Capt.Rich Knox longtime fishing guide and fishing charter captain on the West Central Florida Gulf Coast including New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater and Tampa Bay reports with the weekly cold fronts rolling through, the cooler weather has dropped the water temperatures into the mid-50’s to 60*F. these fronts usually roll through from the NW and there winds pound on the beach’s of the barrier island’s, not to mention white caps in the shallow water flats that turn the water into a chocolate milk looking color. These conditions make it tough on anglers, the northerly high winds that follow are cold and prevent all the tide from coming in to the area waters ! Try searching deeper water canals and rivers, estuary systems that are protected, if you have to get your fish fix cured ! Artifical and live bait, mostly select shrimp work best in the winter conditions, jig’s in various weights with paddle tail or shrimp immitations along with some jerk shad are good choices, work your bait slowly as the fish are a bit lethargic immediately after these cold fronts lower the water temp’s ! After a couple day’s the fish begin to move back on the flats and if the water remains cool, deep holes and swash channels on the numerous flats may hold a lot of fish, also broken bottom area’s on the flat ! Sometimes drifting the edges of the flat were the grass and sand meet are very productive, when you do hook up using this method anchor silently and work the area you just may have stumbled on to the mother load !
Thomas Lee with a Gator Trout !
Thomas Lee (left) with Capt. Rich and father in law Shane (right) enjoyed a very good day of Spotted Sea Trout fishing on Shanes 60 th Birthday, what a great gift from Thomas ! Thank You guy’s I really enjoyed your company !