By: Caitlyn Gatrell
Winter has been a bit rough for our local waters during this 2026 season. Rough in the sense that it disrupted our marine environments, put a damper on fishing trips, and even killed off some of our wildlife. The temperatures have been pretty low a lot of the days, and the cold isn’t something our area is used to too well. Here and there, yes, but this has been more intense, and our fisheries have been feeling it. Not to mention, there have been some pretty low tides displacing species as well.
The early February freeze brought chilling temperatures to Southwest Florida, some areas in the feels-like of the 20s. Water temperatures have also even hit the 50s at times, making it pretty uncomfortable for some species. Species such as catfish, snook, and tarpon have been found dead in various areas of Southwest Florida due to the cold. Some regions have even seen deeper wildlife like mutton snapper floating at the surface.
The freeze definitely has affected the fisheries, as it made lesser chances at hooking up to fish. Some are still biting, but others are hiding, moved to warmer areas, or unfortunately didn’t pull through. Not to mention, the cold temperatures and windy conditions don’t make for the best trips on the water. If you have the right gear it’s doable, but as someone who’s braced it before, it’s not very enjoyable. And for businesses that rely on fishing, like fishing charters, this time is a little harsh.
If anything, right now is a better time for sight-seeing trips, island walks, shell searching, and camping trips. Take time to immerse yourself in nature with a break from the heat (but make sure to stay warm!). It also will help maintain fish populations with their sudden impact by not further decreasing anything.
We haven’t been out much this winter, especially right now, but I’m really looking forward to the warmer temperatures and fishing trips soon. I want the fisheries to bounce back and for marine life to thrive. I also think it’d be a good idea to monitor the populations if the freezes continue and more fish lives are lost. Perhaps even temporary regulations can be put in place to make sure they can repopulate before fishing is good again or people harvest hurting species. Time will only tell what will occur!