Old Man Winter’s chilly breath has put a damper on appetites this last week. But they’ve got to eat sometime, so being in the right spots during the shorter feeding windows will still result in some quality catches.
Coastal rivers are still spotty in the upper stretches and with this weekend’s warming trend, that will probably remain the same. Oyster bars, mud flats and tidal creeks are the best spots to try your luck. Fishing this time of year definitely takes some patience and perseverance. You might strike out several times before finding the motherlode. Don’t be afraid to change up offerings, either.
Water temperatures plunged in the low 50s before making a gradual climb closer to the 60-degree mark. As a result, trout and reds haven’t been overly aggressive. Slow down presentations and downsize lures for better enticement.
This is the time of year when trout school up in the shallows, often in considerable numbers. Competition often triggers strikes even when the fish are timid and spooky. A DOA CAL Stark Naked shad tail with a chartreuse 1/8-ounce jig head produced a few nice sight-cast trout for me on a falling tide. The fish were schooled in less than two feet of water, so a stealthy approach is key. Redfish are also mixing in amongst mullet, which requires a sharp eye for copper and blue tails. Polarized sunglasses are a must.
The bait scene is in winter mode. Most of the pinfish have left the flats, leaving only mud minnows, finger mullet and some pods of greenies and ballyhoo. So the Stark Naked pattern (olive back/pearl belly) was a good mirror of the current forage. Go as light as possible to avoid spooking wary fish.
In the nearshore depths grouper diggers are finding cooperative gags by trolling Mann’s Stretch 30s in dorado and red head/white body patterns. Gags up to 30 inches have been fooled with some red grouper mixed in. Black sea bass will be thick on most structure and the flounder numbers should be good as well.
Light to moderate winds and mid-day tides are on tap for this weekend in advance of Tuesday’s new moon. There won’t be any water around daylight, so plan accordingly. High tides will crest after noon and the last two hours of the rise offer the best feeding windows. A lesser period will occur the last hour or so before dusk.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.