A new year has begun and right on cue we’ve got back to back cold fronts moving through Southwest Florida. These fronts will drop temperatures into the low 50’s and bring strong winds from the Southwest prefrontal and the Northwest postfrontal. This means offshore is probably not going to happen as there will be 15-25 mph winds till late week. Likewise, the nearshore chances will be diminished greatly leaving only the inshore, back bays, and rivers as good places to fish.
Lucky for inshore anglers we can hide around islands for wind block and venture into creeks and rivers to find action. Redfish, sheepshead, black drum, trout, and jacks will be the main targets during this time. Catching your own bait may be an issue with the water being silty in areas. Those that don’t mind throwing the net when its 50 degrees outside a few times, may find it chumming on some of the flats. Our water will be stirred up in most areas and won’t clean up for a few days after these big blows, but you’ve got other options. Shrimp, crabs, even sand fleas may become your best friend during these times. Using cut baits such as ladyfish will also serve anglers well. Fish will be using smell, over sight with the murky conditions so using a cut bait can often get their attention.
Finally, this week of cold weather should get the pompano bite going full speed next week. Other cold-water targets such as or sheepshead should start filling in our reefs and inshore fisheries nicely and become bigger. There has already been a good push of black drum moving into our area, but the water dropping an expected 10 degrees should beef up that population as well.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
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239-313-1764 Fort Myers beach