By: Capt Roanz and Capt. Rich A
Merry Christmas from Roan and Rich at Reel Nautical Jigs. Hope everyone has a great Holiday and had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This month is the perfect month to talk about trout and our other wintertime species in Southwest Florida. We have the Jig for you called the Foxy Lady, and it is not only a work of art but catches everything, especially when the water temps start dropping and you need to slow down your presentation. This little beauty comes in 6 fish catching colors and 3 sizes from 1/8 to 3/8 ounce. My favorite color for trout would have to be the Pink Passion, but we have literally caught trout and many other species on all our colors. These move even when they are not being worked everything undulates seductively when retrieved and stopped on the bottom. Might suggest tipping the jigs with a very tiny piece of shrimp or use Procure Gel for smell it will help catch the pompano and the sheepshead.
The month of December can be a great month for trout, pompano, sheepshead, and redfish. Snook are also here and if the temps stay warm then they are easily catchable since they are feeding up for winter. Trout in particular, is a heavily sought-after species this month, great on the table and inhabiting any of the drop offs adjacent to the flat’s areas. If you can locate a drop from the flats from 3 to 6 feet and if there are some deeper areas close to that usually this is where they will be. There will be a host of other fish like pompano, jacks, and ladyfish. The trout may be up roaming the shallower flats if the weather is warmer but if temps drop considerably, they will dive for the deeper channels. Redfish will be in the mangrove shorelines and on the flats and in the smaller tidal creeks in bends and eddies. The Foxy Lady jig will work in all the above locations, however, size and color will be the key to your success. If you do happen to get a limit of trout, an easy recipe is dip in egg wash then Progresso Italian Breadcrumbs, sauté in a pan of olive oil and butter. Get them nice and crispy!  Hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a Happy New Year, see you in 2026.
We invite you to see our full line of Foxy Lady Jigs at one of the local Bait and Tackle stores like Mikes Bait House, Marco Island Bait and Tackle, Rio Villa in Punta Gorda. or check them out online at www.reelnautical.net or drop us an email: reelnautical239@gmail.com