Wintertime fishing can be a challenge for many anglers, however it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to succeed.
With this in mind, let’s get started.
Just Go
As a matter of fact, many times during the winter conditions won’t be perfect. It doesn’t matter, as long as it isn’t dangerous just go, get out there.
The fact of the matter is that you can’t catch fish from the couch. I’d rather be out for a bad day of fishing than a good day watching TV anyway!
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are very active during winter months, that being the case you can catch a pile of fish in short order with a bucket of shrimp or fiddler crabs.
Even on the coldest of days, it seems like if you find some oysters, barnacles and structure and you can find sheepshead ready to play. Henceforth, they’re practically everywhere.
Redfish
Redfish are another very reliable target for awesome wintertime fishing, they don’t mind the cold. Just like with sheepshead look for structure, namely oysters and shells, then target them with shrimp, crabs or cut bait.
I have caught a ton of reds on shrimp, I have caught even more on cut bait.
For redfish stories and more information about reds, check out any of my other posts, for instance:
This is to say nothing of my many other earlier posts that deal with redfish.
Note:
Redfish do taste great, however because of the red tide events of last summer they are currently closed for harvest in my area. In contrast, sheephead are a great alternative as they taste great and are open. To see all the closures, rules and regulations in your area, visit the website of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Consequently, I tend to be a pretty lazy guy so I don’t usually end up filleting fish so I usually don’t have to deal with this.
Recent Wintertime Fishing
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times; just go. My last few trips were hardly pristine conditions, cold, overcast skies, blowing 15 out of the west. Very not good days to be on the water. Despite this, we’ve been catching a ton of redfish and sheepshead. Believe it or not, our last trip even produced a few nice snook as well!
Forecast: Variable mix of sun and clouds combined with winds 10-15 mph with a moderate chop. Chance of redfish, high.
To put it another way, we slayed.
In Conclusion
Finally, take care of yourself and your gear. Dress for the weather, hence, wear waders if you have them and try to stay dry. Hence, the same goes for your rods and reels.
Certainly take this time to re-stock on leader, hooks, jigheads and lures. Similarly, get your reels re-spooled, clean and grease them thoroughly and do whatever you can to care for your vessel as well.
I love wintertime fishing, but hold on because it only gets better, only a few short months until Spring and Summer. We can get there with this in mind!
Until next time, Tight Lines!