Night fishing can give you a shot at monster fish, but it can also make you a better angler. Learn these tricks and tactics from the masters of night fishing to get a shot at your own midnight trophy.
Night Moves: After-Dark Tactics for Largemouth, Snook & Speckled Trout
1 Speckled Trout
Rob Choi | Ocean Kayak, YakAttack and Kokatat Pro Staff
A lot of tactics for night are the same as during the day. Look for drop offs, ledges, points, oyster bars/various structures, as well as creeks that dump into flats. Anywhere trout can easily hold near flowing water is good. Paying attention to tides is obviously very important too. Outgoing tide at the mouth of a creek will dump baitfish right into a predator’s ambush zone.
When the water is higher, don’t be afraid to cast way up near the shoreline/marshline. I like throwing walk-the-dog type topwater lures that make a lot of noise. At night, trout and reds are less skittish about blowing up something on the surface. If that doesn’t work, I may work a subsurface lure like a Rapala Subwalk. If that doesn’t entice a strike, I move on to various MirrOlure type crankbaits and jigheads/soft plastics. Also, trolling around an area to locate fish then switching to casting is a good idea. My preference is a seven-foot medium or medium heavy action rod with either spinning or baitcasting reels.
Obviously, one of if not the most important accessory while night fishing is a headlamp. I like having one that has a dim setting and a high setting. Some people like having a dim red light as well. When you’re trying to be sneaky and not spook fish with inadvertent high-beaming, the lower setting is a good idea. Also, using the dim light helps your eyes adjust from your cockpit to your surroundings.
I enjoy having a strong high setting too though, for navigation purposes. Also, having your essential tools leashed at night keeps you from making extra trips to the tackle shop. There have been too many times where a fish has kicked my pliers over and I didn’t even notice until I needed them again.
The inherent danger that comes with fishing at night is not to be taken lightly. Having a buddy system is recommended as well as a float plan with someone on land. A 360-degree light like the YakAttack VisiCarbon Pro is a must. In many states, it is also required to have an emergency whistle and light you can point at an approaching vessel (headlamp).
In my drybox with my keys and wallet, I also keep extra batteries for my lights. Keeping a means to communicate (phone or radio) on your person is also a good idea. I also carry a super bright glow stick in my PFD just in case I get separated from my kayak and my headlamp stops working. As important as the gear is, it is imperative that you keep your head on a swivel. Having complete awareness of your surroundings at all times is crucial. Be proactive with that, especially in night time high traffic areas.
As far as sleep goes, coffee is your friend. Just make sure you’re watching the morning news and not being in it.
2 Largemouth Bass
Austin Acker | Guide, Froggy Waters Outdoors
Location: Any body of fresh water that is easily accessible (lakes, slow moving rivers, ponds). I love fishing anywhere with exposed structure at night (docks, trees, rock pilings, stump fields, etc). Normally I find shallow areas that are near deep water, places that will hold big baitfish. As the sun sets, look for fish busting the top of the water.
Season: Spring, summer, and fall in lakes and ponds. In the wintertime, when I have that fishing itch I will fish one of the lakes that have a power plant on it and fish near the discharge area. It provides a substantial increase in water temperature and the bass seem to be more active.
Tackle: 6-foot to 7-foot Abu Garcia, Wright and McGill, and Shimano, medium to medium-heavy rods and Pfleuger baitcaster reels. There is nothing better than the water exploding from a bass striking a topwater plug in the dark.
Topwater lures have always been the most productive for me. Buzz baits, jitterbugs and Pop R’s are my favorites. I throw natural colors or white, but in the dark I haven’t seen an increase in hookups from color. The only thing I have noticed an increase was changing lures and having variations of retrieve.
Sometimes the bass won’t be feeding aggressively and won’t touch a buzz bait but I’ll throw a jitterbug and work it a few yards and pause a few seconds and work it and pause and can usually always pick fish up.
Additional info: Always have a whistle and an extra flashlight in addition to your primary one if you intend to be on public water or water with other boats. Being out on the water in a kayak at night is unsafe to begin with. Make sure the kayak has a 360-degree light that is mounted above everything on your kayak so you can be seen by other boaters. If you’re alone make sure to tell someone where you will be and keep in contact with them if possible. Always wear your PFD.
Sleep… Well, different people require different amounts of sleep so I will leave that up to using good judgment. If you feel fatigued, don’t go on the water at night.
3 Snook
Jason Stock | Guide, Captain Jason Stock Charters
When fishing during the day you can take note of where the snook are staged then return at night. Snook are predominantly a nocturnal feeder they still will feed during the day but are more aggressive at night. This is generally when you catch more trophy snook. So when fishing points on flats, mangrove shorelines, docks where you have seen them during the day.
Inshore I use a 4000-size reel with 10/20-lb braid and a 30/40-lb fluorocarbon leader. Lures like the Super Spook Jr, One Knocker Spook, and Doa Cal jig with a 1/4-ounce. Around dock lights lipped plugs such as the maverick golden eye, Yo-Zuri plugs work great. Around the bridges and passes with deeper water and stronger current one or two ounce buck tail jigs work great. Or a large Bomber chartreuse lipped plug.
Having a solid white light the YakAttack light is very important especially so you can be seen by other boaters. A headlamp is important so you can tie knots and safely remove the hook from the fish.
When crossing a boating channel, make sure you have a white light so other boaters can see you. Don’t hang out in high-traffic areas. Also, when anchored in heavy current make sure you move your anchor so you don’t flip in strong current. And always wear a life jacket.
I run most of my trips during the day, but if I get the hardcore snook angler I will take them after big snook at night.
“As far as sleep goes, coffee is your friend.” | Feature photo: Rob Choi
