February 2010
Hopefully we don't experience any more of those cold fronts we did in the first weeks of January. Water temps dropped to the lower 40s and stayed there for three to four days. This resulted in massive fish kills.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued executive orders to close the snook season from January 16th through August 31st. Read entire news release here: http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_ColdWeatherSaltFishKills1.htm
Normal water temps in Feb. should be around 60 degrees give or take a few.
Trout and redfish will be the major target for this month. Start looking around the most popular areas, like the spoil islands. Drift around patchy grass and sand areas till trout are found. Stake out and fish that spot for additional catches. Then, move on and try another area. Don't invest too much time if there is no action. There are too many places that are holding good numbers of trout.
I will be throwing my go to 1/16 oz. jig head w/ a cal plastic tail. Use darker colors like root beer, dark shrimp and dark crab type. The fish are sluggish and will not attack an aggressive bait fish. Slow it down.
Find grass flats of about 3 to 4 feet deep with patchy sand areas. If you find the redfish, look for trout in the same area and vice versa.
Redfish will be scattered in shallow water flats up next to land areas. Find them at lower tides and follow as they move to the oyster beds. The bite is slow, but they should eat a live shrimp.
Take it easy on the fish this time of year. They have already had a tough winter.
Capt Gary Burch
www.AllCatchCharters.com
7274586335
