Dan Carns
Winter fishing here can be a little slow, but if you follow a few simple rules you’ll find plenty of success. I know I called it winter, but really compared to the brutal heat of summer it is relatively colder so the fish will be sheltered in coves, potholes, channels and on dark grass-flats. Kayak fishing is inherently a slow sport to start with, so we’re not likely to pull up stakes and travel five miles to the next fishing hole. This is where patience pays off and while I have been accused of not spending enough time in one spot, winter is an exception to my hunting mentality.
As you prepare for the day consider maybe a later start so the sun has a chance to warm up the flats and give a little extra heat to the water column. Trout are notoriously finicky on a chilly January morning, but if you’re patient and anchor up on a known trout flat, spotted seatrout that is, you will see them begin to rise and feed when the sun is up over the water a bit. The dark grass or mud absorbs the sun’s rays and lifts the temperature just enough to start the morning feeding frenzy. You’ll want to slow any presentation down to a crawl, literally dragging any rubber baits or live baits across the bottom or reeling any hard twitch-style lures slowly through the mid-water column. Same holds true for snook and redfish, yes you can catch both in the cooler months, but you may have to present baits or lures right in front of them and be patient as they decide whether or not to spend any energy going after it. When I’m with clients at Gulf Coast Kayak and we can’t seem to entice a bite in the usual hotspots, we’ll anchor up in one of the many boating channels along the Matlacha Aquatic preserve, stuff a shrimp backwards onto a 1/4 oz. jig head and slowly drag it across the channel. This one method will practically guarantee that you catch something, but you may have to move up or down the channel a little bit to find them. Oyster bars are another winter time haunt, as we have fewer schools of baitfish around but plenty of fish food hiding amongst the oysters and using very shallow water as a defense against getting eaten. Again patience, time and a kayak’s stealthy nature will help set you up for success in the winter.
It goes without saying that if you’re working on your artificial techniques, you know speed, cadence and presentation, then continuing to hone your skills in the winter time will make you a better angler, as it really forces you to be extra diligent in your presentation. You may be reluctant to bring live or frozen bait, but if the goal is to catch fish then baits will increase your chances greatly.
It’s A Wild World-Get Out There!
Fishman Dan