Captain’s Corner: Dave Mistretta

Fishing report for Dave Mistretta December 17th 2018

We still have time to get some good fishing in before the year ends.   Gag grouper have settled  in our shallower depths.  About 2 weeks ago, there were some nice fish landed in 30 feet of water. This week, anglers seem to be doing better  40 to 70 feet of water. This is  attributed to the water temperatures dropping down to the 60s.  Gag grouper can be pretty active during these cooler times. Both dead  and live baits work.

Immediately after a cold front, the water is still dirty. The gag grouper use their nose  to hunt as much as they do their eyes. This allows stinky baits like a frozen sardine, squid,  to be  productive.  The scent alone can get their attention.

However, Live pinfish and grunts seem to be the “big fish producing” bait. Using both dead and live baits is still the  key to success.  As water get colder the dead baits will eventually produce better . That’s why it’s best to have a mixed selection of baits, since they will  change thier preferences.

  Pinfish  and grunts are located about a  mile to two miles from shore. They hang out on the sand during the winter months.  Once located they are quite ravenous, making it an easy task to fill the wells.

Forecasts shows a window of opportunity between cold fronts for anglers to get in on this end of the year action.