The Tampa Bay Times
With colder temperatures approaching our region, fishing will get a little more challenging. It is important to realize that Florida fish are in a subtropical climate and typically become lethargic in colder temperatures, unlike fish in the northern United States. This means your approach must be slower and methodical to be productive. For live bait fishing, shrimp become important for success. They are slow moving compared to most baitfish yet still offer a high source of protein. They have little defense, other than a small horn on their head, and also one in the middle of their fluke at the tail. Therefore, they are a highly sought after meal for many predators such as redfish, snook, ladyfish, bluefish, sheepshead, and especially sea trout. Some situations will call for placing a shrimp under a float to keep it from hiding in the sea grasses. In other areas where it’s rocky or sandy, free lining a shrimp to crawl along the bottom is extremely effective. I will often cut a shrimp into two pieces and thread a piece onto a #2 hook when fishing for sheepshead. When it comes to artificial lures, you’ll want to find lures that mimic shrimp action, and look like a shrimp. Although, small grubtail lures will still work as long as they are on a very light jig head, so their movement can be slowed. Snook usually take a break during these cold snaps. But on a falling tide as the afternoon sun warms the flats, they may still surprise you and turn on.
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