Capt. Jim Klopfer
Winter is a transition month here in Florida. Cold fronts will be much more severe and impactful. While still warm relative to the other parts of the country, dropping water temperatures will have fish moving to their winter haunts. Successful anglers recognize this and adjust their tactics accordingly. The grass flats will still produce excellent fishing, though fish will move a tad deeper. This is especially true after a couple of nice days. Strong fronts will shut the fishing down for a couple of days. Submerged vegetation in 6’ – 10’ of water will be the most productive spots. Drifting with the wind and casting a soft plastic grub on a ¼ ounce jig head is a very reliable technique. Water quality is very important when fishing the flats in the winter. Flats near the passes will be dirty on the incoming tide after a few days of strong wind churns up the Gulf of Mexico. The same applies to open and exposed bays. Finding clean water will dramatically improve the odds for success.
Snook and Jack Crevalle will move off of the shallow flats and backwater areas and into creeks, rivers, and residential canals. This is a great time to target these species as they are more concentrated in those spots. Other species such as juvenile tarpon, snapper, and reds will move into theses warmer, protected areas as well. The best approach is usually to fish with artificial lures that allow anglers to cover a lot of water. Shallow diving plugs are terrific for this. They have an excellent action and usually do not snag as easily. They are also deadly when trolled slowly. A 6” soft plastic jerk bait on a stout 1/8 ounce jig head is another productive lure.
Docks are hot spots for winter anglers in Florida! They provide cover and are often found in deeper water. Just about every species will be caught under docks in the cooler months. The best docks are in deeper water, on drop-offs, structure breaks, and have good current flow. During days when the wind blows hard, protected docks often offer the best opportunity to catch fish.
It is tough to beat a large, live hand-picked shrimp for fishing docks in the winter months. Sheepshead, drum, flounder, snapper, redfish, snook, jacks, and other species will devour a nice, big shrimp. Free lining the shrimp using a #1/0 live bait hook works very well. Anglers can add a split shot or two or even a small egg sinker if needed. The shrimp will produce best if presented with as little weight as possible to allow it to swim naturally.