 Look for reds, snook and trout deep in the backcountry and in rivers, creeks and canals this month. Frequent fronts will push fish into these areas in search of warmer water. You’ll also find snook, reds and bluefish in the ICW around docks both at night and during the day. Deep grass flats will hold jacks, blues, ladyfish and trout particularly on sunny afternoons. Look for blues, tripletail, cobia and little tunny in the coastal gulf depending on water temperature.
Snook season will remain closed during January, so any snook caught must be released immediately. However, snook fishing can be quite good during January and as long as you handle them properly they survive very well. If the water temperature should dip below 60 degrees, I wouldn’t target them. I find them feeding aggressively in the ICW at night with water temperatures in the 60’s. The area from south Sarasota to south of the Venice Inlet, which includes “snook alley”, is a great area to fish at night. The ICW is narrow there and creates a funneling effect that magnifies the tidal flow. Jigs, plastic shrimp and live shrimp all work well, but fly fishing with small white flies can be very effective. Snook feed heavily on glass minnows during the winter and we can “match the hatch” best with small white flies.
You’ll also find snook in creeks and rivers this month, particularly following cold fronts. The Manatee River, Bowlees Creek, Phillippi Creek, North and South Creeks and Shackett Creek are all areas that will hold snook during January. Fish deep bends in rivers and creeks where snook will hold due to the warmer water found there. I use larger lures and flies when fishing rivers and creeks. Snook will usually feed on larger baitfish such as finger mullet and killifish in rivers and creeks, so larger plugs and soft plastics or wide profile flies will work best when fishing these areas. When using live bait, try to fish with whatever you find in those areas. Snook may venture out onto flats to feed close to river and creeks mouths on warm, sunny afternoons or following warm-ups between fronts.
Negative low tides that occur during the 1st, 3rd and 5th weeks of the month will cause reds and trout to concentrate in potholes. You’ll also find reds tailing on shallow grass flats at the lowest portion of the tide in Gasparilla Sound. This is one of my favorite kinds of fishing because you can watch the fish react to your lure or fly. I use flies that imitate crabs or shrimp and sink slowly or suspend. Weed guards are important since you may need to let your fly sit still after it lands until the fish is horizontal in the water column and can see your fly. When using lures for tailing reds, I prefer weedless-rigged soft plastic bits or lures that sink slowly. A weedless-rigged live shrimp can be cast ahead of tailing fish and let them grub it out of the bottom. When fishing potholes, a jig, a plastic or live shrimp slowly worked along the bottom is very effective.
The lower southeast shoreline of Tampa Bay, north Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, Lemon Bay and Gasparilla sound all have excellent habitat for winter reds and trout. When the tide is very low, wading from pothole to pothole can be very effective. You’ll find sheepshead around docks and oyster bars along Siesta Key and Casey Key. Since sheepshead feed more with their nose than their eyes, live bait will work best. Tipping jigs with tiny pieces of fresh shrimp also works very well and gives you the best of two worlds. You have the ability to cover water to find fish plus the added bonus of the scent of the fresh shrimp. I have actually sight-fished for sheepshead with shrimp-tipped jigs around oyster bars in gin clear water in Little Sarasota Bay.
You may find bluefish on deep grass flats close to passes or around docks and bridge fenders along the ICW. Winter blues tend to run larger than those found at other times of the year, sometimes reaching 5-pounds or more. Jigs, flies and top water plugs will get the job done with blues. Casting a top water plug or fly popper over deep grass is a good way to locate them. Depending on water temperature, you may also find ladyfish, jacks, trout and pompano on deep grass flats. The Middleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats are among my favorite deep Sarasota Bay flats.
In the coastal gulf, look for little tunny, bluefish, cobia and tripletail. Water temperature will be a determining factor. If it’s too cold they’ll move further south. However, if it’s mild you could find a smorgasbord of activity. A stone crabber that I know swears by a good tripletail bite with a southeast wind and not much chop on the surface. I always like to take a look in the gulf this time of the year when it’s calm. We are fortunate to have so many different species of fish to choose from. Whatever you choose to do, do it early and remember to limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service |
