Thanksgiving leftovers gone? — time to put fillets in the fridge
Now that the leftover turkey is gone, maybe there’s space in the fridge for some fish fillets.
This week I decided to change tactics due to the cooler water temps. Actually, what I did was change baits — from shiners to shrimp. This week marks the first time I’ve used shrimp since January and, to tell you the truth, it wasn’t a bad transition.
By dock fishing with live shrimp on a knocker rig, my clients are reeling up a variety of species. Redfish are readily taking shrimp when cast directly underneath the dock. Mixed in with the reds are flounder, jack crevalle and juvenile mangrove snapper. We’re also catching our share of black drum and sheepshead as we explore the docks and piers in the area.
Meanwhile, fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is resulting in catches of mangrove snapper and flounder. When using shrimp, you also attract many throwback fish — spottail pinfish, small jack crevalle and small Key West grunts.
Jigging the flats for spotted seatrout is proving productive, although a lot of trout coming to the hook are undersized. By using a red jig head with a DOA Cal soft plastic, we’re experiencing trout on just about every cast. Keepers are mixed in, but expect to catch 10 shorties for every keeper you put in the cooler.
On a final note, the recreational snook season closed Dec. 1 in all waters and will remain closed for harvest until Feb. 29, 2016.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing nearshore structure on days when winds are out of the east. Venturing out to depths of 30 feet is resulting in a number of species, including Spanish mackerel, blacktip shark, mangrove snapper and gag grouper. Aside from the shark, all are being taken on live shiners as bait. Shark bite is occurring on fresh-cut chunks of Spanish mackerel or jack crevalle.
Moving inshore, Girle is finding ample amounts of spotted seatrout. By free-lining live shiners over deeper flats, Girle is putting anglers on limits of trout, as well as good numbers of jack crevalle, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel.
Finally, redfish and snook are being found on shallow flats that are protected from the wind. Free-lining live shiners along mangrove shorelines is producing catches of both species.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says pier fishers are enjoying working the moving tides due to the variety of fish that being caught. Pier fishers using live shrimp are catching sheepshead, black drum and flounder. Redfish and mangrove snapper are being taken on shrimp, although the bite is sporadic.
Artificials, such as jigs and silver spoons, are providing action for vacationing fishers. Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, ladyfish and even a few bluefish are being caught when bait schools are present.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters reports respectable numbers of redfish and snook are keeping his clients busy. In areas protected from the wind along mangrove shorelines, Gross is finding redfish and snook taking solitude in the cleaner water. Live shiners free-lined are attracting a bite.
Spotted seatrout are being found in ample amounts. Again, Gross is trying to find grass flats out of the wind and cleaner water. Live shiners under a Cajun Thunder cork are resulting in limits of trout.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.