From now through February, a lot of us in the eastern U.S. are going to be wistfully looking southward at the balmy temperatures and great fishing found in the Sunshine State.
And while the winter action in Florida is not nearly the same as the amazing anything-you-want tarpon/snook/bonefish/permit/redfish action of spring, summer and fall, it can be very good, especially if the fish in your home waters have winter lockjaw or are solidly locked under the ice.
I was lucky enough to spend some 30 years traveling Florida looking for the best fishing available in every season of the year, and though the opportunities now are not what they were before so many people moved there, there’s still great action in lots of locations.
For Boatless Anglers
No question that a boat of any sort greatly increases your opportunities, but there are some spots you can reach in winter from shore that produce good fishing, as well.
One is anywhere near the outlet of an electric power plant. The heated water that comes out of these plants is a fish magnet, and it’s common to find snook, reds, trout and even cobia stacked up around the outflows, particularly on the coldest mornings when a rare front goes all the way down to Miami Beach.
The bridges across coastal rivers also provide access to good action on snook, reds, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and trout in many areas—find deep, black water in winter and you’ll likely find fish because many of the fish that summer on the flats winter in the rivers.
The many piers can also produce, particularly in the southern half of the state—Spanish, kings, blues and jacks all hang around all winter.
For Kayakers
A kayak is an inexpensive way to greatly multiply winter angling opportunities in Florida—yaks are perfect for the small coastal rivers and creeks where the fish stack up in winter. Since you don’t need a ramp to launch the basic paddle-only models, they also open access to many areas unfished by those with larger boats.
Look for any coastal river or creek—launch from any roadway and head upstream looking for holes deeper than 6’.
For Boaters
A small outboard powered boat—bass boat, crappie boat or walleye boat—can make a fine winter inshore boat for Florida so long as you keep an eye on the weather and stay off open stretches of big open bays like Pensacola Bay, Tampa Bay or Charlotte Harbor. Saltwater won’t hurt your boat so long as you give it a thorough freshwater rinse after each day on the water.
Winter inshore stuff will be pompano, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks in all the shallow passes. If you just want fish to eat, find a bridge with barnacle encrusted pilings, scrape off some of the shells as chum and drop a cut shrimp down to the fish—it’s usually automatic dinner.
Like kayakers, you can also run up the coastal rivers, but follow channel markers carefully—all of them have plenty of unmarked rock piles.
Tackle Basics
Your freshwater bass or walleye gear is fine for coastal fish—10 to 15 pound braid on a medium-light 7’ spinning rod with 6 feet of 20-pound-test mono leader is all you need for most species. If you want to tangle with a large winter snook in the deep channels of the larger rivers, you’ll need heavier gear, 40-pound-test braid and 60-pound-test fluorocarbon leader on medium-heavy rod.
Everything eats shrimp in winter, so a live shrimp on a number 2 short shank hook with enough split shot to allow casting is all you need in most areas. A DOA Shrimp is a close second, and it’s fished just like the real thing—throw it upcurrent and let it drift slowly down, just barely twitching it from time to time. When you feel a bump, set the hook.
Also very good is any brand of soft plastic swimmer tail on a 3/16 to 3/8 ounce jig head, fished in a hop and drop motion. This catches everything from bluefish to pompano to ladyfish to jack crevalle fished in the passes around bait schools roughly from Sarasota south on the west coast, and from Vero Beach south on the Atlantic side.
On sunny days you’ll sometimes find trout and reds easing up onto shallow bars to warm up, and then a topwater can bring on some excitement—the Rapala Skitter V is hard to beat.
Florida Lodging
Florida coastal hotels are expensive and usually solidly booked throughout the winter months, but fortunately there are now thousands of VRBO and Air BnB rooms, apartments and cottages for rent around the state. Split the tab with a couple of other families or fishing buddies and you can rent a three-bedroom house for far less than you’d pay cumulatively for hotel rooms, and also save by cooking at home. These rentals are usually much safer spots to park your trailered boat or leave your kayak on the rack, as well.
— By Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com