How do I avoid turtles grabbing my lure while bank fishing ITS SOOOO ANNOYING bein new to fishin it's discouraging when that's all that's biting when u know there's fish 

I don't know.  You got some crazy turtles there.  I have only ever caught two turtles in the mouth.   One was particularly memorable.  I was working a topwater and got really excited when a large wake headed straight for my lure.  Ended up cutting my line and letting that huge snapper have it.

I have snagged a couple others in the feet, though.  

  I do wonder sometimes how many of my 'missed bites' were just turtles bumping my line.  Has to happen quite often with as many turtles there are around here. 

 

What kind of lures are your turtles eating?

Interesting. I fish lakes loaded with snappers, painted turtles and box turtles and I’ve never had one even attempt to grab a lure. Generally they act like it’s not even there. Live bait is a different story but I’ve never had a turtle even attempt to go after an artificial lure. What kind of turtles are these?

I usually just start turtle fishing. Thin them out a little , that’s what I’m saying. 

You are talking plastics I assume. You can't. It's all a part of fishing. Nobody can control what will bite their bait.  🤔

If a turtle wants your lure, there's nothing stopping it from happening. Just have to live with it. I've gotten a few box turtles while shore fishing...ya, it's a pain, but part and parcel of fishing at times.

Turtle soup👍

Tom

Carry a machete so you can make a clean kill when you land them. 

 

I've only had this happen on live bait as well, and it's been many years. 

On 4/3/2025 at 9:20 PM, Choporoz said:

I have snagged a couple others in the feet, though.  

Snagged another big snapper yesterday.   

On 4/15/2025 at 6:01 AM, Choporoz said:

Snagged another big snapper yesterday.   

Those will make you think you hooked the monster of the lake. I hooked one twice, on different days, at the same spot. Both times it had the lure in the mouth and spit it when it came to the surface.

OP: I fished a spot where the turtles were obviously conditioned to being fed. I just fished moving lures for the most part. It was warm though.