Nature Coast, William Toney 1/4/2017

Mid winter and 80 degrees? Can’t wait for summer to get here so we could cool off. In all seriousness not much has changed on the inshore bite from last week. The fronts can only cool it down so much with the 4 to 5 days of warm dry weather. The trout bite is around the creek mouths and adjacent flats. Glow jerk baits and cork rigs with dark colored soft plastics are working best. I have had some luck catching them with a 1/8 oz. red jig head and root beer or bourbon soft plastic bounced near the bottom in 4 to 6 feet of water.

The redfish bite remains strong as long as there is enough water to cover the rocky outside points. At least 14 to 15 inches is best and a short leader under a cork will keep the live shrimp from hanging on the bottom. The pompano bite has been good in the deep holes of the major creeks. A 1/8 oz. chartreuse jig head tipped with a piece of fresh shrimp will get the bite.

The near shore rocks should start getting the first wave of sheepshead with the upcoming full moon. A 1/0 Eagle Claw bait holder hook with a 1/4 oz. sliding sinker ( knocker rig ) with fresh shrimp is the best bait. Cast towards the sand right next to the rock. Wait for a heavy peck then set the hook. Incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend. W