The fishing here along the Nature Coast is great. We have a very good trout bite right now in 1 to 4 feet of water, as a cold front pass by each week look for the trout to move further back into the muddy bays, oyster bars, rocky shore lines, and around springs. The trout are hitting best on jigs and mirrodines 17mr in the 808 and 50 color, they are holding close to the bottom to stay warm. The jigs I like to use is a white zoom fluke or a white ice zoom fluke on a 1/8 oz strike king jig head. Throw out the jig and pop the rod tip upwards while reeling the line back in at a slow speed. The trout will hit the jig as it falls back down from popping the rod tip so keep a tight line. The trout are big very big 17 to 28" and fat.
Red fish are taking second place look for the reds in the same areas as I mention for trout. Cut mullet or live pin fish is the bait of choice. Look for mullet schools for a key sign that reds are close by. If you like to use lures the Mirr O Dine 17MR in the (808) and (50) color have been producing some nice reds. For a soft bait like a gulp shrimp or a mirrolure little john rig with a 1/16oz to 1/8oz jig head casting into and around the mullet schools have been killing the reds just work it at a slow speed the reds will hit them. Size of the reds have been 18 to 27".
Sheeps head and Black drum are here and chewing well. Targeting sheep's and black drum you want to look for deep holes, rocky bottom, and springs these areas will hold an abundance of sheeps head and drum. Live shrimp is the best way to catch these guys. What I like to do with my shrimp is to pinch off the tail of the shrimp for scent, hook size that works for me is a 1/0 circle hook. Take your shrimp and hook it through the tail end of the shrimp, if you are fishing in a deep hole a small split shot for a weight would be a good thing to do. Make sure you all ways keep a tight line so you can fell the fish biting. I like to use braided line on my outfits you can fell every bite 10 to 15 lb power pro is plenty. The offshore rock piles in 8 to 12 feet are holding a lot of big sheepshead I like to use a 1/4 ounce egg sinker and a 1/0 hook as a knocker rig with a small shrimp. Cast close to the rocks and watch your line I keep the bail open and as soon as the line starts coming off flip over the bail and give it a hook set.
