Thread: small pesky fish

Last year when I was wading out into the surf to throw spoons and lures with my 7' rod, I noticed a small (maybe 6"-8") fish was constantly around my legs and would take little shots at me (the water was pretty clear last year). This was in water about hip deep. The fish was clearly not afraid of me and was not bothered as I tried kicking my legs to make him scoot. It was unnerving and hard to concentrate on fishing with this small fish constantly taking shots at my legs and feet. My sister in law was fishing about 20 feet to my right and this fish (or another one) was over there doing the same thing to her. Anyone have an idea what kind of fish it was as whether there is anything that can be done to avoid this? I don't recall the color, but it wasn't a dark fish. It was something that was closer to the color of the bottom or lighter colored in general. Didn't look like a pinfish either.

If it's not pinfish, I don't know what it is. Pinfish will peck at your leg hair like they'll peck at the legs of a live shrimp - relentlessly! What can be done to avoid this? Besides shaving your legs --- I got nothin'!

Likely they were some juvenile jacks, probably even pompano.


My kids were always fascinated by their habit of following us and nipping at our legs and feet as we walked and snorkled just off the shore in crystal clear water (25-30 years ago).
They are ravenous and actively seek out ANY tidbit of food dislodged from the bottom as you walk along.
And our leg hairs act as 'nets' trapping plankton, small worms, copepods, etc. which they peck away at.

In Dr Bob Shipp's book they are described as "the most numerous juvenile fish in the surf during the summer."

Don't wipe your hands off on your legs and shorts after baiting the hook. Almost everything that swims follows the scent. That's why fishing is never good when people are in the water with sun screen and tanning lotins on them. As far as fish kissing womens legs that's just normal, I do it every chance I get, don't you? :-)

Yep, pinfish and baby jacks and pompano. Nothing you can do about it, its one of the joys of fishing the surf. Actually kinda cool if you ask me, to see all those juvenile fish dancing around in the surf.

Pinfish do it, jacks do it, bluegills do it, and I am thinking about it. We all got to eat, right?

Thanks to all that replied. I figured it was one of those creatures, though it was fascinating to learn that they are doing it because they are looking for food I'm potentially stirring up as I move or that is being trapped by my leg hair. I guess I will just have to get used to it and try to block it out of my mind. For some reason, the idea of something taking shots at my legs doesn't go over very well. I suppose they really can't do any harm though.

Better than them swimming up your shorts! That happened on our honeymoon in Mexico. The wife and I where feeding the the fish when one decided to swim up my swim trunks. Scared the hell out of me.