Change Of Pace!
Tampa Bay is one the best winter fishing areas on the west coast of Florida. It is filled with miles of backcountry, shallow flats, out flowing river mouths and warm water outflows from the power plants. Fish use these areas in the winter time as a refuge and feeding grounds due to cooling water temperatures in the bay.
Snook
As water temperatures start to fall rapidly, Snook head up into the rivers, residential docks, and anywhere that the water temperature is a little warmer than the surrounding waters. Early winter Snook usually feed heavily so they can survive during the extreme cold days of late winter. Frisky white bait such as a greenbacks or threadfins on a Daiichi 1/0 bleeding circle hook with Ohero 25lb Fluorocarbon leader will be a meal no linesider can resist. As the water temperature drops below 65 degrees, greenbacks push offshore. This is a good time to switch to select shrimp. DOA shrimp do a great job as well! Remember to slow down your retrieve.
Redfish
The big fish have moved offshore, but there are still plenty of slot sized reds hanging around. Water temperature does not affect Redfish as much as Snook so they can be targeted and caught year round. Look to find small pods still roaming the flats, but when the north winds are blowing combined with a low tide there is no water to fish here. I have had better luck around structure covered residential docks. Select size shrimp will work great tipped with 1/8 ounce jig head. Also try using your favorite soft plastics matched with a 1/8 or ¼ ounce jig head. This will help you cover more ground in less time. Look for docks with lots of rubble or that look very old. They are usually the best producing docks.
Trout
Trout are a top targeted species in the winter. Find a healthy grass flat matched with live or artificial shrimp under a small popping cork and you will have endless rod bending fun. I also like to use the SS minnow from Fish on Lures with a 1/8 ounce jig head. A slower than normal retrieve is sometimes necessary as cold temperatures make the fish slow down a bit. Remember, try not to handle these fish if you’re not going to keep them. There are some tools that will make it easier on you and the fish, not to mention a good Christmas gift: a de-hooker tool and good set of needle nose pliers.
Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 20 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com. If you would like to catch him on the radio tune into Outdoor Fishing Adventures Saturday mornings from 8AM to 10AM on 1040 sports talk radio. Tight lines!!!!
