I know our winter in
southwest Florida is no comparison to the colder climates to our north. However
as a Florida boy I do not like cold of any kind and look at February as the
beginning to the end of the cold season. Sometime this month the transition to
spring fishing well begin. It all depends on the weather, if warm it should
begin the first couple weeks, but if we have a cold front or two of any
magnitude it could push the transition back a few weeks
Inshore, look for sea trout fishing to get better and more
consistent as the month progresses, plus we will see a notable increase in
large fish. If the water remains
relatively cold bait fish will be sparse and trout at times sluggish, shrimp or
shrimp imitations should be the bait of choice. If we have a couple weeks of
warm weather then you can expect bait to move back into the area, but for much
of the month it’s hard to beat anything that resembles a shrimp. When the bait
does move back in, look for the trout bite to take off.
Red fishing should improve in both numbers and size as the
month progresses. By the second half of the month look for fish to begin
feeding under the bushes as our tide will bring us higher daytime water than
previous months. Shrimp or scented
artificials are the top baits, if you have the patience to soak cut bait on
bottom, one inch ladyfish or mullet steaks are also deadly. Of course if the
bait fish return, live or cut pilchards and pinfish are hard to beat. Also look for redfish in sand potholes on low
water and feeding along sand and oyster bars with the rising tides. There will
also be some extreme low tides that give great opportunities for stalking
tailing or waking reds in the extreme shallows.
Inshore sheepsheads fishing should peak this month as they
finish up their spawning chores. Look for most of the larger fish around the
gulf passes, on the beaches, and schooling around structure both inside the
passes and a short distance offshore.
Remember, a small sharp hook works
best when rigged with a small piece of shrimp or other crustacean with
just enough weight to keep it on bottom.
My preferred set-up is a size 1 Owner mutu light circle hook with a
couple feet of 20 pound fluorocarbon leader and just enough weight to keep it
near the bottom. Be patient and bring plenty of bait, these stripped bandits
are notorious bait stealers until you get the feel for the strike. If you do
not have access to a boat, try one of the many public piers or bridges. Not
only do sheepsheads fight hard, they are outstanding on the table.
Anglers fishing the previously mentioned areas for
sheepsheads are sure to score with a few pompano. They feed off the bottom,
often hang around the same areas and love shrimp. You can also expect to catch
them in many of the same areas that attract redfish or trout, areas like sand
or pot holes and sand bar transitions are feeding stations for pompano that
often travel in schools. While a live shrimp is hard to beat and works great,
those that target pompano often throw artificials to cover more ground. Small pompano jigs with white, pink, and
yellow the most common colors have been catching pompano forever, you can
really enhance these jigs with a small piece of fresh shrimp. Over the past
couple years the Silly Willy jig in various colors has also become a pompano
favorite. With these jig style baits a moderately slow retrieve with a jigging
motion to bounce the bait off the bottom and simulate a fleeing crustacean is
the key to success
Although it is still
winter, if we put a week or so of warm weather behind us the transition to
spring should begin. I might be jumping the gun early but I am keeping my
fingers crossed for an early transition, spring is my favorite time of year to
fish.
“Catch the Action” with Captain Bill Russell
Phone: 239-283-7960
Website: www.fishpineisland.com
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