By: Capt. Bart Marx
As the water temperatures finally begin cooling down, it encourages the fish tomove around more as some fish like the cold water and others not so much. If you are going offshore, look for schools of bait being attacked by the spanish and king mackerel, and you could still run the stone crab buoy lines looking for tripletail. For bottom fishing, I like to use shrimp or small crabs as that seems to be the choice for hogfish to eat and they like the cooler waters. Sometimes, I can find them where I catch mangrove snapper as they like ledges and hard bottom. Along the coast and close to shore, reefs will be holding flounder. Sheepshead should start showing up on those nearshore reefs and ledges as well. If I am inshore fishing, I typically find redfish along the mangroves, and as the tide comes in they tend to go deeper into the roots of the mangroves. Many anglers like to still fish for them using shrimp or pinfish and whitebait if you are able to find it, and when moving back out on the grass flats target speckled sea trout. I like using a bobber and a bait under it, my preference is to use artificials, soft plastics or scented baits. If you locate an area that is very productive, try a suspending bait or a top water plug. I always bring a fly rod along as I can cast most flies that have some weight to them and the fish will attack it. Moving further inshore around the docks and bridge bumpers, there should be some good snook action, and if you get into those areas around the bumpers and piling of the bridges use a half of a blue crab and there should be a black drum to munch on that and sometimes I may even pick up a red drum using this bait.
With the holidays approaching, I have Gift Certificates available for gifts for those that may be coming to visit this winter. I also provide inshore and offshore training sessions. I can also show you where you can take your boat safely without destroying the grass flats. Call me to book a trip with me at 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@alphaomegacharters.com