Florida saltwater fishing experts Ed Zyak and Nestor Alvisa of of Hooked on Flamingo guide service team up to target snook and tarpon along Florida’s shallow waters. They take to Everglades National Park by boat and identify the tidal pattern to target tarpon and snook in key ambush spots. The fish stack in mangroves adjacent to where the outgoing tidal current funnels prey against the cover.
The goal of this video is to take the mystery and intimidation out of inshore saltwater fishing. If you can launch your boat and catch fish in freshwater, you have what it takes to do the same in saltwater using everyday bass or multi-species fishing gear.
TACKLE AND ROD SETUP
- SWIMBAIT (Alvisa) – No Live Bait Needed (NLBN) Paddle Tail, 3-inch: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- WEEDLESS JIGHEAD (Alvisa) – Z-Man Weedless Eye Jighead: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- Soft Swimbaits at Bass Pro Shops
- Saltwater Jigheads at Bass Pro Shops
- ROD – Daiwa TD SOL Inshore Spinning Rod, 8′ Heavy: Buy at Tackle Direct
- REEL – Daiwa BG MQ (BGMQ4000D-XH): Check out at Daiwa | Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE (braided mainline) – Daiwa J-BRAID x8 GRAND, 15- to 20-pound: Check out at Daiwa
- LINE (fluoro leader) – Daiwa J-Fluoro Leader, 30-pound: Check out at Daiwa | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- SUN SHIRT (Nestor) – AFTCO Ocean Bound LS Sun Protection Hoodie: Buy at AFTCO
- SUN SHIRT (Ed) – AFTCO Jason Christie Hooded LS Performance Shirt: Buy at AFTCO
THE BASICS OF INSHORE FISHING LOCATION AND TACTICS
Zyak and Alvisa catch snook by making accurate casts into mangrove pockets using small paddle tail swimbaits on the outgoing tide. Combining precise casting and understanding of tide movement results in consistent hookups as snook ambush prey. Along the way, the duo shares tips on using technology such as charts, side imaging, and tide cycles to find high-percentage areas.
GEAR TIPS FOR INSHORE FISHING SUCCESS
The video covers essential inshore fishing gear, with tips on selecting the right rod, reel, and tackle for battling snook and tarpon. Zyak and Alvisa explain the versatility of balanced spinning rod setups spooled with braided line to make accurate casts and muscle fish out of dense cover. When it comes to tackle, matching the forage can be crucial. Small natural-colored paddletail swimbaits do an excellent job of mimmicing a wide range coastal forage species. Feeling undergunned? Just step up your rod and swimbait size when fishing bigger tarpon and snook.
BOAT TECHNOLOGY FOR INSHORE AND OFFSHORE FISHING
The right saltwater fishing boat can offer exceptional versatility. Anglers can easily switch between targeting inshore and offshore fishing species with the help of a capable hull and motor combined with fish finder and boat control technology. Zyak and Alvisa show how trolling motors make quick work of good-looking spots. When used in conjunction, mapping and sonar coupled with tools such as trolling motors and shallow water anchors help you find fish and control the boat so you can focus on fishing.
BOAT SETUP & MISC.
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Riptide Instinct QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Minn Kota
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR – Minn Kota Raptor Active Anchoring Shallow Water Anchor – 10′ – Black: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FISH FINDER – Humminbird APEX 16 MEGA SI+ Fishfinder/Chartplotter CHO: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Humminbird
- TRANSDUCER (thru-hull) – SSTH 14 HW MSI+ T – SOLIX MEGA SI+, DI+, DS CHIRP w/ Temp Thru-Hull Transducer: Buy at Humminbird
- MAPPING – Humminbird CoastMaster V1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Humminbird
- BOAT – Pathfinder 2700 Open “Hybrid style bayboat: Check out at Pathfinder
- MOTOR – Yamaha 5.6L V8 XTO Offshore: Check out at Yamaha
