1) I always make sure that there is plenty of structure, bait and moving water. All three of these aspects are important.
Captain Kyle Messier- Where To Find Fish
2) water temperature serves as the most critical element in locating and catching fish. On colder days, sea trout will search out and congregate in the warmest water they can find, so focus your attention in deeper holes and pockets adjacent to shallow flats. Another critical element is the fact fish are cold blooded, so during colder periods their metabolic rate slows way down and they eat less, so concentrate your efforts on dredge holes, troughs, depressions, and canals located next to expansive flats, and slow down your presentation to a crawl.
Captain Tom Van Horn- Water Temperature
3) The warmer the water in winter, the more chance you have at catching fish. Deeper water will be the best bet in early mornings and on sunny days the flats can come alive as those temperatures begin to rise. Watch for bait.... Fish will follow the bait and you will have an even better chance at hooking up.Be aware of conditions and use them to your advantage in winter.
Captain Charlie Conner- Find The Warm Water
4) When you find big fish around docks or other types of structure while using lite tackle keep this in mind. Most of the time the water if going to be deep, around five to eight feet near the structure where the fish are hanging. Your bait needs to be up under the dock or right at the pile, if your cast isn't there, re-cast. Don't flip your bail right after casting, leave it open and feed line out so your bait goes straight down, then flip the bail over. When the bait has reached the bottom get all the slack out of the line making sure not to pull the bait away from the dock. Pay attention, if your not paying attention Redfish will pick up the bait and slowly swim around the piles, this results in a sure break off. As you feel that first tug reel like crazy to pull the fish out from the structure. Once out you can play the fish a little to tire it before attempting the landing. Be gentle with the big ones your going to release, dropping one in the boat or keeping it out of the water to long could kill the fish. These big ones are near ready to leave the bays and head offshore to breed, we need to protect them as much as possible.
Capt. Terry Frankford- Fishing Docks
5) Best overall (surf) rig is a 2-hook Pompano rig with a 2oz pyramid weight (1 oz if using light line). Grasp a shrimp, pinch off the head and tail, and run the shrimp over your hook starting tail first.
Half Hitch Tackle- Best Surf Rig
6) Keep in mind that the current which triggers their feeding can come from the wind, as well as the tide. They love to take up a position on the down tide/wind side of a point that has the current sweeping across it. When stalking them in the backcountry "stealth" is of the utmost importance - even the slightest sound can spook them in shallow water.
Captain Brian Richardson- Fishing The Current
7) Rain gear is essential not only in the rain, but can sure come in handy on those windy days on the water. Water spray and wave action can bring a lot of water into the boat. Those cold days can make it even worse. Break out the rain suit and it can keep you dry and warm on the tough days of fishing. Keep dry out there!
Captain Charlie Conner- Rain Gear In Wind
8) understanding the cycle of passing cold fronts is essential selecting the proper weather day and having the flexibility to get out on the water while the getting is good will add to one's success. Passing cold fronts are notorious for delivering several days nasty windy conditions followed by a short window of gorgeous weather, and a prudent angler will focus there attention on boat and tackle maintenance and honey dos during periods on ugly weather and call in sick when conditions are right.
Captain Tom Van Horn- The Cold Front Cycle
9) When I fish these river systems I try to break them up into three sections in order to target fish where ever they maybe hiding. There are deep holes along most of the channels of these rivers and I typically use a Berkley Gulp jig tipped with a shrimp to get the deep dwelling reds and trout. The trick when fishing deep water during the winter is to make sure you work your lure slow, almost to a crawl. If I can’t get the fish to bite in deep water then I will typically try and fish the drop offs using live shrimp free lined with the current. Most of the times while free lining a live shrimp you will get a ton of interested ladyfish or mangrove snapper to come to the bait. If I start getting a ton of trash bites than I will try use cut mullet of ladyfish to limit the amount of small fish.And finally most of my best fishing has been done along the shallow flats that are scattered throughout these river systems. When fishing these shallow flats I always make sure that there is plenty of structure, bait and moving water. All three of these aspects are important.
Captain Kyle Messier- Fishing Rivers
10) The keys to catching snook are water temperature, tidal flow, and ambush points. Water temperatures are cool right now so the snook will be in deep water. They feed when there is good tidal flow, in or out does not matter, and they like to hide behind rocks, pylons, or other ambush points where they can face into the current and wait for an easy meal to be washed past them. The best baits are the Flair Hawk, Redtail Hawk, or the D.O.A. Terror Eyze. Use a 50lb mono leader and fish your bait on the bottom. The best live baits will be shrimp, mullet, pinfish, or pigfish. Make sure that you revive any snook you will not be keeping.
Snook Nook Bait & Tackle Shop-Catching Snook
11) Sheepshead and some Black Drum are being caught off the bridge pilings. Use small live shrimp on #4 and #6 hooks for the Sheepshead and live or fresh dead for the Black Drum.
Half Hitch Tackle- Bridge Rig
12) I spoke to a man this week, who said he hadn't been fishing in a while. He told me that he had guessed at sizes and limits of fish recently and ended up keeping both undersized fish and over the limit. After having been checked by an officer, he received a ticket for his wrong guessing. I don't know what it cost him, but I am sure it was more than he wanted to pay for his guesswork. Know your sizes and limits when you go fishing. It's not worth the cost of a fine to take the chance at keeping illegal fish!
