NORTH BAY
North Biscayne Bay is bounded by Haulover Cut to the north and Government Cut in the south. North Bay has only two ocean inlets to feed it and is more lagoon-like, in that it is more easily impacted by freshwater from rain and run-off.

The brackish quality of North Bay makes it the epicenter of some very productive trout fishing. Although any grass beds in water from 3 to 6 feet should produce seatrout, some areas are true hotspots. All of them can be found on maps or by asking tackle shops or marinas.

Using the Broad Causeway as your northernmost east-west running boundary, fish the grass flats to the west of Miami Beach's Biscayne Point and Stillwater Drive. Another location on the mainland side is on the grass flats east of the Jockey Club. Or, using the John F. Kennedy (79th Street) Causeway as your northern boundary, fish the huge grass flat on the Miami Beach side that runs west of Mulloy Channel from La Gorce Island to the back of Mount Sinai Hospital.

Finally, on the mainland side, fish the grass flats east of Palm Bay Towers. All these areas are trout hotspots year 'round, but they are truly hot during fall and spring.

SOUTH BAY
South Bay begins on the southern side of the Rickenbacker Causeway that leads to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. One of the best hotspots in this region lies along the south shore of the causeway at an area called Hobie Beach. The flat runs from the high bridge right to the Seaquarium.

Be sure to arrive early in the day, during a high tide. Toss a D.O.A. shrimp inside the buoys and let the action begin. Be sure to keep your vessel outside the buoys. The inside is prohibited area.

South Bay's seatrout hotspots are primarily on the mainland side from the Viscaya historic house all the way down to Coconut Grove, and then from Matheson Hammock to the Florida Power and Light facility at Turtle Point. As the grass flats are quite shallow, it's best to fish them on a late-stage incoming tide coupled with some onshore wind.

TECHNIQUES FOR SEATROUT
It is always a good idea to fish the lower-light times of day for trout: Dusk, nighttime, dawn, and overcast days produce more seatrout along the Gold Coast.

Tidal considerations for seatrout are less important. Any lunar or tidal phase is capable of yielding good catches. All you need to realize is that trout move into the flats on the rising tide and spread out to feed. On the falling tide, conversely, trout move off the flats and concentrate along flats and dropoffs, watching for baitfish exiting the shallows.

There are four main methods for fishing the grass flats of the Gold Coast -- drifting, poling-and-casting, working the mullet muds, and chumming.

The reason why one other method – wading-and-casting -- is not included for Gold Coast seatrout is because many of the grass flats have a mud bottom that is too soft for wading and can even be hazardous.

All that is needed for drifting the trout flats is a small vessel and some breeze. This can be done in canoes, kayaks, flats or bay boats. Just drift along quietly. When the strikes start coming, you can throw out a marker for your next drift over your newly found honeyhole.