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Angler Should Adjust To Cold Weather

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: November 18, 2008

Updated:

The weekend cold front sent water temperatures plunging once again, which means fish have to adjust to their chilly environment. The bad part is fish don't feel so much like expending energy and chasing food in such times, which means anglers have to adjust, as well.

Offshore anglers don't have it as bad, particularly if grouper are the target. They will remain active and feeding until surface water temperatures drop well below 60. Often the water is warmer on the bottom than the surface, which is another factor offshore.

Look for grouper to be as shallow as 25 feet of water now, though they will inch their way to deeper water as fronts continue to bring water temperatures down. The front pushed surface temps down to just below 70 in 65 feet of water west of Hudson, so there still is plenty of mercury to spare for those looking for grouper.

Offshore temperatures have not dropped enough to send mackerel and kings south just yet, though time is running out for these migratory species.

Inshore, it's time to start thinking about the rivers, canals and creeks, as well as back bays and bayous. While the coastal shallows chill quickly overnight on cold nights, they also bounce back quickly with a day of bright sunshine, even if the air remains cool.

Snook, reds and trout will look for deeper holes and channels. While offshore water temperatures are more stable, keep in mind a front like that experienced over the weekend can drop shallow-water temperatures as much as 15 or 20 degrees. Once the outside flats and shorelines get down to 60, you can count on snook and trout to be somewhere else. Redfish are a little hardier, so it is not unusual to find them sticking around until water dips well into the 50s.

The first places to test after a big water temperature drop are the channels and holes just inside creeks and rivers. Our fish do not commit to a big movement up the rivers and creeks unless there are a couple or more days of deep cold, so often their stay in deeper water is temporary and close to the Gulf.

Remember to slow down baits. Fish are not as energetic, being cold-blooded, which means they move slower the colder it gets.

The good part is a couple days of warm weather, and all those fish that have been eating and moving little will rejoice by having a feeding frenzy.

Tackle shop roundup

Masters' Bait and Tackle, 727-945-7191: Anglers were finding trout near the pier at the Anclote power plant outfall canal. Fish were running 15 to 18 inches and taking live shrimp. A few pompano have been landed at the plant in the mornings, with fish to 15 inches taking tipped jigs.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: Mackerel have been reliable, though the size has dropped. Fish to 14 inches are typical, with only a few making it to 16 inches. Silver spoons, Gotcha Plugs and shrimp have been good baits.

Redington Long Pier, 727-391-9398: A few snapper to 12 inches are being reported, and there still are a few kings being landed. An angler fishing outriggers from the end of the pier took a pair to 25 pounds last week.

Nick Stubbs is founder and webmaster of Bitetracker.com, a fishing Web site specializing in daily fishing reports displayed on animated fish tracking charts.

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