Reports off Bradenton have been great. Captains out of southern region reported catching gag grouper to 20 pounds. They also report some great catch-and-release action with red snapper in 140 feet of water. Frozen sardines, squid, and cigar minnows have been most productive. This last cold spell is moving kings to the south, but as bait schools regroup over artificial reefs and wrecks offshore, they’re sure to return along with Spanish mackerel. Deepwater will be mostly unaffected by the cold because of the depth providing an insulation factor. The weather prediction for the weekend is a slow warming trend, pushing the mercury back up into the 70’s, which should bring the action back on target for this time of year. Thanksgiving usually is the peak period for kingfish, and this year should be no different. INSHORE A drop of water temperature of 10 degrees over the past week effectively slowed or shut down the inshore bite on the flats. As a warming trend progresses toward the weekend, look for fish to come out on dark mud flats to sun themselves and get their metabolic rates pumping again. Make your presentations S-L-O-W if you want to catch fish.
Trout are in deep holes, but the season remains closed in the south region for anything but catch-and-release. Anglers working north of Anclote Key should find some great action on specks. DOA Shrimp and Tandem rigged Love’s Lures will be great baits for them. Silver trout are beginning to show in deep pockets near Riviera Bay in Tampa Bay. Deep holes from 14 to 20 feet are the hotspots just outside of the Weedon Island power plant and just to the south. Anglers are reporting sightings of cobia in the vicinity of the outflow, along with jack crevalle, ladyfish, permit and a few pompano. Snook are still shivering from the cold, and have moved into deep canals in residential areas from Pasco to Sarasota Counties. Jigs slowly worked on the bottom along with shrimp imitations should produce well during these last few weeks of the open snook season.
