Current Is Key: How To Fish Moving Water And Current Breaks For Inshore Saltwater Species

There are plenty of factors that play into having a successful day on the water when going after inshore species. When you’re fishing, what the weather is like, what the fish are feeding on, and many other factors are all important to pay attention to. 

However, one that stands above the rest is knowing where the water is moving and how to properly position yourself to capitalize on it.

When you think about the common inshore predators you’re going to be targeting (redfish, snook, speckled trout, etc.), you’ll notice that they’re all driven by efficiency in their feeding habits. These fish are generally going to look for areas where they can expend the least amount of energy to get the most amount of food that they can.

When the water is moving, it’s also pushing around the smaller baitfish and other forage that these fish are after, which makes it way easier for the predator fish to feed on them. On the flip side, water that isn’t moving doesn’t provide the same advantage, making it a harder area for the fish to feed in. In general, the strongest moving water in an area is going to hold the most aggressive fish (which means you should be fishing there).

It’s also important to know that the baitfish can tell you where this current is happening most. If you notice a lot of baitfish flickering on the surface, or a ton of birds focusing in on one area, chances are baitfish are getting pushed around there. Another key indicator is if you notice the bait is visibly getting pushed up to the surface and the water is active, chances are the predators are on a feeding frenzy in the area.

So we know about the current, and that fish are likely going to be in the area of the moving water. But what is a current break, and why is it important? A current break is basically anything in the way of the faster-moving water that can create a pocket of slower-moving water behind it. These breaks are where the predators are most likely going to be spending their time.

Current breaks offer easy water for the fish to stay in without expending a ton of energy.

They’re also close enough to the rest of the moving water that they can easily swim in, grab a meal, and swim back to the current break.

One type of current break to be on the lookout for is a point. Anywhere you find the shore sticking out into moving water is going to create a break on the backside. These are a classic ambush spot for both redfish and trout, making them a great place to start if you find them.

Oyster bars are great for breaking the current flow while also providing tons of structure for the predator fish and baitfish in the area. You’ll commonly find the fish you’re after holding downstream and along the edges of these oyster bars when the currents and tidal movements are especially strong.

Bridges and docks both have pilings that create big current breaks for the fish. Each one of these pilings will create its own break, and predators like snook are commonly found waiting to ambush prey on the backsides of these pilings as the currents move in and out.

Submerged structures like rocks, reefs, and ledges can also create current breaks in moving water. These pieces of structure will deflect the current upwards and sideways, which will create breaks that fish will hide out in, waiting for their next meal to drift by.

Each species of fish is going to act a little bit differently when it comes to fishing them in moving water and near current breaks. Here are some of the more common ones to consider.

Redfish are one of the first species to push up onto the flats as the tide rises in inshore waters. As the water begins to recede, they’ll look for deeper edges and channel breaks. It’s a good idea to look for redfish near oyster bars and edges of grass flats whenever the water is moving. If the current is especially heavy, they’ll hold tightly to the structure, creating breaks on the downstream side, only moving into the full strength of the current if absolutely necessary.

Speckled trout are a bit better at dealing with current than redfish are, but they still want to be in the slower-moving areas if possible. You’ll commonly find them suspended just off the bottom within or next to current seams as they wait for baitfish to drift by them. Some of the best places to look for speckled trout in current are going to be near points and grass flat edges right next to where the current begins to get stronger.

Of these three common species, snook are the most dependent on structure. They’ll often spend their time close to pilings, mangrove roots, rocks, and other pieces of structure, creating strong current breaks near moving water. They’ll be positioned facing towards the current and wait to ambush anything coming near them in the current.

For all of these species, you’ll want to position yourself down the current from where you think the fish are. From there, you’ll want to cast up the current towards the fish and let the bait work naturally down the moving water back to you on the retrieve. You want to make your lure look as natural as possible on the retrieve, and baitfish aren’t going to be fighting their way up, so neither should your lure.