Nature Coast

As we move one month closer to spring the inshore fishing still

remains mostly unchanged. The rivers are still holding sheepshead,

black drum, small mangrove snapper, and the occasional keeper trout

and redfish. The best bait is live shrimp fished on the bottom. On the

warmer days or warmest part of the day the outside edge on the hard

flats around the keys nice trout are being caught on jerk baits with a

nose hooked rig. Long cast are the way to find the trout and most of

the time if you have a hook up stop the vessel and fan cast the are

because they are tight together or schooled up.

The nearshore rocks are still producing some sheepshead and white

grunts. Although I have to say I’ve had better luck with sheepshead

that are bigger in the rivers. Some of the nearshore rocks will

surprise you with keeper trout that are working their way inshore with

the changing conditions so be prepared on your day fishing to make the

run if nothing is happening inshore.

This is the time of year that when I have days off I like to play in

the woods. Some Wildlife Management  Areas have a small game season

that allows for squirrel and also wild hogs to be harvested. It’s a

fine time for a nice walk through the Big Bend hammocks and woods,

plus the opportunity to bags some game. Generally the woods are quit

with the lack of hunters so getting out and enjoying the cool weather

is good for your soul. If you would still like to pursue a buck deer

the 3 hour ride north of us in the Apalachicola National Forest is

still open for deer hunt almost till the end of February. This

national forest has free primitive camping or drag your camper trailer

to one of the many camping areas. For the best info to put you on

track for some hunting fun always go to www.myfwc.com. High incoming

tide this weekend will be early morning.