Captain Charlie Conner- Know Your Size Limits
13) Try anchoring a few rods into the sand from Satellite beach all the way down to Sebastian Inlet. The fish are on the move and once a few schools are located, it is easier to stay in them for the day. Many of the deep water holes and the offshore bars should be the first target to hit with your rigs. I am sure several of you take more than one rod with you to the beach, so stagger the other casts inside to see where the fish might be. Further is usually better, but who are we to tell the fish they must only stay in the deeper water?
Start fishing with sand fleas and shrimp at first and as the tide changes or if the water is dirty cut up some fresh clams for added scent.
Whitey's Bait & Tackle- Beach Fishing
14) Sheepshead are also a species we are catching. Using light leader and hiding a # 4 hook in the tail of a live shrimp is the trick to hooking lots of these guys. Of course, sand fleas are a great bait for them as well. You just have to put in the time to rake them up at low tide.
Capt. Brian Caudill- The Trick To Catching Sheepshead
15) Sheepshead are around docks, bridges and rock piles. A small piece of shrimp on a #1 circle hook, with some lead will do the job.
Captain Jazz- Sheepshead On Docks And Rocks
16) Many speckled trout were caught. At least six were in the mid 20" range. Suspending the bait over the grass or sand holes produced the most strikes. Freeline your bait or use a float. Large whiting and silver trout are being caught by letting the bait sink to the bottom in drop offs.
Captain Rich Hartman- Fish Sand Holes And Drop Offs
17) When you are working a jig and catch a fish, throw back to the same spot. If you catch another, anchor up as you have probably located a nice school of fish. As far as jig colors are concerned, darker greens, browns and root beer are popular colors. Chartreuse and pink work on some days as well. Bottom line… use the color that you have the highest level of confidence in.
Captain Stewart Ames- Jigs Find Fish
18) Finding Sheepshead - One thing I have found over the years is that you won't necessarily find sheepshead on every dock in the bay just because it happens to be the season. This is the same for any structure like rocks, oyster beds, or bridge pilings. Included would be the nearshore artificial reefs. If you don't get on a sheepshead in a few minutes you need to move. My plan of attack when inshore around structure is to just look - I idle by the structure slowly using my amber Flying Fisherman sunglasses to spot them. It may be a solid sighting of wide black and white strips or just a shadow, but I will usually be able to see them. When in a location where I can't see down because of cloudy water conditions or depth as on an nearshore reef I just spend a few minutes with a test cast. If I don't get a bite I move on. Oh yeah! Size down on the tackle and bait, I use a number four Owner circle hook, a number four split shot sinker, and regular size shrimp, not selects.
Capt. Terry Frankford- Finding Sheepshead
19) depending on all things normal, a rising barometer is when fishing is at it’s best. A rapidly fluctuating barometer, (pressure going up and down within a few hours) is an indication of good fishing also. A static barometer, (when the barometer is steady for hours at a time) the fishing is usually poor. When the barometer is falling the fishing is usually good for the first part, (like the start of fluctuating pressure) but if it continues to fall for several hours then it gets slower and slower and if the barometer is unusually low then it’s very poor fishing.
Capt. Vic Tison- Watch The Barometer
20) If you are getting good presentations to fish but they will not eat, try using the smallest lure you can effectively cast. Fly fishermen will have good success throwing tiny crab patterns in olive, black or brown. If the water is calm, you may need a leader of 12 feet or more to keep from spooking the fish.
Captain Chris Myers- Use Small Lures
21) February and early March are the months to go out to the gulf and catch Sheepshead. Along our west coast of Florida these fish are located around rock piles in depths from 6 to 12 feet of water and beyond.
We use fresh bits of shrimp to chum them up and the same is put onto a #1 hook with a small one-eight egg sinker.
7-foot medium action spinning rods with 10-pound line wound on a spinning reel is what I prefer.
Captain Mike Locklear- Sheepshead In Gulf
22) look for mullet. If you don't see mullet schools you aren't near the redfish.
Captain Clay Eavenson- Look For Mullet
23) significant catches of cobia have come from under manta rays in 60 to 80 feet of water. As the water warms up (68 to 70 degrees) both the cobia and manta rays should move in closer
Captain Tom Van Horn- Cobia Under Manta Rays
24) Popping corks are a wintertime staple for fishing. Whether you use live shrimp or soft baits, you can usually stir up some action when those corks start popping! A quick, short jerk on the line will make the popping action and the noise will make a nearby fish look to see what is going on.
Captain Charlie Conner- Popping Corks For Action
25) Tailing fish are feeding fish and, for anglers, those are the best kind. ...tailing fish have a very small field of view while their nose is buried in the grass. Very accurate casts are required to get your lure or fly within inches of the fish. Adding a small rattle to your bait can help get their attention.
Capt. Chris Myers- Tailing Fish Are Best
26) Tampa’s inshore residential canals proved to be the Hot Spot in cooler weather.
