Change in weather causes change in bait, locations to catch fish

Anna Maria Island anglers braces themselves for winter to finally arrive, which will usher in some new species to target as well as a change in technique and location of how and where to find the fish. 

With predicted temperatures in the mid 50s to upper 60s for the next several days, you can bet on the water temperatures to drop considerably. 

That being said, the days of catching snook and redfish on the flats will be over until we approach springtime again in March. 

And the transition from using live shiners as bait to using shrimp is now upon us. With this change in bait comes a change in the species we target. Sheepshead always seem to come to mind as winter settles in, as these fish seem to flourish in cooler water temps. The same applies for black drum, pompano and whiting. All of these species rely heavily on feeding on shrimp throughout the winter. 

The use of artificials such as soft plastics on a jig head will also come in to play as spotted seatrout tend to feed on baits near the bottom and in close proximity as to not exclude much energy as they remain dormant during the cooler months. 

As for redfish, they seem to tolerate the cooler water temps just fine, although typically won’t be found on the flats. Areas of structure such as docks and canals seem to be appealing to these wintertime redfish as they to slow down their hunting routine and tend to lay and wait for a meal to pass in front of their noses. Live shrimp or crabs are a delicacy for these reds and will prove quite beneficial when used as bait. 

Lastly, we should start seeing more frequency in the flounder bite, although with recent red tide and water quality issues, the flounder populations in our area seem to have suffered. 

When targeting flounder, try fishing sandy areas where structure exists. The Berkeley Gulp shrimp on a jig head is generally irresistible for these flat fish, so you have a hankering for a flounder dinner I’d try these baits. 

On my own Just Reel charters I’m spending most of my time jigging the flats with DOA Cal jigs. Spotted sea trout and pompano are being caught using this method, as well as a host of other species including bluefish, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Using shrimp as bait over the artificial reefs is producing action on snapper and sheepshead as well as the usual suspects — grunts and juvenile grouper.