For many anglers across the country, February usually means punching holes through feet of ice, or taking a break from fishing all together, but on the west coast of Florida, February can be a great time to get out on the water and enjoy a hot bite. Sheep head and trout are two mainstays for this time of year and the cooler weather tends to gather these fish up, much to the delight of anglers âin the knowâ.
We typically target the sheep head around rock piles and oyster beds in anywhere from 6 to 15 feet of water. The cooling water tells these fish that it is time to school up and prepare for the annual spawn, that takes place in mid to late February. The best way to target these fish, is to anchor up near the desired structure, and fish with shrimp or small fiddler crabs on the bottom. The bite can be very subtle, so braided line with a light fluorocarbon leader is the best way to go when targeting these notorious bait stealers. I have my customers fish with a knocker-rig, which allows the 1/2-ounce egg sinker to slide up and down the leader freely, so that the fish does not feel the weight. The rig is finished off with a 1/0 hook. I suggest trying to hide the hook in the body of the shrimp, so that the fish canât see it. This technique is a great fishery for kids, as the bites usually come often, and the broad bodied fish put up a great fight on light tackle.
The trout will be most easily found around the mouths of the local creeks and rivers, near the higher part of the tide. I prefer to throw both jigs and hard baits, to give the fish several options before switching to the most productive technique for that particular day. The old stand-by for these fish is a shrimp under a cork, and many times that will still be the best way to catch lethargic trout. Be patient when targeting winter trout, as many days, they will only feed on a particular part of the tide. Calm weather between cold fronts, and sunny days, will always produce the most trout, as these fish are very sensitive to cold.
With a little bit of knowledge, you can enjoy some great âoff seasonâ fishing trips out of the Crystal River area.
Capt. Clay Shidler
ClayShidler@Yahoo.com