Best bets for January fishing along The Nature Coast

Report Date: January 1, 2005

Best Bets January 2005
Captain Ed Lewis

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas and Santa is good to you and brings you plenty of gift certificates to Bass Pro to stock up to help you catch more fish in 2004. Check in here each month and we will try to tell you what?s biting and how to catch em in our neck of the woods, er water..

Due to the lower water temperatures, our Homosassa/Crystal River flats are clear this time of year. Add this to days of warm sunny afternoons hitting 70 degrees and calm winds will make for great fishing conditions. The trout and redfish should cooperate nicely,
On nights when we have temperatures plummeting down in the low 40's fishing should be best in the afternoons. If you have no other choice but to fish first thing in the morning check out deep holes in creeks and rivers. Besides holding sheephead, black drum and trout, they can be very productive for reds. The deep water is affected less from the plummeting nighttime temperatures. Reds and other fish will hold up there until the first rays of sunlight warm the surrounding waters.

In the afternoons look for reds on the backcountry mud/shallow flats. They are seeking the warmth provided by the sun and will scavenge across the shallow flats, sometimes head down rooting up small crabs and shrimp. In the wintertime when reds are tailing in the shallows it may be best to fish a tail hooked live shrimp on a #4 circle hook or light 1/8-1/4 oz jig. I prefer free lining. Because of native shrimp sometime being scarce this time of year, I seldom see a red pass up this easy meal. With the clear water, it is possible sometimes to see the reds tailing on the flats at low tide. When you see this, just present your shrimp or fly, just in front of the red and let it lie. Then as the red approaches wiggle the rod just a little. For you fly fishing enthusiasts, a brown Muddler Minnow, pink shrimp imitation, or gold Clouser will work on tailing Reds.

Jason Oakes nice trout caught the day before getting hitched

As the tide receds, many folks have good success fishing oyster bars and rocky points with a light jig head and Saltwater Assassin split tail grub. Reds, and trout have been nailing these fished on a lighter than normal 1/8 oz Jig head. The lighter weight allows it to flutter slower to the bottom thus allowing more time for the fish to strike. Don't forget with the chilly water temperature fish movements have slowed down considerably and you will need to give them a three count before setting the hook
It is not uncommon to catch a good number of undersized trout and grouper during this month. Be careful to handle all fish to be released with care. If not hooked deep, Capt. Jimmy Long, President of The Homosassa Guides Association, says he uses his needle nosed pliers and grabs the hook and shakes the fish off without ever touching the fish. Always try to avoid the gill area for a healthy release. Remember, these are the seed for later in the fall and next year?s fishing. Practice conservation and ethical fishing to guarantee the future of our fishery.

Jack Crevalle and Bluefish are usually abundant this time of year. Look for diving birds and feeding fish and passes that funnel baitfish. Artificials and good leader are all you'll need for Blues, trolling or casting red/white or green/white bucktail or plastic jigs while drifting or at anchor will do the trick. Live shrimp work well also. If you run into a school of marauding Jack?s, now is the time to get out your old, least used, rusty plugs or spoons ?cause they will hit anything when in a feeding frenzy. You don?t want to use your favorite plugs because they will just about tear it up and straighten out the hooks before it?s over.

Sheepshead, and black drum can be found around the channel markers, offshore rocks and deep holes in creeks and rivers. Most of the larger sheepshead and drum have come from deeper holes and rocky channels. This is the time of year the big sheepshead spawn on the reefs and inshore rocks. Best bait is a live fiddler crab if you can find them or small piece of shrimp.

Most Grouper Getters will have to find 50 foot water or better this time of year to catch their limit. Baits should be fished slow as the fish aren't nearly as agressive as during warm months. So be patient. However, spring is not far away.

Of course, one of the best bets on a cold windy day is fishing the warm water discharge canal at the Crystal River Power plant. You are laible to catch about anything, from pompano, permit, trout, reds, jacks, manatees and even cobia. The water is usually around 76 degrees and is a fish magnet when the flats temps reach in the 50's. Don't forget to observe the Manatee zones. You don't want your day ruined by getting a speeding ticket from The Man.

Great friends, great weather and great fishing!!!

Fly anglers weapon of choice for trout this time of year is a chartreuse Clouser. Instead of working deep 15-ft water, flyfishers should present their fly to water that is 1-4 ft deep. Just make sure it has deep water near by. A pink shrimp imitation works well also.

This month is a good one to get out all your reels and spool with new line. Also, clean 'em up and grease them. It won't be long before they will be tested, so, make sure you're ready when ol' Bubba is on the other end stretching that new line.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to book your Tarpon and Redfish trips. These slots fill up fast for the months of May, June and July. Most guides, like myself, provide gift certificates for these trips and make great gifts for that special angler.

For those of you who like to sleep in...then go fishin', this is your time of year. No use in flying across the flats at daylight and freeze your ears off when you can leave later in the morning after the sun is up and warming things up.

A Double!! KevinWebb and grandson Jacob..

Don't forget to take a youngster fishing, Cause a child's smile and a good day fishin' is the best medicine for what ails ya.

May the Great Master of all Fishermen be with us until we meet again. May God richly bless you and your family this year.

Captain Ed Lewis
WWW.Redfishhunter.com
(352) 629-9684

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