[SweetNola]

I was fishing a couple days ago in the marsh. I was trying to get to the back of the marsh when I came across a huge school. The creek was very narrow and winding so all of the sudden, as I turned a corner, I was on top of them. I could see them in the water all around the boat. I never saw any headwake or tailing or any other signs there would be fish there until I was right on top of them and they were everywhere. I assumed I spooked them so I cast a gulp bait to the school for about 5-10 minutes or so, and after no bites I decided to move on to see if I could find another school. Sure enough, as I moved on, I saw another huge school, but again not until I was right on top of them, and again as soon as I turned a corner. They weren't pushing any wake or tailing so I had no idea they were there until I saw them in the water. I was standing on top of a cooler with polarized sunglasses, but I figured once I saw them and saw them swimming three feet from the boat they were spooked. Was this a fair assumption? I will remember where I saw them for next time and try to cast from farther away to be a little more stealthy, but it's hard when they were hanging on the backside of a point. But what would you have done in that situation? Would you have kept casting to the school if they were still in front of the boat and not biting? Should I have switched up baits? What should I have done differently?

Thanks in advance

 

[Brenardo]

I think fish you surprise are more than likely spooked but I wouldn't have left them if it was a huge school. They won't stay spooked forever.

 

[brickphil]

My son and I did the same thing last fall in a creek right behind my house. We took his little boat (powered by a trolling motor) in a creek behind the house. It is a feeder creek to the ICW. But just as we turned a corner, I saw some motion in the water. As we got closer (20 more ft), I see drum all over.

Now I didn't have a fishing pole, but they didn't spook like you would think. So I think, if ya put something in front of them that looks tasty, they will bite.

 

[sundrop]

If they truly spook they disappear. If they hang around you might entice a bite.

 

[kayak456]

Sneak up on them and throw shrimp on a light jighead

 

[AHODGES21]

If they are still there then I would cast a plastic to them. Like Sun drop said if you truly spook them they will disappear. It's not unusual at all to run up on fish and catch back up with them and then put a few in the boat. Heck that's how I find them!

 

[SweetNola]

Thanks for the replies everyone. What else do you like to throw at reds other than gulp baits this time of year? I was throwing 4 inch minnows and 3 inch shrimp.

 

[AHODGES21]

Thanks for the replies everyone. What else do you like to throw at reds other than gulp baits this time of year? I was throwing 4 inch minnows and 3 inch shrimp.

http://www.ncangler.com/forums/threads/68968-Crankbaits-Swimbaits-and-Redfish

 

[trigger22]

It is very rare to spook them completely out of an area to where they disappear. You'll find them again pretty quickly, but once spooked getting them to bite is difficult. Your best bet is to watch them and back off a little bit and allow them to calm down some. They won't go far though. Go slow and be on the lookout for subtle hints that they are there. Even the smallest of ripples on the water, or a bird such as a pelican or a heron. The school of fish we were on yesterday was given away by a heron. The fish would move, and he would move with them not long after.

 

[pgarick]

I agree with Tony. This past week we would stumble upon a school of redfish and spook them. The school would break up. After 5 minutes or so the school would regroup. We would either cast way ahead of the school or way behind in an effort to not respook the fish. Fish on