By: Caitlyn Gatrell
Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in the Hook ‘Em in the Glades fishing tournament again in Everglades City, thanks to sponsorship by Coastal Angler! Each year as I prepare for the tournament, my team and I head down and go fishing some days before to get an idea on what’s going on in the area and to make sure we know where the fish and bait are at! I got the perfect idea for this article as I was participating in one of my practice days.
While Florida doesn’t have much seasonal change down here, there’s still a way to feel a change in the air. Going boating and fishing is actually one of the biggest ways I can feel that change. For one I’m usually covered in sweats because it can get quite chilly out there! Especially if you’re driving fast or you’re out during dawn and dusk hours. The air feels crisper and cooler, the water splashes are colder and skin crawling, and the gorgeous scenery still shines, almost more golden and colorful. And of course, the main takeaway this time of year is we now have those early sunrises and earlier sunsets.
Some species come out to play more and others we aren’t seeing as much. Redfish for example, they definitely have been seen and hooked up to more recently, and the same goes for trout. We even still see our big game fish like tarpon rolling around, but they have been a little harder to get to bite. Overall, it’s a great time of the year to do fishing tournaments that focus on reds and trout.
In addition, it’s prime camping season for many down here in the islands! I’ve written more in-depth articles on island camping, but with cooler temperatures and less mosquitoes being out, it’s an excellent time to go. We typically set up our camp and then go fishing, and once it gets dark we head back to the campsite. And then repeat the next day. It is pretty cool to be sitting in your chair by the fire, with your rod in the holder when you hear it go off and get ready to jump into action. I recommend to give island camping a try to everyone at least once!
Peak winter can be a little rough out there because it’s usually pretty chilly and sometimes it can be windy. And sometimes the fish seem to hide a little bit. But there still are fish to be found and adventures to be made, even if you just get out for a joy ride. A lot of the wildlife also is out & about at times, so you can really be immersed in nature. It truly is natural beauty!