Capt Jay Schroeder- Canals Are Hot Spots
27) Any concentration of floating Sargasso should hold schools of mahi, wahoo and sailfish. Troll rigged ballyhoo naked or skirted along the cleaner side of the weed line until the fish are located. When a strike happens let the other baits drop down into the water column and you might get a strike from a larger bull dolphin below or maybe even a wahoo. Wahoo like to swim below everything 30-40 ft down and wait for an opportunity up above.
Whitey's Bait & Tackle- Trolling Weed Lines
28) We are at a great time of the year for fishing reds and trout in skinny water. Negative low tides concentrates them in potholes providing sight casting opportunities.
Capt. Rick Grassett- Great Time For Sight Casting
29) Inshore species were mostly caught on live select shrimp for bait. Tackle was ten pound test on the reel, eighteen inches of twenty pound test mono leader, and a number four Owner MUTU circle hook. When a pin fish was caught I would use chunks for the big reds. This is a good idea because at times they won't take a shrimp. When changing to the pin chunks it can turn them on.
Capt. Terry Frankford- Inshore Rig
30) Clipping the tail off of your live baits will put additional scent in the water...always a plus when fishing for redfish. Remember to be patient as fish may take more time to home in on your bait in this colder water.
Captain Stewart Ames- Use Scent And Patience
31) Reds will school up very well this time of year willing to eat even on the coldest mornings. Switching your baits over to crustations such as large live shrimp tail hooked will get even the most stubborn fish to eat. Also remember to downsize your artificials and use more of a slow retrieve.
Capt. Jeff Dorobiala- Crustations Catch Stubborn Reds
32) When attaching the popping cork use a leader (mono or fluorocarbon) appropriate to the water depth you are fishing and tie on a 3/0 circle hook with a uni-knot. Add another short piece of mono to your mainline if you are using braided line. Use a double uni-knot to add the leader. Now you can use a regular uni-knot again to attach the leader to the top side of the popping cork. When using braid the extra piece of mono makes a more secure connection on the wire of the cork.
Captain Ron Presley- Popping Cork Rig
33) Flounder and Sheepshead can all be caught in the bay this time of year. Finger Mullet, Bull Minnows and Tiger Minnows are hard to beat for the Flounder and Sheepshead can’t resist a small fiddler crab or live shrimp. Tie on a 12” piece of 12# to 20# fluorocarbon leader, a #1 hook, ¼ to ½oz sinker and a live shrimp or live Fiddler crab. This rig is a Sheepshead killer.
Half Hitch Tackle- Flounder/Sheepshead Rig
34) We can expect some windy days so plan your trips around the direction of the wind and enjoy your adventure. Setting up your drifts by using the wind directions can give you more fishing time and less time worrying about keeping the boat positioned. Drifting a flat in a zigzag pattern can allow you to cover a larger area while letting mother nature assist you. Fish ahead of your drift or to either side of the boat. If using live bait, I like to use popping corks and fish them ahead and re-cast as you drift up on them. You can use a drift anchor to slow down or use a small mushroom anchor like I do. I drop the anchor and fish an area. After some casts, I lift the anchor and drift ahead a little and drop it again. When you start catching fish, just keep the anchor out and fish that area longer. Once you are finished with a drift, move back across the flat at an angle to give your next drift in waters that you have yet to fish. It's an easy way to fish in windy conditions. Let the wind be your friend!
Captain Charlie Conner- Zigzag In Wind
35) With the arrival of a series of cold fronts we are compelled to shift fishing locations and tactics in order to be successful. Sometimes it is as simple as shifting from the shallow shoreline to the three to four foot grass flats and potholes fifty yards away. Other times we are forced to flee into the canals and creeks to avoid the strong winds accompanying the fronts.
Native Sons Fishing Guides- Shift Tactics For Success
36) Live Shrimp, Shrimp imitation baits, and jerkbaits become the norm. Slow movements are the only way to get lethargic fish to interested. That is the biggest mistake anglers make this time of year. Patience is the key here.
Capt. Brian Caudill- Bigest Cold Water Mistake
37) Go small on the bait when fishing for Sheepshead, they need to munch once or twice and then swallow. If the bait is to large they will only have part in their mouth, when you set the hook it just pulls the bait off the hook, you come up empty.
Capt. Terry Frankford- Small Baits For Sheepshead
38) Protect our grass flats. Idle speed in the shallows and use a trolling motor or push pole the majority of the time. Prop scars can take years to heal if at all.
Captain Charlie Conner- Protect Our Grass Flats
39) ... both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets "potholes" within the grassy flats. On colder days, focus your attention on the deeper holes using a very slow presentation. When targeting redfish and trout in these deeper holes, I prefer using shrimp imitation baits like DOA Shrimp in the clear or nightglow colors fished extremely slowly. I also like to add the element of sound to the bait by inserting a Woodie's Rattle into the soft plastic bait.
Captain Tom Van Horn- Use Shrimp Lures With A Rattle
40) The key for the reds still the birds, just look for any significant bird activity and more than likely you will find the reds working below them.
Half Hitch Tackle- Birds Help Find Redfish
No comments:
Post a Comment