By: Capt. Billy Norris
Winter has finally showed up in Southwest Florida, and the cooler temps have turned the bite on both nearshore and in the backwater! With a mix of large predators and plenty of stuff for the dinner table, this time of year is a favorite for everyone! Even though a few extra articles of clothing are needed, the steady bite makes it all worth it!
As the Gulf cooled down, the big sharks moved in thick, with bulls, lemons, sandbars, and even the occasional tiger giving anglers long runs and plenty of screaming drags on the wrecks and hard bottom.  Mixed in with the shark action have been some quality cobia and tripletail, a classic Southwest Florida winter combo around structure and surface debris. There have even been some decent schools of permit around, although most of the fish in those schools have been on the smaller side. The mangrove snapper bite has also been solid! The water has been incredibly clear lately, some days being able to see the bottom in 40 plus foot of water! This being the case, make sure that you dumb your leader down a little. I recommend 12-pound fluorocarbon leader to fool the mangrove snappers. The only catch-22 to that, is that if you hook anything besides snapper you are almost certainly going to get cut off.
Gag grouper fishing has been strong on the nearshore ledges, with keeper fish coming on live bait and bottom rigs, and there have been plenty of spanish mackerel to keep rods bent between grouper bites. Â The cooler water consolidates bait on the reefs this time of year, which is exactly what keeps the grouper, mackerel, cobia, and sharks all stacked up within easy charter range.
In the backwater, winter patterns are setting up with good numbers of sheepshead around docks, seawalls, and structure, along with a steady mix of snook and redfish on the right tides. Â Live or fresh shrimp pitched to pilings and edges has been a reliable way to bend the rod when the water gets clear and cool.
Snook and redfish are sliding into their winter haunts, holding tight to deeper holes, creeks, and mangrove edges where the water stays just a bit warmer, giving anglers sight-casting and live-bait opportunities on calmer days. Â This combination of inshore species has made for action-packed half-day and family trips even on cooler mornings.
February is shaping up to be a prime month, with the sheepshead bite expected to really peak as more big fish pile onto the nearshore reefs, passes, and heavy structure. Â Anglers who like steady action and great table fare will be in the sweet spot, as winter sheepshead fishing is often some of the most consistent of the year in Southwest Florida.
February trips with Pale Horse Fishing Charters should offer everything from light-tackle fun to heavyweight battles for visiting and local anglers alike!