With a extended cold spell, I did see some dead snook, lady fish and mullet. Everything east of Hells Gate looked good and a few sheepshead, black drum, small reds, mangrove snapper and small snook bit on live shrimp. As the year comes to a close we are looking at some warm temperatures that will moderate the fishing and possibly push some trout back at the edge of the river mouths and deeper creeks. To get on the bite take your time and go to breakfast and let things warm up. Start by using live shrimp in the deeper holes in the river for black drum, redfish, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and trout. As the day warms move towards the Gulf and target the edges of deeper channels the are on the warm side of the sun with a dark bottom. Dark bottoms will heat up faster than open water especially when they are protected from the wind. A very good go to cold water trout bait is the MirrOlure MirrOdine.
With light winds it the bitter end to target gag grouper before New Years eve. My suggestion is around 25 to 30 feet with live pinfish and patience. Heading toward our full moon look for sheepshead to start hanging around the nearshore rocks. High profile rocks are the best to target and live shrimp is the best bait. Incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend. Happy New Year!
- Nature Coast - March 23, 2024
- William Toney - February 29, 2024
- Nature Coast - February 14, 2024
