Winter fish can hold more challenges but offers plenty of bright spots. Trout and Snook are closed but Redfish are accessible. Pompano, Whiting, and Sheepshead in protected waters all provide family fun , plenty of action, and fine table fare. Grouper fishing is great if you can catch fair weather on your day off. Fuel costs are down, so take advantage of our good fortune and share Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends on our beautiful waters. Warm jackets are recommended for early starts now, but the back country waters are usually crystal clear and full of activity. Observe wading birds; they can help you locate fishy areas because birds eat the same foods. Work with the weather conditions, if possible. Concentrate in protected areas on windy days; or explore the flats and open bays during warmer periods. Fish can not add a coat, so work deeper water on cold days and shallow flats on sunny afternoons. Note what works for you, and under which conditions, then check to see if this is a pattern you can look forward to.

Deeper water cools slower and warms slower; use this knowledge to your advantage when you can. Slow your retrieve dramatically in cold water and pick it up slightly on warm shallow flats. Trout and Snook are both closed in December, so look elsewhere, as both are too delicate for catch and release in cold waters. Redfish are foraging the flats on warm incoming tides, but require some stealth to sneak up on. Be patient and take your time to enjoy hot action in cooler waters. Gold spoons and soft plastics are best lures now. Small pinfish and shrimp make great natural baits. Popping corks offer extra weight to cast long distances required in clear calm waters. Allow your bait to lie still near the bottom on colder days. Winter Redfish are especially colorful and stronger fish on shallow flats. Note the blue tips on their tails and bronze to golden hues down their backs; take pictures and get your angler’s smiling face in the shot if possible. Try deeper docks and holes on cooler days, and take your time.

If you want more action try jigs for Pompano and Whiting around the passes. I use ¼ to ½ ounce special Pompano jigs and those metal “Goofy Jigs,” mostly because they catch fish for us. We catch Ladyfish, Jacks, Sea Robins, Puffers, and so many more varieties to keep poles bent and anglers of all ages smiling. Fluorocarbon seems to produce more bites in clear water. You can add a tiny piece of fresh shrimp or a sand flea to sweeten your presentation; it can help. Fish will move inside for harsh weather and back to the beaches with fair conditions. Try potholes, tide seams, eddies and edges, then concentrate on the areas that produce in specific conditions. Sheepshead will continue to improve thru winter and concentrate near any barnacle-encrusted structures. This is the recommended fishing for kids and other impatient anglers because it usually gets lots of action. Grouper work into shallower Gulf waters and even our bays now to find food. If you don’t like to bottom fish, or lack those hot numbers, try trolling to learn your way around bottom structures. Experiment with deep diving, lipped lures; this is where those local tackle shops can really help if you have established a relationship with their staff. Guidance from experts can take years off your learning curve and save your tons of time and money.

Don’t be afraid to study charts to discover hard bottom areas and breaks to find hungry Grouper. You need to pay your dues here, but the rewards are tasty fish dinners. Fuel costs are down, so go when you can. Holidays are family times; please find a way to share your most valuable asset—your time! Children and grandchildren love you and want you to spend time walking, talking, especially fishing with them. Shore fishing is fine and most are glad to catch anything; species is not important, just the experience together. I bet you can vividly recall your first fish with clarity, and cherish these special memories forever! You know who found that time to spend sharing and teaching you. I enjoy my quality equipment but caught many fish on cane poles and stick bobbers, and they still work! Bread still chums up Bream and Catfish; if that’s all you have nearby, make the best of it. Let kids help you catch your pinfish for Grouper baits? Whatever works; just snag some time together. It is not about money; it’s all about love. Merry Christmas...and let’s go fishin' soon. Let’s go fishin’ soon. Capt. Van Hubbard Past President of Florida Guides Association and Winner of 1999 Mote Marine Award info@captvan.com