This time of year the early bird doesn’t always get the worm… January is one of my favorite months to fish (especially for redfish) and being able to sleep in a little longer than usual can be nice. There’s no need to get on the water super early this month as the fish will be chewing better after the sun gets up and the flats start to warm up a bit. A mid-day low tide this time of year is a Northeast Florida angler’s dream come true. Redfish will be schooled up and low tide is the easiest time to find them. Look for flats with dark colored bottoms and creeks with an abundance of oyster bars. As long as we don’t get the heavy rains we had in 2014 the water will be pretty clear so you’ll be able to see the fish but you can also locate them by looking for “muds” or small fleeing baitfish and shrimp. Don’t worry if you don’t own a super shallow water skiff, these fish are still accessible. Most decent size creeks in the area have small “flats” on their banks on extreme winter low tides. Use the trolling motor to work slowly as far back as possible in the creeks while eyeing the banks for cruising reds.
One very important piece of equipment for this time of year and sight-fishing in general is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. I prefer Costas with a copper or amber colored 580 lens. You’ll be surprised how much of difference a good lens can make. The quicker you can spot the fish the easier it is to catch ’em. My favorite baits this month are small soft plastics like a Slayer Inc. SST paddle tail or a live shrimp both paired with an 1/8 ounce Slayer Inc. jighead. The reason I prefer the 1/8 ounce or even a 1/16 ounce jig is they make less splash when casted and with the clear water we have right now our reds can get a little spooky. This is also a great time of year to bust out the long (fly) rod. Many a redfish and even a few sheepshead will fall to small shrimp and crab flies. Being able to see the fish before you cast makes fly fishing that much more exciting and rewarding.
Slot sized black drum should be a good bet this month in the deeper creek and ICW holes. Fresh dead shrimp or sometimes even better, a fiddler crab fished on the bottom will do the trick. Black drum have smallish mouths and tend to be subtle biters so make sure and wait until you feel the fish swimming away before setting the hook. Speaking of fiddler crabs and light biters, the sheepshead bite should continue to be good through the next few months. Target area bridges and pilings with fiddlers, oyster crabs, or small shrimp. If you’re feeling a little more sporty look for sheepies on the flats feeding on oyster bars. It seems like sometimes every oyster bar you pass by this time of year will have a few munching away just waiting to be caught. Have a safe and Happy New Year!