As we inch our way closer to spring, we can only dream about those long stretches of light winds and comfortable temperatures.
For now even though we’ve been fortunate this winter with mild weather, we’re still dealing with that persistent cycle of cold fronts. High winds will keep you off the water for a few days and if you’ve been lucky enough to get out on the water between fronts, it’s definitely been good.
Kingfish anglers should be getting excited as reports of baitfish, Spanish mackerel and a few kings are beginning to be more frequent. Anglers fishing the Skyway piers are catching a few mackerel and the occasional kingfish; this fishing is going to explode right around the first of next month.
Windy conditions leave only one option for inshore fishing, dock hopping. Finding a stretch of fish-holding docks on a lee-side shoreline can be a gold mine, or better yet a red mine. Redfish naturally love structures and deep docks are prime habitat. Live shrimp work great, but be sure to get extra, as the pinfish will take their share.
I’ve found that if there is a redfish or any other predatory fish hanging under the dock they will grab the bait before the pinfish tear it up. So let this be your indicator of when to move on to another dock. Other likely dock regulars are black drum, sheepshead, gag grouper and mangrove snapper.
If the wind lays down this weekend like it is suppose to, you should be able to get out and drift the flats for trout. There has been plenty of good sized trout along the deep grass flats around Tierra Verde. Drift fishing with a Cajun Thunder and DOA shrimp combination has been very effective.
Tyson Wallerstein can be reached at capt.tyson@hotmail.com. If you have a fish picture you would like to see published in the newspaper, send it with your name and where it was caught, to: “Fish Tales,” Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772, or e-mail it to editorial@TBNweekly.com.
