Thanksgiving leftovers are gone — time catch a fish dinner

Now that the leftover turkey has finally run out, I imagine it’s time to start hunting down some fish for dinner.

With recent cold fronts and falling water temps, it’s time to start looking around back bays and in the Manatee River to find a bite.

Fishing around residential docks is resulting in sheepshead, black drum and redfish. I’m finding that all three species are readily taking live shrimp when presented. Most docks fished are holding at least a couple fish while some docks are holding numerous fish. While fishing these docks you can expect to encounter flounder and snook.

Using soft plastics such as DOA Cal jigs combined with a jig head are producing good numbers of trout throughout Anna Maria Sound. Try drifting and jigging to get results. Large numbers of small trout 12-14 inches are being caught with batches of keeper-size fish mixed in. While targeting trout, expect to catch mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle and bluefish.