Having a small float tube that you can fit in a checked bag provides fishing opportunities wherever you find yourself. Catching a spotted bay bass was my goal for this trip. I rolled out my Outcast Trinity (no longer in production) float tube, found the nearest boat ramp, and strapped on my fins. In the morning there was an incoming tide, so that made me confident. I started off fishing buoys, rock walls, and dock slips. Those didn’t produce, so I checked my google map and found some grass flats. This was the key. I quickly landed several fish. All of my knowledge about fishing the bay came from Youtube and one angler in particular uses a double fly rig with a heavy fly on the bottom with a more natural smaller pattern on top. Very similar to a double euro nymph rig. And another Youtuber swears by fishing orange, red, or pink. I mashed up those two techniques and had a blast.
At 8am, the National Anthem is played on a speaker (I was near Gloretta Bay) and everybody faces the nearest flag to honor the nation. I did the same, but had my line in the water. I had a fish bite during the anthem and it took all my bearing to not land the fish until the anthem was over. A nearby golfer was so entertained that he took a picture of me to regale the story to his buddies. Back to fishing. It is necessary to fish in or as close to the grass as possible. That means you get hung up quite a bit. If I were to do it again I would fish a weedless pattern (on an EWG) or two. Also a sink tip or full sinking lines are advantages. It is better to find the grass line and work that area. I didn’t catch any fish casting to the shore and working it back. Spotted bay bass school up, so if you can catch one; I wouldn’t stray too far.
