A Total Backwater Adventure

Screaming Reels

By Capt. Andrew Medina

As we get into December, you will notice some changes in the way you will have to approach fish in Charlotte Harbor. The first major change is the water temps. It?s no longer summer or even fall; the water is much cooler than before. Start your day on the water a little later in the day. Give the fish a chance to get their body temps up, with the warming of the sun. Fish will feed better if they are comfortable, unlike a night of below 60 degree water. Start your day looking for fish warming on the flat. The water is shallow and will warm faster than deeper   water.  What you will notice is that the fish will slow on eating patterns, no longer eager to chase bait. What I usually do this time of year is, put the nets away. I really do not rely on white bait or pin fish now. I switch over to the old time favorite, shrimp. You will find everything eats a shrimp, and is hard for fish to refuse it, even in the toughest conditions. Down sizing your baits and tackle will improve your chances also.  Start out by making sure you can make long cast, with lighter artificial or small shrimp on a jig head. Fish in the shallower water will be weary to an angler?s presence. Long casts will be the key for sight fishing in December. Fish such as redfish will still move with mullet schools. What you will find now is that all the redfish that are grouped up will be in the same size range. Flats are not the only place fish will move to, they will also travel to deeper canals, where they can hunker down in a hole. If you are unable to fish the flats, because of low winter conditions, fish the canals. The last thing you want to do is spend 4 or 5 hours waiting for a tide. Try checking canals like the P.G.I rim canal or any of the deeper canals of Grassy Point. Snook, Redfish, and Trout will often visit these canals. And stay there till the water warms to there liking. Shrimp bounced on bottom is often a deadly approach. Snook season closed on December 1st, but still a lot of fish around for catch and release action. Fish docks, and any points of canals that a moving current is present.  Basically, slow down and give the fish a chance to eat. Don?t be so eager to get out at first light and you will have a good chance at a great day of fishing. I would also like to take a chance to thank all the students of the Murdock Middle School who attended the Don Ball class. It was fun, and you guys were one of the best classes I have had. Hope you all keep fishing and use some of the tools that you have learned. Sorry, about the final exam. Also, I would like to congratulate Paul Lambert and Brandon Varney, for there wins in the Xtreme championship. As director of the Charlotte Harbor division I know you have done your homework and deserve the win. Bigger and better things are in store for next years Xtreme redfish series; hope to see a few more faces out in the field. Making the sport we love grow even more.