Frozen Florida
Capt. Jeff Legutki
January 6, 2010
Ten Thousand Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
This winter has come and hit us like ton of ice! Gone from the upper 70's to the low 40's the entire week. Native Floridians are not to good in this weather. I have been dressing up in so many layers for the morning ride, I look like a South Park character.
The positive side to all this, is the giant snook have moved into their winter haunts and can be found in schools, floating, sunning themselves trying to stay alive. Fishing has been surprisingly good spite the cold.
Red fish showed up everywhere once the first front hit, good fish to! I have seen dozens of over-slot fish cruising the edges of the flats barely visible, but when they kick their tail, it sounds like a sonic boom. You cringe immediately. The falling tides in the warmer afternoons have made them aggressive and willing to pounce of a good cast.
On the warmer days small juvenile tarpon can still be found in certain areas, nothing bigger than 15 pounds, and some small enough to look like bait. All in all, they can still be counted when trying to achieve a "slam".
Off the beaches on the calmer days when I can take my little boat out, there are plent of bonito to test your drag, as well as triple tail and spanish mackeral.
Fishing is very good in spite of the cooler weather.
Ten Thousand Islands Fishing Forecast:
After a little while the fish will acclimate to the cold and have to feed to stay alive. This cooler weather present incredible sight fishing scenarios for the hunter. Moving out into the open to soak up the rays of the sun in extremely shallow conditions.
Target Species:
snook, tarpon, and red fish that lurk in the shallows
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