Winter weather requires changes in locations and tactics to find the fish
Although I hate to admit it, winter is finally here.
And with the cold comes some changes in techniques and methods for those of us who fish the local waters.
Dock fishing is starting to become an attraction. Redfish, black drum, sheepshead and flounder can all be found hanging around the docks during the winter months. I’m finding success by casting live shrimp under residential docks, especially in areas where seawalls are present.
Pompano are another species to be found around Anna Maria Island during the winter months. The tasty little fish can typically be found along the Gulf beaches in the shore break. You can also find them on the grass flats of the Intracoastal Waterway and in Sarasota Bay. Small jigs tipped with fresh-cut shrimp are a sure way to entice these fish to bite.
Finally, targeting spotted seatrout during the winter months can be quite productive. Soft plastics such as DOA Cal jigs combined with a jig head are my “go to” bait to catch trout in the winter. Most of the time I like to do a drift over the flats and cast jigs to the surrounding potholes. Typically, if you find a pothole with trout in it, there will be a bunch, so try to spend a little extra time in an area where you previously hooked up.
