Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you can’t fish.
Depending on where you fish, winter action on the inshore scene can range from nearly nonexistent to pretty darn good. Without a doubt, you’ll find greater opportunity in Southern and Gulf Coast waters than in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast this time of year. But even in the warmest regions along our coasts, all it takes is a heavy cold front pushing through to dull the catch rate substantially.
To be sure which species of fish bite best is a question of location during the winter months, just as it is any other time of the year. Northeast anglers, for example, find slim pickings on the inshore grounds from mid-November through March these days. That requires them to focus primarily on offshore bottom fishing, usually around ledges, wrecks, and similar structures where ling, scup, black sea bass, and cod are the primary targets while their seasons remain open. Most of this action is beyond the reach of private boaters, so you’ll likely have to pay to play on an open boat or charter vessel if you live north of Virginia.
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By comparison, anglers departing from ports along the Southeast and Gulf Coasts generally enjoy easy access to inshore species like sea trout, sheepshead, redfish, and southern flounder while those in the Florida Keys and Everglades can cut jacks, snook, tarpon, grouper, and a mess of other species into their plans with reasonable expectations of success.
No matter which species you choose to target between the start of January and end of March, the primary keys to cashing in follow similar themes. In short, you’ll need to dress appropriately to handle the weather, scale down the size of your lures and bait, and focus on locating the warmest water you can in the areas you plan to fish. Being winter,
it’s also necessary to choose your days wisely realizing that windy weather can be just as much a problem as any cold snap.
In terms of dealing with temperature fluctuations, it’s vital to take notice of trends if you hope to set the hook often enough to keep yourself warm. Fish are cold-blooded and their metabolism slows as water temperatures drop. A sharp or prolonged decrease can cause them to feed lethargically or to simply ignore your offerings. Thus, it’s a good idea to focus your efforts as much as possible during warming trends. Even a rise in water temperature of two or three degrees can spark your quarry to feed with a little more abandon—several days of successive rises in temperature can set off a feeding binge.
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Conversely, sharp cold snaps often have the opposite effect, shutting down the bite. Even during dropping temperatures, though, there are still options on the inshore scene. Areas protected from wind tend to stay a little warmer than those that are fully exposed. Places with moderate current may run a degree or two warmer than nearby waters that are pushing harder. Because it’s dark, mud or rocky bottom heats up quicker than surrounding waters, while holes or channels adjacent to flats allow fish to easily slide into deeper water to escape a fresh chill and return to the shallows as they once again begin to warm.
Scaling down your tackle, bait, and lures is another smart idea. With winter waters often crystal-clear and fish metabolisms slowing, fishing lighter and employing fluorocarbon leaders which seemingly vanish in the water can be a positive influence. Many species prefer smaller baits as the temperature drops during the winter months, and they may be less inclined to chase fast-moving lures, which is one reason live shrimp often catch better than fast-moving lures with enticing action during the winter months.
If you still would rather throw lures, however, reduce the size and slow your retrieve. On the coldest days, you might even want to simply drag a small jig or grub slowly across the bottom to trigger more strikes. If all else fails, sweeten that offering with a small piece of shrimp as Old Man Winter can be stingy with purists.
-by Tom Schlichter
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