Those lucky enough to fish around Anna Maria Island over the Christmas holiday can attest that the water temps and warm weather more resembled the springtime bite than winter fishing.
And winter officially began Dec. 21.
Many anglers using live shiners as bait were catching respectable numbers of snook, redfish and trout. And those using live shrimp as bait enjoyed a variety of inshore species, including pompano, permit, sheepshead and black drum.
Experiencing this kind of action during the last week of December is uncommon but definitely welcome by anglers.
Now with the arrival of January, the cold fronts are reaching south to chill the weather and the water. This will cool the fishing — or at least alter the methods we employ to catch fish.
Live shiners as bait will go by the wayside if we see consistent cold weather, and live shrimp will be the mainstay for the remainder of the winter season.
Targeted species may change slightly, too. Species that enjoy shrimp include sheepshead, redfish, black drum and pompano. This could be a welcome change from targeting snook and trout on the flats for most of the year. And, instead of fishing the flats, you may find yourself fishing different territories to find a bite. Fishing residential docks and canals can be productive during the winter. Deeper areas, such as channel edges or structure, such as reefs and wrecks, can be good places to hunt for fish.
And, finally, you’ll need to do some homework to figure out the wintertime pattern. Changing tactics and bait and adapting locations are all factors that need to be observed.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding an early sheepshead bite the most accommodating for clients. Casting live shrimp on a 1/2-ounce knocker rig along sandy shorelines where deeper water is close by works nicely. Most sheepies are weighing 2 pounds although some are reaching 5 pounds. In these areas, I am also finding black drum, redfish and a few pompano, which adds to the bite.
Capt. Warren Girle is working nearshore structure in the Gulf of Mexico on days when the winds are light and the seas are calm. In depths of 35-55 feet of water, Girle is finding a variety of species, including mangrove snapper, Key West grunts and some hogfish. And these species are taking live shrimp as bait. Using a knocker rig consisting of a 3/4-ounce sinker and a circle hook works best to keep the shrimp on the bottom around the ledges and other structure.
On windier days, Girle is working inshore on the flats of Sarasota Bay. He’s finding schooling redfish during the negative tide stages. Casting live shrimp into sandy potholes where redfish lurk is proving successful for Girle’s clients. Also, Girle’s anglers are hooking spotted seatrout and some snook.
Capt. David White is taking clients to an inshore bite, hooking into redfish and snook with live shiners as bait, and his game plan is leading to excellent action. Casting shiners along mangrove shorelines is resulting in many hookups on the snook. The redfish are being caught in similar fashion, although White’s success improves on oyster bars and mangrove shorelines.
White really knows his stuff and he’s especially adept at guiding fly fishers to numerous species — jack crevalle, bluefish, permit and redfish. He reports that chumming with live shiners is helpful to get the fish feeding between casts.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says the pier is flooded with visiting anglers anxious to wet a line and try their luck. With anglers lined up shoulder to shoulder, just walking along the deck at the T-end can be challenging. And with all those lines in the water, you can bet something is going to take a hook. Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are having luck on a variety of fish, including mangrove snapper, sheepshead, black drum and some redfish. An occasional snook also is being caught by diligent fishers and, anglers using artificials — jigs or silver spoons — are enjoying action, especially on jack crevalle and ladyfish.
See you in the new year!
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.