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Cold weather slows action on the water

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

It's been another week "reeling" from cold weather. Area bait and tackle shops are reporting slow business, as anglers opt for warmer and more fruitful pursuits.

Look to the rivers and backwaters immediately after the fronts, as fish abandon the flats and open Gulf to hole-up in deeper, warmer retreats.

While their appetites are somewhat stunted, they will eat providing the meal is made easy. That means slowing down retrieves when using artificials. Jigs are king now, as they can be worked deep, where the fish are. Just use slow, slight twitches of the rod tip so the cold-blooded creatures you're after will be able to catch it.

Live shrimp is the king of winter live baits. When fishing deeper waters, trip a split shot or two above a hook with no floats. Hook the shrimp just under the horn and cast it like a lure, letting it settle. Use a slow, very slight twitching retrieve similar to working a lure. Keep the slack out of the line and be prepared to set the hook.

Dunedin Fishing Center (727) 738-5628: Fishing the back side of Sand Key near Clearwater Pass was producing some good numbers of whiting for anglers fishing frozen shrimp and Love's tandem-rigged jigs. Fish have been running to 14 inches, and a number of silver trout to 12 inches were taken in the same area. Pet Beach has been another spot for silver trout and whiting, two species abundant in the cool water.

Silvers to 13 inches and whiting to about 12 inches have been taking live and frozen shrimp and jigs.

Pier 60 (727) 462-6466: With water temperatures below 70, anglers have been having a field day with whiting and silver trout. Fish are running 10 to 13 inches, taking frozen shrimp and Love's tandem-rigged jigs. Sheepshead have been another good bet at the pier. Fish 3 to 6 pounds have been reported. The action is around rocks and pier pilings, where shrimp and fiddler crabs have been the top baits. A few small bonnethead sharks have been landed.

Redington Long Pier (727) 391-9398: Whiting and silver trout have been the main attraction. Whiting have been running 10 to 13 inches, and the silvers 10 to 12 inches. Both have been taking live and frozen shrimp. Some spotted trout have been taken, though they are out of season and being released.

Salonika's Bait and Tackle (727) 849-6377: An angler who frequents the shop reported landing a 30-inch snook fishing just above the Main Street bridge on the Cotee River. He was using a live, jumbo shrimp around a dock. A number of reds, from top-slot size to oversized, were reported by anglers fishing Salt Springs, just north of the Cotee River. Fish have been in the shallows and taking live shrimp.

Anglers fishing the grass flats west of the stilt houses, north of the Cotee River, reported taking some trout to 18 inches. Fish have been in 5 to 6 feet of water and taking live shrimp under popping corks.

Nick Stubbs is founder and webmaster of Bitetracker.com.

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