February is a tough month to fish. You will see both ends of the spectrum. You will have calm warm days, when the fish are schooled up and chewing good, and then you will have days that are cold and windy, and the fish are lying on the bottom, lock-jawed. We can’t always choose the perfect days to go; we go when we can. Here are a few tricks to help with this month.
I know I talked about the Paul Brown Devil in last month’s article, but we are still in the same type of pattern, so this bait will still produce good numbers of redfish and trout. Another bait with the similar action that I like to throw at these redfish schools, at this time of year, in some pretty skinny water, is a Zman scented streakz. You throw this bait on one of Zman’s ezkeeper weighted weedless hooks. Lead the school of fish when you make your cast and wait for them to get to the bait. This bait is made for a slow retrieve, as well, and 90 percent of the time, is hit on the pause.
This time of year, you really want to focus on rock and oyster bottom, and that dark muck bottom we avoid any other time. These areas that will hold more heat, and will draw fish to them. It may only be a few degrees warmer, but it will make a huge difference. I like to spend most of my time around Lutrell Island and behind Drum Island, just south of the barge canal. You will be able to find the right areas that will hold these fish. The warm water discharge from the power plant also helps in this area.
When the fish are lethargic, and don’t want to touch anything, pick up a Zman BTB jig or scented shrimp. These baits are my go-to when things get tough. When I can see the fish just lying on the bottom, I will pitch one of these two baits a few feet past them, and slowly bring it into the strike zone, leaving it just short of their head. The moving water will take care of the rest. Do not hit the fish or bring the bait too close, you will spook the fish, and have to find another. This technique can be very tedious, but it is very rewarding when you get it done.
If you are ready to come explore our area, give me a call and we will book your trip. Until next month, have fun, be safe, and take your kids fishing.
Capt. Craig Spitznogle
Florida Flats Charter Company
(352)445-4978