Alex snook

Windy and cold means think deep! This week is expected to get really cold! If I said the fishing has been easy I’d be lying, between the crazy winds, up and down with temps changing the fish don’t really seem to know what to do! As tough as it has been there has still been some nice fish caught!

Focusing on deeper water has really been the ticket lately. That means deep residential canals, docks, and spoil islands with large drop offs seem to be the best bet. With water levels dropping more and more I would think this pattern will continue for quite some time. As for fishing these deep holes, a 1/8 oz jighead with a live or dead shrimp has been the ticket. Heavier jigheads tend to drop to the bottom a little fast for my liking as I prefer to cover all sections of the water column. Toss your bait against the mangroves or along the drop offs and be patient! The fish are cold, too, so if you don’t get a bite within two minutes, give it time! Also, if you happen to get a strike in an area, stick it out even longer; in winter the fish tend to really school up and it’s not uncommon to catch large numbers out of one spot. The best part about fishing these types of areas is you can get a large variety of species. One trip this week we managed redfish, trout, black drum, snook, sheepshead, croakers, and more — all out of one small spot!

Winter fishing can be tough but it’s one heck of a good time when it all comes together.