By: Capt. Rachel Cato
Winds of change are blowing in this month with a wicked force. Water and air temperature will fluctuate as cold fronts sweep down from the north. Best strategy is to change tactics throughout this month. If you aren’t catching fish where you did before the fish probably moved. Red tide was a big concern for the Gulf Coast this entire summer. Fortunately, the waters of Terra Ceia Bay, Miguel Bay, and the Manatee River were spared. Due to massive fish kills along the gulf coast beaches and surrounding areas, snook and red drum are closed completely through May 2019. As the water temperature drops, snapper will move off the flats and shallow shoreline into deeper water and can be caught all winter long. Snapper will eat any bait but to catch the larger size use shrimp and live sardines. These fish can be so very picky or indiscriminate depending on what mood they are in. If I know there is good fish around I’ll change up hook size and leader and wait until I’m able to start catching fish consistently. Often lighter and smaller is better when the current isn’t strong but adding a small split shot or sliding weight will get deeper in heavier current. The key to this species is more bait the better. Heavy chumming of love to cut bait will help to school the fish up to a feeding frenzy. Just keep in mind the limit is 5 fish per person and 10 inches minimum. Spotted sea trout get extremely active as the water cools, gathering in large schools. Generally, if you catch one decent fish there is a lot more down there. In the past I will keep no trout under the size of 17 inches this time of year. Even though the slot limit is 15 inches minimum and 1 fish can be over 20 inches. Total allowable is 4 per person. This limit changes all through Florida so know the boundaries. Mangrove snapper and Trout have been the go-to fish for taking home for dinner.