On the Water: January’s cooler temperatures bring changes on how and where to fish
January is our coolest month with water temperatures the lowest of the year around Southwest Florida. Just how cold often determines how and where to fish.
Over cold and windy days, fish inshore move to protected areas like canals, creeks,and deep water on the leeward side of Islands. These areas offer a good way to comfortably fish in a chilly north wind. Often, fish may be found ganged up in a deep hole, along a shoreline or sunning in areas protected from the wind. The coldest days yield some of the best sheepshead fishing of the year. They thrive and aggressively feed during adverse cold weather. If the weather is mild for several days, fish may be more widespread out on shallower flats, bars and structures.
Shrimp are top baits for winter fishing. Shrimp are user friendly, readily available to purchase and everything eats them. If it’s cold, low and slow is the way to go, meaning work the bait at or near the bottom, either stationary or with a slow retrieve. It’s difficult for a cold fish to exert energy by chasing fast-moving food. One of the best ways to cover bottom and catch fish on a cold day is with a live shrimp/jig head combination. Take a live shrimp, bite or pinch off the tail and thread the shrimp, tail first on a jig head. Now you have the best of both worlds, live bait that you can cover ground with like an artificial. This combination will entice everything from big snook to pompano.
On warmer days, the same combination still works; however the fish are likely spread over shallower depths, so a change of technique is often necessary. Look for fish in areas that are a short distance from the deeper protected areas; they often hold in areas where they can quickly get back to shelter when the next front arrives. Fish these areas with shrimp or shrimp imitations in soft plastic, rigged with the same method described above with a little quicker retrieve, or suspended under a popping or rattling cork. Sometimes if you are looking for trout, redfish or pompano, it’s all about covering as much area as possible. Scented soft baits like Gulp shrimp are another great option.
Between cold fronts are days with light wind and calm seas, allowing boats to venture into Gulf waters. Bottom structure including artificial reefs, ledges and hard bottom within sight of land holds a variety of fish. Again, live or fresh shrimp is the top bait.
Two popular bait rigs include knocker rigs with an egg sinker free to slide above a small hook and previously mentioned bare jigs heads rigged with shrimp. Both combinations work great nearshore. Make sure and use enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom. Sheepshead become the target for many anglers in nearshore Gulf waters over winter, but you will hook into other fish that may include snapper, grouper, grunts and permit, to name a few. When fishing offshore, it’s a good idea to drop down a live bait if you catch bait fish like a pinfish, grunt or sand perch. This is a great way to hook into a big grouper, cobia, king mackerel and of course, sharks. Deeper in Gulf waters, large red grouper, snapper and a mix of tasty bottom fish are possible on a calm day.
Before hitting the water make sure you are up on current fishing regulations as they change often. You can go to www.myfwc.com or better download the Fish Rules app. It updates every time you open it. It’s free, and has all local fish species, regulations, and pictures of each.
January will bring some cold days on the water, (at least what we consider cold in Florida) but also plenty of sunny warm days. Like the weather fishing can change quickly this month, to be successful you need to monitor the conditions and adapt your fishing strategy accordingly. Good Luck!
Wishing all a safe and happy New Year
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service; phone (239) 410-8576, email gcl2fish@live.com or you visit us on the Web at www.fishpineisland.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’.
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.