With a more serious cold front coming through for the weekend the bite before the front should be excellent. That being said I know the wind will blow and make it tough to fish but because this is one of the first fronts for the winter it will not drop the water temperatures enough to totally shut down the bite. As we head into winter, a cold front will play an important part in catching fish or not but at this time I believe good fishing can still be had.
The trout bite is best on moving water, outgoing tide tends to be a little better. Popping corks with a glow or dark colored soft plastic jig works best with windy conditions or the same colors with a red 1/8th oz. jig head when it is a slight chop or calm. The best areas are the pole line in Chassahowitzka , yellow bottom outside of Mason Creek and just south of Mangrove Point.
The redfish bite is excellent on the incoming tide but this weekend I doubt we will have any incoming tide because of the cold front and the way the tides are spread out. Cut pinfish is the best bait because of all the pinfish eating the shrimp, but if you are patient with a live shrimp on a 2/0 Owner Hook poling the clear waters of the St. Martins Keys you can sight cast to the redfish of your choice. Best shorelines will have plenty of fat mullet jumping.
The near shore rocks are loaded with big grunts, some keeper gag grouper and spanish mackerel. I use a 1/8 oz. jig head with a tail hooked live shrimp for the grunts and mackerel. Today we had a big gag grouper take a grunt on the way to the boat with light tackle. We fought it several times but each time the grunt was pulled from the groupers mouth it would come back and take it again. I think it would be wise for the captain to pack a heavy rod on my next shallow rock trip! High incoming tides are very early morning this weekend or very late evening.
- Nature Coast - March 23, 2024
- William Toney - February 29, 2024
- Nature Coast - February 14, 2024
