The Tampa Bay Times
Fishing in the north Pinellas region has slowed a bit with the sudden drop in temperature lately. The fish shut down for a couple of days and the bite was very slow. I switched to using live shrimp instead of chasing bait with the cast net. I was able to catch a few small redfish and sheepshead on a recent trip. The water temperature had dipped into the high 50s so snook were very lethargic and not responding to anything we were using. However, the cooler temperatures usher in migrating trout to the spoil islands along St. Joseph Sound. Typically this time of year we have a big influx of larger, spotted sea trout that are foraging around the rocky islands, as well as the nearby flats. Although live shrimp are one of their favorite meals, their initial instinct is to continue eating live sardines, or pinfish until those baits aren’t abundant in the colder winter months. Then, shrimp and artificial shrimp are the go-to method for trout. When handling trout during the winter months, I try to use I always use a de-hooking tool. These are available in most of the tackle stores locally and are extremely easy to use when mastered. Handling trout will remove their slime, which is vital to their survival in the colder temperatures. Also, not using a landing net if intending to release trout is also a good practice. These precautions will protect our resource for the future.
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