by Capt. Sam O’Brien
Happy New Year, hope all your dreams came true in 2017 and a bright outlook for 2018.
January and February generally mean that we can expect some of the lowest tides of the year, which can present some big problems for us. On the other hand, this can translate into a great opportunity to get out and explore our best fishing areas in more detail on a very low tide. It will help us get an idea of what the lay of the land is like and the trails the fish may be traveling.
You will be able to pick out the deeper holes and even find some places that are only a few inches deeper than the surrounding land. Remember fish are cold blooded and on hot or cold days the few inches may make the difference in whether you hook up or go home empty. A quick reminder, if you do go exploring for future fishing holes, go slow and keep your motor down. That way when you hit ground you are still floating and can raise the motor, turn around, and leave.
Sheepshead have moved in with the cooler water. Look for them around oyster bars and any obstacle that is covered with barnacles. These table delights will take a small piece of shrimp, whether on a bare hook or on a small jig head. This same small jig head tipped with shrimp will also work for pompano.
Redfish schools have broken up but they are still around. Look for them under the mangroves and over the oyster bars. Cut bait or shrimp will work best for them since they are odor feeders and not sight feeders. As a general rule, anytime you are working the mangrove shoreline, the further under them you can drift, the better chances you have. All the trout will be on the grass flats. Perhaps a little later in the day may work better, as the grass flats will tend to heat up faster as the sun climbs. Here again if you drift a shrimp or minnow under a cork you should do just fine.
If a lure is your choice, be sure to slow your retrieves down. When you think you are doing just right, reduce that speed in half again and you are probably there. Bouncing a grub tail off the bottom is a good bet when using the above method.
If you see a flock of birds working an area, there is a good possibility that they are over either a school of Spanish mackerel or ladyfish. Either one will give you a nice fight and Spanish are good eating.
Regardless of what your fish of choice is, they are still here. You will probably have to work a little harder to find them, but they are here.
Good luck and keep safe.