Seawall-Bass Structure???

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Fishing the Seawall

If you fish in a populated residential area you most likely have canals or shorelines with various forms of seawalls. I live on a lake in South Florida which comprises of a network of residential canals and main lakes.The majority of the canals have various forms of sea walls and docks. While many anglers concentrate on the docks and the cover along the docks and seawalls such as lilly pads, grass, and submerged grasses which grow 2 to 3 feet away from the actual seawall. I concentrate on the seawall itself.

As mentioned in my Fishing the Spawn Series, largemouth bass tend to congregate along shallow shorelines, creeks and canals during the spawning “bedding” season. My favorite areas and most often overlooked by other anglers is the seawall itself as the main type of structure holding bass.

I look for canals with seawalls which have a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of water directly adjacent to the seawall in any canal system. I tend to stay away from the seawalls in the main lake areas as the boating and weekend traffic seems to keep fish. As with any body of water during the spawning season I try to find clear, stable water with a hard bottom. Bait fish is not as important to me as the area and  water condition as eating is not on the mind of the fish right now. There are always an array of minnows and other food sources around these canals if needed.

Once I find the canals with seawalls which are seemingly holding fish I will start at the mouth of the canal on one side, do not try to simply position your boat down the center of the canal and cover both sides. While this is more efficient from a time aspect casting accuracy is just not adequate.

I typically am fishing a variety of baits ranging from a texas rigged plastic worm, lizard or a tube bait if beds are visible. My equipment ranges from spinning gear to a worm action bait casting outfit with 8 to 14 lb test depending on the adjacent cover, water clarity and how much cover exists in front of the seawall I will have to pull the fish from.

The most important aspect of fishing seawalls is casting accuracy, and this will take some practice. It has been my experience that bass when using seawalls for cover will position themselves right next to the seawall. If spawning the leading edge of the bed may actually be touching the seawall itself. If you make the wrong cast forget about catching the fish. Ideally your cast should hit the edge of the seawall and water line at precisely the same time. This cast produces the least amount of water disturbance and produces the most reaction strikes above all others. If you can not quite establish this level of accuracy the next ideal cast is to actually land your bait on top of the seawall, slowly and gently pull your bait to drop in the water right along the edge of the water  and seawall.

I have witnessed many anglers fishing along seawalls which I know hold fish and have fished with others and they simply could not cast accurately enough to catch these fish.  Either their bait crashes into the water next to the seawall creating a wake which could tip your boat or they land 1 to 2 feet in front of the seawall and the fish runs for the middle of the canal with no desire to return anytime soon. While it can be frustrating once you have mastered the art of the seawall cast your odds of catching the fish increase dramatically. To practice find a pool. If you can land your bait at the pool tile and water edge you got it!!

It is also important o watch your line when fishing seawalls. More often than not once your bait hits the water a reaction strike occurs usually before you can engage your reel. typically you will either see a twitch in your line then nothing. Sometimes you will see your line simply start heading away parallel to the seawall, other times your line will simply go slack, this fish is swimming to the center of the canal. Either way engage your reel pick up your slack and set the hook, NOW!

Fishing Seawall Cover

When fishing seawalls with adjacent cover ie. grass, lilly pads, floating vegetation etc. it is important to realize that the main cover or structure may still be the seawall. I learned this in a recent tournament I was fishing. I had a stretch of seawall from which we were catching fish. Every know and then the seawall would have a patch of grass right in front of the seawall. We would cast to the grass and nothing. As we continued catching fish from the bare seawall I started to maintain my seawall casting techniques when approaching other cover adjacent to the seawall. I soon realized that even though there was other cover, in this case hydrilla grass beds in front of the seawall, the seawall was still the main cover.

I continued casting in between the grass and seawall, again landing my bait at the seawall and water line edge directly behind the cover. Obviously once hooked the fish buried itself directly into the heavy cover in front of the seawall and getting them out is another story all together.

When fishing cover in front of the seawall look for a small gap between the structure and the seawall and land your bait within this gap. Pitching or flipping your bait within this gap also works well and is recommended if in heavy cover. Remember the seawall is the main structure you are fishing. The additional cover is just a bonus and obstacle for actually landing your fish.

Next time you are out on your favorite fishing hole try the seawalls. You may be surprised on your success.