by Capt.Steve Hobbs
January is in the rear view and February is here. The weather has been anywhere from 19 to 75 degrees and, at the time of writing, we’ve seen several more days of soaking rain to add to our already wet winter. With all that, the fish have been a little hard to track down but when you find them, they are caught in numbers. The water temperature determines where you will find fish. Sixty degrees and up is where you want to be for non-stop action. The spring fed creeks and rivers at the head stay around 72 degrees so look for the right mix to find your quarry.
Ochlocknee River has been holding large numbers of sheepshead. Fiddler crabs and live shrimp used as bait have filled more than one cooler. The trout and reds are moving around the bars and deep holes so fish slowly on the incoming near-full tide and a limit can be the rule rather than the exception. Keep an eye out for our friends, the manatees, who are also staying in the warmer river waters. If you run outside near structure or hard bottom, the black sea bass should be eating everything from a Gulp to a Stretch 25 so move offshore and have some fun. Remember—take a kid fishing and educate them on the outdoor life style!
Capt. Steve Hobbs
SkeeterBite Fishing Charters
skeeterbitefishingcharters.com
splopscapt@gmail.com
Call or text 850 363-0527