December anglers should keep bait options open to hook up
A lot of fishers are using shrimp as bait due to cold water temps, but keep your options open.
On cold, windy days, shrimp are the perfect bait, but we also get warm sunny days in Florida in the wintertime. If we happen to have consecutive warm days, water temps will climb. When this occurs, you may want to use shiners for bait, if they are available. When water temps are right, snook, redfish and trout will find the motivation to once again chase down a shiner and eat it.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is changing to a winter pattern of fishing by targeting redfish, sheepshead and drum around docks and in canals. By casting live shrimp in these areas, Gross is pulling plenty of fish into the boat.
Spotted seatrout are being found around the mouths of deep water canals and can be caught on soft plastics, such as Berkley Gulp shrimp. Live shrimp weighted with a split shot will work.
Finally, migratory species such as bluefish and mackerel are being found under diving birds both in the bays and in the Gulf of Mexico. To catch these fish, Gross is casting Gotcha plugs. A quick retrieve combined with jigging is getting the attention of the fish.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle is targeting wintertime species such as black drum, sheepshead and flounder. Dock fishing is proving prosperous for all three species. Shrimp is Lowman’s bait of choice. Combining these baits with a 1/2-ounce knocker rig is perfect for casting around structure. You can expect to find redfish around docks when using shrimp as bait.
Drifting flats is providing a different variety of fish for Lowman. Mackerel, bluefish and trout are readily taking soft plastics combined with a jig head. Deeper grass and sandy potholes are holding concentrations of fish.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says using live shrimp for bait is a sure way to get results at the pier. Casting live shrimp under the pier among the pilings is proving prosperous for black drum, sheepshead and flounder. Black drum are dominating the bite, with limits being caught by even the most novice of anglers.
Migratory species such as Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks are being caught on artificials — jigs and spoons, for example. Although the bite is sporadic, it is always worth taking a few casts to see what’s happening.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing offshore when the seas permit — and with good results on mangrove snapper. Mangoes 18-24 inches are eating shrimp and shiners. Keeper-size gag grouper are feeding, especially on shiners or live pinfish. Although the gags have to be released, they provide an excellent fight on any size tackle. While targeting snapper with shrimp, Girle is reeling up porgies and Key West grunts.
Moving inshore, Girle is fishing canals and docks. By casting live shrimp under docks, he is catching black drum, sheepshead and redfish. Keeper-sizes of all three are being found.
During days with warmer temps, Girle is drifting the flats of Sarasota Bay. By using soft plastics combined with a jig head, he is catching a variety of species, including spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.
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