January fishing report

Report Date: January 9, 2007

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I hope Santa was good to all you this year and your favorite football team made it to a bowl game and won.Mine did-
Florida Gators-National Champions!!!!! Go Gators…

By now, you should have used all those Bass Pro Shop gift certificates to replenish your tackle box and get ready for some warmer weather fishing.However……


January is one of those months in Florida Nature Coast fishing that can be feast or famine, good news/bad news, or bitter sweet…..all depending on Mother Nature’s fickle weather patterns. If we continue to have one front after another lined up like the Dayton 500, blowing in every 4 or 5 days, it can be tough fishing. However, if we have a week or two of fair weather mixed in, like last year, with temps in the70’s & 80’s, and the Gulf waters warm to above 60 degrees, fish will become more active and easier to locate and catch.

On any given day, weather providing, it is possible to catch trout, redfish, bluefish, spanish mackerel, and grouper all on one trip. Of course, it takes a whole lot of luck. And as an old friend of mine, Bill Brant once said, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. So be sure your tackle box is prepared so when the opportunity presents itself you are ready. I can recall times I was trout fishing on the flats and run into schools of Spanish mackerel and had no wire leaders to be found. 50 lb mono will work in those cases.

As the weather has cooled the Gulf waters, trout and redfish will remain in the rivers and creeks. On warmer days, between Bayport, Homosassa, Ozello and Crystal River, the fish will transition onto the shallow flats and dark bottom to warm and feed. As the water cools they head back closer in to inside bars and creeks and deeper holes. However, the reds will begin finding their winter homes deep in the backcountry in deeper holes. Airboaters will have the best shot at getting to these reds as the winter tides and traditional east winds will cause our tides along the Nature Coast to run lower than normal. Many of the spots you fish spring, summer and fall, you can’t get to now. Look for the larger trout hanging out on the shell bars with the reds. This time of year, the method of choice is either freeline a live shrimp or fish a jig and grub fished on the bottom and moved slowly over grass flats, dark bottom, and rocky flats. Saltwater Assassin's saltwater shad in colors of electric chicken, white/pink tail, and rootbeer colors are very effective. Another method for trout is live pinfish if you can get them, under a cork. However, I like to use a "pinfish shoulder" or "shiner tail" fished freeline, for bigger fish.
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. Mike Locklear 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.

Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle and Bluefish are usually around this time of year. Look for diving birds and feeding fish. Artificials and wire leader are all you'll need for Spanish and 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 ‘cause these fish 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.

Grouper fishing will remain consistently good from water 20 to 45 feet deep. Anglers trolling diving plugs will pick up a few gags, Spanish and kingfish, but more keeper fish can be caught while bottom fishing. The fish will be moving around so if you don't find them on your favorite spot, scout around until you locate something on your depth finder that looks worthwhile. Live bait will catch them quicker than frozen, and you'll spend less time with grunts and shorts.

If you want to find some new grouper spots, trolling is a great way to look and fish at the same time. Best bets seem to be Mann's Stretch 25s, 30s and Rebel Jawbreakers. As far as colors go, the best ones seem to be blue or chartreuse fire-tiger, black/gold Mylar and black/silver Mylar.
Larger sized grouper will start to move into the inshore rocks. You have never lived until you have cast plugs to grouper in 8-10 feet of water or caught them on lighter tackle. A ten pound grouper on lighter tackle will provide a "tug of war" you won't soon forget.
Don’t forget…Most guides, like myself, offer Gift certificates for both full day and half day trips. These make great gifts for the holiday, New Year, birthdays, anniversaries and such… Just contact your favorite guide or give me a call. I can put you in touch with some of the best guides in the Sunshine State.
So, get out there wet a hook and stretch a line.

And remember, take a youngster fishing, ‘cause a child’s smile and good day fishing is the best medicine for whatever ails ‘ya.

Take a kid fishing

Until next time…….
Captain Ed Lewis www.Redfishhunter.com /> Email CaptainEd@RedfishHunter.com
or call 352-629-9684

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