December fishing in Tampa Bay is so much fun because of the diversity of our fishery. You can wade fish the flats stalking redfish and trout, or you can head up into the rivers in search of snook.
When I’m red fishing on the flats, I’ll use soft plastics such as a four-inch paddle tail. I like a bait called Matrix Shad (www.matrixshad.com) which comes in a variety of colors and rigged on either a 1\8 or 1\4-ounce jig head. Two of my go to colors on the flats are Ultra Violet and Magneto–I’ve caught many redfish, trout and snook on these two colors. However, I usually bring a couple of darker colors just in case the fish are wanting something different that day.
Bait can be tougher to find in December. Sometimes it’s on the markers and sometimes it’s not–you just never know. That also goes for the Skyway Bridge, so bringing a live well of frisky shrimp is a must in December in Tampa Bay. I also bring a small bag of frozen cut thread fin for snook and redfish because, during the winter months, snooks’ metabolism slows down and they don’t chase down bait as much but, will sometimes ease over and pick up a small piece of cut bait for a quick meal–it’s always good to be prepared.
I will typically have a live-well full of frisky shrimp for the sheepshead and other species, if I’ve been having trouble finding the bait. But, I really enjoy tossing artificials, and December is a great time to do that. The nice thing about wintertime fishing is that you don’t have to start out at daylight. Sometimes, it’s actually better to let the sun heat things up, which is when the fish become more active.
The sheepshead love the cooler temps, but just make sure you have moving water. I like the first two hours of either the outgoing or incoming tides. Again, pursue snook up in the rivers. If you bring a live well of pilchards, you’ll keep the rod bent all day. Lastly, stop off at a few docks for the reds. They may be looking for a free meal to get them through the holidays.
Before the year ends, take a few days off from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and go splash the boat.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Tight Lines.
Capt. John
Capt. John Rivers operates Rivers To Bay Fishing Charters out of Tampa Bay and Tarpon Springs. With 18 years guiding experince and over 40 years of fishing knowledge, he can assure you a professional / fun fishing adventure. Single or multi boat trips available. www.tampabayinshoreguides.com
captjohnrivers@gmail.com
727-313-1781 