While we have had this high water, the tide has been in the back country flats. Carp like to move in on these flats during high tide looking for earthworms, terrestrial bugs and berries.
The tide was all the way up to the soccer fields
First fish of the year in the back country
This fellow took me way back into the mangroves
I tried to get some action shots
This flooded area was back in the woods. Before this shot I was actually in the middle of the trees when I hooked him. These guys were spawning in there and you can see there is another fish chasing mine
Finally got him out of the woods and up on the grass
Out of the woods and back to the soccer fields
A few more nice fish caught on the grass
A few more shot of the mangroves
We're are at low tide now so the fish have moved back into the river where the fishing has been pretty good also.
If you look at the tide charts, anytime the USGS gauge shows higher than about 14.5 feet, the carp will be up on the flats. My buddies and I have been fishing mostly mulberry patterns, but we have also taken a lot of fish on buggers and nymphs.
This flats fishing has actually produced a lot more fish than I am used to during carp time in previous years. 10 or more fish in half a day is not uncommon, so if the weather man is correct about the rain we are supposed to get in the next couple days, don't get depressed, fish the back country.
As a side not, the fishing is picking up in the main part of the river where it is safe enough to wade. I have also been getting carp in the Saline river where flows are back to normal.







