Season closes this month, however catch and release fishing can be good if it isn't too cold. Trout season remains closed in December in the south region but you might find them in potholes or around creek mouths. Reds should feed on shallow flats on sunny afternoons this month. There should also be plenty of action in the coastal gulf, particularly early in the month. Look for king and Spanish mackerel, little tunny, bluefish and tripletail close to the beach.
Snook season closes this month on the west coast of Florida. You might find snook on shallow flats on warm, sunny afternoons in December. When it gets cold, they'll move into rivers, creeks and canals to find warmer water. Jigs or plastic baits fished slowly near the bottom can be effective when snook are in those areas. Night snook fishing in the ICW can be very good this month. Choose peak tidal flows for the best action. Small white flies, jigs and plastic baits will work well. I like the flats of north Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound for snook in December. The ICW from Sarasota to Venice is one of my favorite areas to fish for snook at night.
Trout season also remains closed this month in the south region (see FWC regulations at www.myfwc.com for details). As the water cools, you'll find trout in potholes and along drop offs. The edges of sand bars and flats are good areas to find trout in cool weather. I like to fish jigs and plastic baits on spinning tackle or weighted flies on floating or sink tip fly lines depending on the depth of water I am fishing. When drifting deep grass flats, cast ahead of your drift with jigs or flies to locate fish. Concentrate on drop offs and holes when the tide is low or following a cold front.
Reds are one of the heartiest species that we have, but even they can be affected by drastic changes in temperature. When the tide is low, you'll find them in potholes and along sand bars. They will move onto shallow flats to feed after the sun warms the flats in the afternoon. Although extreme low tides in the winter can make it tough to get from spot to spot, it will concentrate fish and make them easier to find. Instead of fishing 100% of the water to find fish, you might only need to fish 50% or 60%. This is also a great time of year to wade and sight fish for reds. I like to target reds beginning at a negative low tide when they are most likely to be in potholes and along sand bars. As the tide rises, they will move onto shallow flats and sand bars to feed where you may be able to sight fish them. Cast jigs, spoons or weighted flies to locate them.
Reds may tail on shallow flats of Gasparilla Sound when the tide is low. Although they are feeding when they are tailing, they can still be very challenging. Use a weedless-rigged plastic bait or a fly with a weed guard, like my Grassett's Flats Minnow, so you can let them sink into the grass. When reds are tailing cast your lure or fly close to their head. You can make a delicate presentation close to the fish with a fly rod, but with spinning tackle you may need to cast beyond the fish, reel your bait across the surface and let it drop close to their head. When their tail disappears and the fish is horizontal and searching for food again, give your lure or fly a slight twitch. Don't move it much, just enough to get their attention and be ready for a big bite! I like flats of north Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound for reds and trout in December. Little Sarasota Bay between Sarasota and Osprey is also a good winter area for reds, trout and snook.
You should find more variety and fish that are easier to catch on deep grass flats. In addition to trout, you may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano, flounder, jacks and ladyfish. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with a jig, a plastic shrimp and "clacker" float combination or a weighted fly on an intermediate sink tip fly line. Make a series of drifts to locate fish and then shorten your drift to zero in on them.
Fishing the coastal gulf can also be good in December, particularly early in the month. On calm days, I like to run the beach looking for little tunny, blues, Spanish mackerel and tripletail. You may find tripletail on crab trap floats, around buoys or floating debris. A plastic shrimp or a fly that suspends or sinks slowly presented across the nose of a tripletail may result in a hook up. I like to run along a line of crab trap floats until I spot a tripletail. I'll then approach the fish with an electric trolling motor into the wind, so I can maintain control of the boat. If I approach from upwind, the wind may push me on top of the fish and spook them. Look for surface activity to find blues, mackerel or little tunny. Once you've located them, cast jigs, top water plugs, weighted flies, Crease flies or fly poppers. I've found some big feeding frenzies during December along the beaches. Depending on weather, you might even find tarpon in the fray.
Fishing can be good in December, particularly early in the month. Weather will be more of a factor, so choose your fishing days when you are able to. Fish ahead of an approaching front or fish sunny afternoons following a front for the best action. When it's calm, take a look in the coastal gulf. You may find something really good going on! Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com