Welcome to the Nursery: An Introduction to Inshore Fishing
The inshore ecosystem is the lifeblood of the ocean. These protected waters—the vast grass flats, winding mangrove shorelines, and nutrient-rich estuaries—serve as the nursery for countless marine species. It’s a vibrant, dynamic world, and for an angler, it’s one of the most exciting places you can be. This is where powerful predators hunt in skinny water, offering some of the best visual and most accessible fishing on the planet.
What is Inshore Fishing? (And Why You Should Start Here)
Inshore fishing refers to saltwater angling in the calm, protected waters along the coastline. You’re typically in water less than 30 feet deep and often within casting distance of the shore. It’s the perfect starting point for three key reasons:
- Calm Waters: You don’t need a massive offshore boat. A small skiff, a bay boat, a kayak, or even just a pair of wading boots can get you into the action.
- Aggressive Fish: The species that live here are built to compete for food in a crowded environment. They are often aggressive and willing to attack lures.
- Transferable Skills: The casting and lure-retrieving skills you’ve learned in freshwater bass fishing translate almost perfectly to inshore fishing.
The Essential Gear for Inshore Fishing
Here’s the best news for any freshwater angler looking to try the salt: your existing gear is probably perfect for the job, with one major caveat.
Your Freshwater Gear Might Be Enough
A standard 7-foot, Medium or Medium-Heavy power spinning or casting rod, like the kind you’d use for bass fishing, is an ideal tool for inshore fishing. Paired with a 3000-size reel spooled with 10-15 lb braided line, you can handle almost any inshore species. The principles we cover in our guide to rods still apply perfectly.
The Caveat: Saltwater is relentlessly corrosive. You MUST thoroughly rinse your rod, reel, and lures with fresh water after every single trip. If you don’t, your gear will rust and seize up in a shockingly short amount of time.
The “Big Three” of Inshore Fishing: Your Target Species
While countless species inhabit the inshore world, the “Big Three” for most anglers along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are:
- Redfish (Red Drum): The bulldog of the flats. Known for their bronze color and a distinctive spot on their tail, they pull incredibly hard. We cover how to target them in our Complete Guide to Catching Redfish. Look for them cruising shallow shorelines and oyster bars.
- Speckled Trout (Spotted Seatrout): Aggressive ambush predators with beautiful spots and prominent canine teeth. Targeting them requires a specific approach, which we detail in our Guide to Speckled Trout Fishing. Look for them around grass flats and points with moving water.
- Flounder: Masters of camouflage that lie flat on the bottom waiting to ambush prey. Look for them near drop-offs and channel edges.
Top 3 Lures for Inshore Fishing
You don’t need a giant tackle box. These three lures will catch fish anywhere on the coast.
- Soft Plastic Paddle Tail Swimbait: A 3- to 4-inch swimbait in white or natural colors on a 1/4 oz jig head is the single most effective inshore lure. It imitates the small baitfish that everything eats.
- Topwater Walking Bait: There is nothing more exciting than a redfish or trout exploding on a topwater lure. A “walk-the-dog” style bait like a Heddon Super Spook Jr. is a must-have for calm mornings.
- Shrimp Imitator: Everything in the inshore world eats shrimp. A soft plastic shrimp lure, either freelined or fished under a popping cork, is a guaranteed way to get bites.
Reading the Tides: The Most Important Inshore Skill
We mentioned it in our main saltwater guide, but it bears repeating: moving water is everything. An incoming or outgoing tide creates current, which positions bait and tells predators when to feed. Pay close attention to points, oyster bars, and the mouths of small creeks. These “choke points” concentrate the current and create perfect ambush spots for game fish.
Inshore fishing is the perfect introduction to the larger world we explore in our Beginner’s Guide to Saltwater Fishing. It’s a visually stunning and action-packed way to experience the coast.
-Captain Sal
