Tis’ The Season

With water temperatures hovering in the mid 60’s tis’ the season to retreat to the backwaters and warm water runoffs.

A variety of case scenarios offer a temperature increase that gamefish will relate to. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Dead end canals out of the main current flow.
2. Concrete structures and seawalls that hold and dissipate heat nearly 24 hours a day.
3. Structures that face the Southern Hemisphere.
4. Mud bottom and shorelines. Particularly those that feature rotting vegetation.
5. Canal, river, and creek junctions. Particularly those that offer structure in the form of docks with boats that rarely move.
6. Any off these places that offer freshwater runoff in the form of drain pipes or springs.
7. River bends.
8. Oyster bars that barely flood on even the highest of winter tides.
9. Warm water generated by power plants. Keep in mind that this water may be found miles from the actual location of the facility.
10. Any combination of any of the above.

Working areas that offer this type of insulating features, opportunities at this time of year can be highly productive. The past several weeks these areas have yielded snook, tarpon, redfish, trout, cobia, jacks, sheepshead, black drum, pompano and permit.

Snook are responding best in the rivers and canals. 52M MirrOlures (CH), Rat-L-Traps (tequila sunrise), and the lethal ¼ ounce Liv’Eye jig (motor oil) are the ol’ stand byes. Snook are now closed for harvest till February 1^st. Keep your eye out for tarpon relating to the deepest of holes in these areas.

Some decent pods of bull reds are being found hugging shallow water oyster bars. A jumbo live shrimp launched on long cast tackle is about the only thing that we’ve been able to get to work on these ghosts of wintertime pasts.

Trout are being taken on the flats up and down the entire area. Set up a drift and get jiggy with it. The creeks and bars are producing "gators" as usual.

Pompano are being taken in the discharge canal as well as on the adjacent flats and the green holes. Jacks, permit and cobia will be found in the same areas. Be sure not to over-look areas both north and south when the warm waters are blanketing these areas.

Sheepshead, black drum, redfish, ladyfish, and an occasional snook will be found around the docks. A live shrimp rigged with a small split shot gets the nod.

You just don’t know unless you go!

Happy Holidays!

Robert McCue