Tampa Bay Fishing – Locating fish during the cold fronts

How to find fish in during the cold fronts

Well, here we are almost in the middle of January and just like clock work, the cold fronts continue to push through our region here in Tampa Bay. It is a nice relief to break away from the warm days we get down here in Florida, so a nice cold front is always welcomed. Afterall, it will not be to long before our dog days of summer will be here, so we tried to enjoy it as much as we can. As far as the fishing is concerned during these cold months, it can be some times challenging, but it does not always have to be like that. Just like with anything else you do, you always have to make adjustments to have a successful outcome. Whether that is a sport you play, hobby, or just life in general. This includes fishing as well, such as targeting different species with different baits. For example, those summer time Snapper spots you have will carry Sheepshead this time of year, and all you will have to do is adjust on how to target them. Instead of going to your Snapper spot with pilchards or white bait, bring some shrimp or fiddler crabs instead. You can still use the same tackle such as 20 lb fluorocarbon leader with a split shot or knocker rig to target sheepshead but using a piece of shrimp or fiddler crab to get them to eat. Sheepshead can be found just about anywhere a snapper may go, whether that is hard bottom, reef, or even structure like a bridge or dock piling. Just like snapper, Sheepshead are great table fare and are awesome fighters when they start getting in that 20 inch range as they try their hardest to get back down into the structure you got them to eat in. They thrive off of the colder months as the Bay cools down, since they come into our area pretty thick to spawn before heading back into the deeper water.

Another cold water thriving predator is the Speckled Sea Trout. Sea trout are one of my favorites to target on my Tampa Bay Fishing Charters due to the availability of them and the rod bending action. They make great table fare as well if your looking to make some fish tacos for the family. They like to feed hard during the colder months as they prepare for their spawn. It is not uncommon to catch multiple fish in one spot as they like to group together. Same approach is needed though during the cold months on locating these fish. In the summer time they will be more on  the flats swimming in the grass and pot holes vs during the colder months they will congregate in the backcountry, channels, and creeks, so adjust your location accordingly. It is not uncommon to target the big gator trout (over 20 inches) we call them, on the shallow water sands looking for its meal. It is a real thrill when approaching the swallow sands in search of them because you can sight cast and watch them eat, this setting makes it rewarding from the start of the cast to landing the fish in your boat. For this shallow water approach using a gulp shrimp or DOA Shrimp lure will work quite well compare to fishing them in the creeks in which I like to get them chummed up with pilchards.

Match the Hatch

The next species we like to target during the colder months on our Tampa Bay Fishing Charters is the Red Drum also known as Redfish. To target these fish during the colder months there is a saying called “match the hatch”. These means when locating these fish in your area, look around and see what is swimming around in the waters. This could be creek chubs, pilchards, minnows, mullet, and crabs. Whatever your seeing try and use something similar in profile to the bait source around you, because that is what they are feeding on. Redfish can be located in just about the same areas as the Sea Trout this time of year, which is the shallow sands and also backcountry creeks and channels. If your looking to eat a nice blackened Redfish meal these are great areas to check for the winter months. If your tried some targeted areas you have searched out on Google Maps and have had no success, do not get discouraged. Move around a bit until you see life such as birds, bait fish, mullet and crabs. I normally give a spot about 15 minutes or so and if you get no hits keep moving. After all fish have tails and they do move a lot so staying determined and dedicated is important when seeking these sought after prize possessions. When locating Redfish on a flat, especially on the negative tides, I like to look for birds. If you approach a flat and notice the Ibis, herons, or pelicans, then you know your in the right area. Travel the flat with your trolling motor or push pole along the sandy edges until you spot your bait source or see a fish. After that its game on, deploy your baits and wait to see if you get a hit. If not keep moving another 15 yards or so until you get in them. Always make sure your in the “highway of your bait source” with the tides. Adjust accordingly your boat position if the tide is coming in or out. If coming in keep bumping inward towards land and if an outgoing tide bump outwards towards the bay. These fish like to sit in pretty shallow water so the right water depth is crucial. As far as the backcountry, channels, and creeks are concerned any point, pocket or passes that have moving water will be my go to in search for them.

Last but not least is the Tampa Bay Snook. These fish can be quite hard to get during the colder months, but if you plan accordingly you will be successful on your next fishing adventure with these tips. Snook are a species that thrive off of warm water. This is good and bad because during these months they are known to move around a lot in search of the warmest water they can find. The good is when you know you have an area that is the warmest and you know they will be there because you can actually see them swimming around because that is the warmest waters they can find but the bad is getting them to eat. Finding the warmer water is half of the battle but getting them to eat is the other half. I have found it successful to plan to target these fish a few days after a cold front during this time of year. After the cold front the water cools down quite a bit which then makes these fish move to warmer waters to survive. If you wait a few days after a front, this gives the water temperature time to climb back up to the degree where these fish like to eat. I have found that around 70 degrees is the best for them, even though at times we have caught a couple in the 67 to 69 degree range, that 70 degrees is magical. Once you have located them, using cut bait like mullet or ladyfish can be key as the snook do not like to chase down their meals during these cold snaps. However, if you timed it out with the weather and you have the warmest day  of the week, my go to will be a live well full of pilchards thrown at them. They usually will take advantage of that brief warm up to eat as much as they can to preserve energy for when it gets colder again. Even though they are out of season to keep during the winter months they still are a great fighting fish and it is not uncommon to get that trophy snook from 35 to 42 inches this time of year. Some warm areas I like to target for them is any thing that attracts heat and holds heat. It may be a piece of concrete in the water, rocks, oyster beds, muddy bottom, or even some moving water in a pass/ creek. It is important to remember when catching these fish that you handle with care with a good release so they can be caught another day.

In conclusion, again the main thing to remember is to adjust. Whatever tactics, baits, and locations you tried during summer, throw them out the window because during winter time none of those things will matter, at least consistently. After all it is fishing, and that is the beauty of it, you just do not know unless you go and try it. We offer Flats and Bay Charters out of Tampa Bay on a Black Jack 224 center console Bay boat, and will be happy to take you out on the beautiful waters of Tampa in search of these species if you need a hand on learning on how to target them on your own one day. Tightlines!