Br-br-br! Baby it’s cold outside. Here on the Nature Coast, old man winter gave us a preview of what is ahead for the next three months. Right now, the cold air moves through quickly, lasting just a few days, then warms up to our normal temperatures. The fish seem to know when these cold fronts are approaching. Just before the fronts arrive the fishing has been great. The sea trout have been feeding on the bait fish that are still around and have been hitting top water plugs with authority. Mixed in with the trout , have been mackeral, bluefish, and pompano. Redfish have been caught on the last of the outgoing tide on top water plugs and soft plastic jerk baits. The last few reds caught have been above the 27 inch limit, and are fun to catch, photograph and release to insure the next generation. Fishing the kelp beds last week also produced a 2 ½ pound pompano on a Berkley Gulp on a ¼ ounce jig.

On these bluebird days, when the wind doesn’t let you fish outside, and you just have to fish, don’t forget the deep water residential canals. These areas can produce some fine fish. The deeper waters around the moored sailboats can produce redfish, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, trout, snook and flounder. A ¼ ounce jig with Berkley Gulp or a live shrimp fished slow and close to the bottom, will put fish in the boat for fine table fare.

On a recent charter, I decided to run to Chassahowitzka area to look for some redfish. The day was beautiful- light wind, clear skies, and an incoming tide. It looked like a perfect scenario. We arrived at our destination and started using top water plugs and soft plastics, but not a bite to be had. The birds were not even in search of food. Then after I noted the temperature, I realized two things were against us.. The water temperature was 61 degrees and a full moon was upon us. We left Chassahowitzka and headed back to Bayport to fish an area that was holding fish the day before. I noticed that the water temperature there was 71 degrees and the birds were working the baitfish schools. Things were looking up. We caught trout up to 20 inches and bluefish to five pounds using Skitterwalks and white plastice jerk baits.

As the water temperature dropss even more remember to fish the hot water outflows around power plants where the outflow runs into the gulf can be excellent. The water can warm the flats for a two mile radius on a real cold day. Topwater, plugs, soft plastics, slow suspending Mirro lures such as Mirrodines will catch fish such as trout ,cobia, flounder and bluefish.

From our family here at Flats Slam Fishing Charters we wish to the merriest of Holidays and God Bless.
Captain Larry Roderick, www.flatsslamfishingcharters.com (325) 835-3785.