Winter Report
Capt. Sean Goddard
December 15, 2014
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Northerly winds, choppy water, cooler water temps and skinny water are but just a few of our winter fishing challenges. Winter fishing can be productive with the right mix of planning and patience. The water temps are is the high 60's and the bite is still strong in some areas. Redfish are still plentiful but scattered on the flats with most of the fish being in the rivers, creeks and backcountry.. White bait, cut bait and shrimp are still working well, as are jigs with paddle tail bodies.
Fish are feeding later in the day when the water warms up, I have been having great success in the late afternoon. I have found quite a few fish drifting the potholes on the flats sitting on dark bottom.
The snook have made their move to their winter spots in the backcountry creeks and rivers, and they are plentiful. They are actively feeding on white bait and fattening up for the coming cold weather. Fish river bends and structure in deeper water to find lunker sized snook. White bait, jumbo shrimp and the occasional top water are producing good fish.
Trout fishing hot right now in 6 feet of water look for gator trout to be roaming the shallows once the water temp rises in the afternoon. Smaller fish up to keeper size can still be found on deeper grass flats mixed in with redfish and flounder. Live jumbo shrimp either free lined or under a popping cork is producing impressive numbers of fish.
Flounder are everywhere it seems and are for the most part keeper sized, look for the sitting on sandy bottom patiently waiting for a meal.
The sheephead are here and are biting pretty good. Look for rocky area or area that provide structure. a good tactic if you are fishing one of the three large bridges is to scrape some barnacles from the bridge pilings and chum the sheepshead into a feeding frenzy.
Captain Sean Goddard
Inshore 2 Offshore Fishing Adventures
www.inshore2offshore.com
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