Good things come to anglers after nasty cold fronts
What’s the best way to celebrate our first real cold front? Sit down to a sheepshead dinner.
For those of you who enjoy catching and eating sheepies, you know what I’m talking about. There’s something that clicks in my mind at the start of fall, when the temperature first drops into the 50s — it’s time to catch some sheepshead.
During the most recent cold front over the first November weekend, I had just that thought. It was Sunday morning and I had no fishing charters due to strong winds and cold weather.
After a cup of coffee, I decided to check a spot I know of where snook congregate as water temps drop. On close inspection, and finding no snook, I was pleased to see a big school of keeper-size sheepies had turned up. I immediately turned my attention to finding fiddler crabs — the sheepie’s favorite bait.
That was all it took. I drove home and rounded up the family to go catch fiddler crabs. My wife, Bekka, and 4-year-old daughter Isabel, put on their rubber boots and off we went in search of fiddlers.
As we headed toward the mangroves, we managed to find a small opening. In this sandy area, we spotted the fiddlers sunning themselves, the males raising their large claws up and down. There must have been a hundred of the little guys congregated out there, unaware of our presence. There were so many, it looked as if the ground was moving. I grabbed a bucket and we ran out into the middle of them and started collecting. After grabbing a few dozen of the small crabs, we headed home for some lunch.
After a bite to eat and a good nap, it was time to go sheepherding. We arrived at the spot I had scouted earlier and had it all to ourselves. We left the boat at the dock and went fishing from land, something we hardly ever do. And it was great.
Upon dropping the first crab in the water, we had a bite. You could see the striped fish below, hanging around the pilings. The sheepies swarmed to every bait dropped. They were hungry.
Eventually, we had 10 nice-sized sheepies destined for the fillet table in a 5-gallon bucket. I paused to take in the whole experience. The cool wind gently pressed against my face as I watched my wife reel in another fish and my daughter play in the bait bucket.
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that just make sense — spending time with the family, catching fish and just being outdoors. What a great place to live. Florida.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters reports this week that he’s been fishing the shallow grass flats of southern Tampa Bay in search of redfish. Slot-size fish are being caught on live free-lined shiners, although artificials, such as gold spoons, are working. When redfish are abundant, Gross is anchoring and then chumming to get the fish in the biting mood. Once the reds are feeding on the surface, his clients cast their baits into the frenzy for a fast hookup.
Moving to deeper grass, Gross is finding spotted seatrout on the feed. By casting shiners combined with a Bimini Bay popping cork to the edges — where grass and sand meet — is producing slot- and over-slot trout for his clients. And they’re finding mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish in the mix.
Finally, although water temps are dropping, Gross is still finding a reasonable snook bite. Free-lining live shiners to feeding fish is resulting in plenty of fish in the 20- to 25-inch range.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle reports from the beaches of Anna Maria Island, where he’s finding good results on migratory species — mackerel, kingfish and bonito. By anchoring and setting out a chum bag, Lowman is attracting high-activity fish within casting range of the boat. Once this is achieved, his clients cast free-lined live shiners and reel in the fish.
On inshore structure, Lowman is putting flounder, mangrove snapper and a few sheepshead in the cooler. All three species are responding to live shrimp fished on the bottom. For the snapper and flounder, live shiners are producing a bite.
Lastly, Lowman is finding respectable numbers of spotted seatrout responding to live free-lined shiners along the flats of Anna Maria Sound. While targeting trout, Lowman is also hooking some Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says Spanish mackerel are becoming more consistent as water temps cool. Mackerel 15-20 inches are being caught on silver spoons, Gotcha plugs and small pink or chartreuse jigs. Mixed in with the macks are jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish, so expect variety.
Pier fishers using R&R shrimp are catching black drum, flounder and mangrove snapper by placing their cast under the pier. To get the fish to bite, small weighted rigs and allow the shrimp to sit on the bottom. Sheepshead also are being reeled up, although the bite is sporadic at best.
Capt. Warren Girle is working the nearshore structures for mangrove snapper. By bottom fishing with live shiners, Girle’s clients are reeling up trophy-size fish snapper exceeding 20 inches in length, and keeper-size flounder and juvenile grouper are being caught between snapper bites.
Migratory species such as Spanish mackerel, kingfish and bonito are being sighted within a mile of the beaches of Anna Maria Island. By spotting diving birds, Girle is leading his clients to the bite. Upon nearing the birds, the splash of surface-feeding fish is visible, which gives fishers a target for their baits.
Finally, on the flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is finding an abundance of spotted seatrout. Live shiners fished under a popping cork are producing a consistent bite on trout 14-18 inches. Expect to catch bluefish and ladyfish in the mix.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.