The extreme cold temperatures that were endured over the past couple of weeks really put a damper on things. The fish in the area were more concerned with staying alive than eating. Though I did encounter some mortality in Lemon Bay and the north Charlotte Harbor area, I have heard terrible stories from north and south of my region. The majority of dead fish I have seen have been Jacks, Mojarra (Sand Bream), Ladyfish, and, of course, a few Snook. On a lighter note, the weather has finally warmed up and things are starting to get back to normal. The Trout fishing has been off the charts. I have been limiting out on them almost too quickly on all of my recent trips. On average, I have been catching thirty to forty per trip with almost all of them over the fifteen inch minimum and several over the twenty inch maximum.

The Redfish haven’t been quite as easy but they are still plentiful. I have also started finding a few Flounder mixed in over the last week. All can be caught fishing the sand holes on low tides. Sheepshead have also been abundant. I have been bumping into them in the same sand holes as the Redfish and Trout, and I also hear good reports of them around the bridges, docks, and near shore reefs. The bait of choice this time of year is a live shrimp or a plastic jig bounced slowly off the bottom. I prefer a gold Cotee or D.O.A. Paddle Tail with an eighth ounce jig head. The fish are still cold and don’t want to work hard for a meal. Green Water Charters captmattglass.com the1snookmaster@aol.com (941)232-6353