breaks down his systematic approach to jig head selection, from light 1/16-ounce heads paired with 3-inch baby shads for smaller targets to heavier 1/4-ounce heads with 5-inch lures when pursuing larger specimens. He also shares his practical colour-coding system for braided line weights, making it easy for viewers to apply similar organisation to their own tackle.
Tactical Approaches to Locating Trout
After methodically searching the Fort DeSoto fishing grounds, Captain Sergio and George eventually discover a productive edge near Tarpon Key. Here, they encounter a grass flat that drops into deeper water, creating the perfect ambush point for hungry trout. Through fan casting and careful presentation, they locate schools of fish and demonstrate effective retrieval techniques.
One particularly valuable tip shared is the importance of letting a lure fall naturally after a missed strike, mimicking an injured baitfish. This simple yet effective tactic reportedly increases hook-up rates by an impressive 50%. While the larger redfish remain elusive during this outing, the abundant trout action provides non-stop entertainment and valuable lessons for anglers of all skill levels who might be planning their own Fort DeSoto fishing expedition.
Tags: Artificial bait,
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Captain Sergio Atanes,
DeSoto fishing,
Electric chicken,
Fishing Chronicles,
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grass flats,
live shrimp,
low tide,
saltwater,
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Sea Shad,
shallow water,
Tarpon Key,
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