January forecast Jacksonville area waters
Capt. Bob Cosby
January 3, 2014
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
January is a month where weather plays a large part in fishing success. In between the cold fronts and northeasters there are often mild, calmer days that offer pleasant fishing and catching conditions. Water temperatures are in the high 50's to low 60's. Available species include redfish, speckled and yellowmouth trout, black drum, sheepshead, flounder, and bluefish.
Reds are very hardy fish and tolerate the cold water well. They can be caught around inlet rocks, and in the ICW and its feeder creeks. Trout will hit both lures and live bait, usually live shrimp. Yellowmouth trout (weakfish) tend to occupy the deeper water and school up more. When the sun warms the dark mud flats and creeks, speckled trout will hit topwater and lipped diving lures. Sliding float live shrimp rigs are effective for both specks and yellowmouth.
Black drum can be caught near jetty rocks, in the river, and in deeper parts of creeks. Many people are targeting sheepshead now with fiddler crab baits. They are excellent table fare and challenging to catch. Most of the larger flounder have moved off shore, however, some smaller ones will stay in the creeks all winter. Bluefish are spread throughout our waters and will hit about anything except fiddlers!
If surf fishing is your thing, whiting, drum, and blues should be biting when the wind and current are moderate along our north Florida beaches. Pick your days and enjoy some fishing!
Good fishing,
CAPT Bob Cosby
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