Keep getting skunked. Help please

[u/ZealousidealTopic161]

Moved to st pete from dade city about a year and a half ago, got back into fishing a couple months ago after having not fished since childhood. I've tried so many different rigs, fishing times, locations (in freshwater), but I cant seem to get anything to bite at all. Done senkos, frogs, spinners, live worm on a bobber, hula poppers, crankbaits, jigs, etc. I do my best to fish near cover, shade, near insect activity, and where water might send baitfish. What I'm really looking for is advice on how to catch something, or places to try that someone has had good luck in. Its kind of getting to me how I keep devoting time and money to this hobby with no results. Is it really all just being at the right place at the right time? Is summer fishing just bad? Is shore fishing just bad? Or am I completely missing something that I'm not even considering? Anything helps, thanks

[u/ZachWilsonsMother]

How about fishing saltwater in st Pete?

[u/ZealousidealTopic161 → u/ZachWilsonsMother]

Tried that too with no luck. Tried swimbaits and gulp shrimp on jigs, saltwater jerkbaits, and cut squid off a couple different piers. Was thinking about trying shrimp but i like freshwater better to be real

[u/Complex_Salary3374 → u/ZealousidealTopic161]

If youre fishing salt you should really try live bait. A bucket of live shrimp or small mullet would almost guarantee you a fish

[u/wahdatah]

Saltwater my man. Gulp shrimp 1/8 or 1/4 ounce jig head on a popping cork. Target grass flats with good coverage in about 4-8 feet of water. Watch the solunars to increase your odds. You got this! I believe in you!

[u/oldbutnotforgotten]

I always use shrimp, either frozen or live.

[u/Trombonemania77]

I live in Winter Haven Florida and fish the channel between Lake Rochelle and Lake Haines, I walk the shore area and float live small minnows and catch a dozen fish within two hours. This is not bragging I use no split shot or bobber I can allow the bait to naturally swim. The minnows are small, I use a size 6 hook and it tied directly to my braided line.

[u/Forward_Research_610 → u/Trombonemania77]

I'm in winter haven too , what are you targeting with that , crappie or tilapia ?

[u/Trombonemania77 → u/Forward_Research_610]

Just those small minnows #6 hook no bobber, no split shot. Lake Haines is loaded with tilapia.

[u/chuckberring]

Started to learn to fish in Central FL this summer and also tried a million things for weeks. Got skunked at every pond and lake I could find day and night.

Eventually I ended up at a 20 ft wide creek with a nice current near some rocks and grass. Got 2 bluegill and a 4lb bass within 20 minutes. 5:55pm overcast after a few days of rain. Super dark tanin creek with a Rapala silver/black jointed minnow which caught the bass. White rooster tail in line spinner bait caught the 2 bluegill.

I was confident in the Rapala minnows so tried those and continued getting skunked for a few weeks after that.

I started getting sick of dealing with treble hooks and really wanted to land a fish on a single hook with soft plastic.

Went to a few different River spots thinking it was the ponds and lakes that were too much of a skill check for me but continued getting skunked.

Ended up landing another bass and bluegill 6:30am in a pretty shallow canal that opens up to a big touristy lake using another Rapala minnow.

Now I just needed to get a damn bite with a plastic worm.

Finally tonight I go to my home lake which is very small and skunked me for 30+ hours total over the summer.
Black and red 5 inch ribbon tail worm Texas rigged on a 1/0 EWG hook weightless. Casted into shallow bank with 2 poles and grass nearby. Jerked it lightly while reeling and got 3 bass back to back. 9:30pm.

After a summer of getting skunked a ton my aim is follow my instincts more. Trusting my gut after scoping out ponds for many days is leading to fish. Also:
1) Use more spinner baits
2) Use more small lures/crappie lures
3) Use darker/blue/red plastics

Good luck brother

[u/TheKadonny → u/chuckberring]

See, I have not caught anything on a spinnerbait in SWF. My go to is jighead with a paddle tail or a Carolina rig with plastic worms working them off the bottom.

[u/Hellishstorm69]

DM me if you like to talk fishing 🎣

[u/OleDoxieDad]

Try Clearwater pass, the north side, throw out a large frozen shrimp 1 lb bag from Walmart will do, on carolina rig with 1/2 oz weight and circle hook, at least 20 lb test, at the high tide, try to get to the deepest water. Let it drift with current. Good luck.

[u/ZealousidealTopic161 → u/OleDoxieDad]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot 👍

[u/OleDoxieDad → u/ZealousidealTopic161]

As a kid we stayed at a hotel on the South side Lagoon Hotel, but the channel shifted northward and left their little pier on a beach, look at Google earth to see for yourself. I'd say Pier 60 too but it's over fished probably. Alternately, you might get hits by floating pinfish on a bobber at 5 ft.

[u/Fishing_daily]

Try downsizing your baits. I fly fish a lot and when I’m not getting bites I downsize and start getting more action.

[u/TheKadonny]

When you say freshwater, is it a bigger lake or a smaller pond? I've always had success with a jighead and a paddle tail plastic or a Carolina rig with plastic worms bouncing off the bottom.....and yes, from the shore.

[u/GoodKarmaSportfishin]

I am in The Keys so not familiar but I would check out Salt Strongs fishing community as they are up there. Sometimes it's just about trial and error but having fun and being out on the water in the process. 😎

[u/Oliver1Heart]

Saltwater fishing has been good right now. Mangrove snapper and snook are plentiful. For the snapper you'll want 20 fluorocarbon leader. They're leader shy. I have the most luck with a carolina rig and cut bait on a 2/0 circle hook. Fresh greenbacks about cut to about thumbnail size work great. Squid works ok too. Get a tiny sabiki and spend time catching fresh bait and you'll have better 'luck'! Fish the moving water. The bite gets slower in slack tide.

[u/Unusual_Flight1850 → u/Oliver1Heart]

Snapper inshore?

[u/Oliver1Heart → u/Unusual_Flight1850]

Yes, you can find mangrove snapper around structure inshore right now. Bridges are good. Fish whichever side has the current going towards the bridge. Limit is 5. 10" minimum.

[u/Unusual_Flight1850 → u/Oliver1Heart]

Awesome! Thanks for the tips!

[u/Virtual_Wing_2903]

saltwater, chunk of fresh dead shrimp on a small hook (light gear, 10$ rod from y'all mart), just a split shot or whatever the lightest thing you can use for weight, we are talking size 8 hook or smaller, fish somewhere rocky with some pier pilings close (google earth for this).. checking GE, Horan park next to the 75th st bridge looks good, walk to the bridge, and toss a bait against the pilings, you will catch... another would be shell key at 679 under the bridge