It is official, our first true cold front has made its way through Southwest Florida. This cold front dropped our air temperatures into the low forties and dropped our water temperatures into the low 70’s/ high 60’s in a few areas. This drastic drop in water temperature will certainly cause a few changes throughout the area. Will the tarpon schools still be off our beaches? Does this mean sheepshead fishing will get good? What will happen to the offshore bite?
Well I guess we will start with the first question as I have been asked quite a few times this week about it. Yes, most of the tarpon are now or already have started their push South, as the cold front approached. It is not to say a few fish will not still be around, as we do have our local populations that are here all year long. However, the days of targeting them in my estimation are done till we get into the April 2021 timeframe.
One thing the first true cold front does is bring in a bunch of sheepshead. These fish will be on all the wrecks, rockpiles, and even markers in the nearshore waters. Those targeting them in our back bays will find plenty of them on just about every dock, bridge, and oyster bar that we have. Your best bet as far as bait and tackle is concerned will be fiddler crabs, shrimp, and even a barnacle. The size of your hook can make all the difference in your success. Typically, when targeting sheepshead specifically, I will use as small as a size 2 hook with a simple split shot about a foot up the leader. Should you find that you have found some good size sheepshead, you may need to go bigger, as they can sometimes bend out the smaller hooks.
The offshore boats will find that many species that they had previously targeted out in 100 plus feet of water will have moved in shallower now. This pattern is fairly consistent every year as water temperatures drop into the low 70’s. Red grouper, mangrove snappers, lane snappers are now caught often in water as shallow as 50 feet. Gag groupers will begin to be found on the rock ledges from as shallow as 30 feet on. Trolling for gag grouper is popular around here using large deep diving plugs. Pulling small feathers will also give anglers the chance at some kingfish action at the same time you are trying to catch gags.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com Fort Myers beach, Fl
239-313-1764
Oh baby its cold outside
