Southwest Florida Inshore Fishing Forecast for December 2005

 

            You might have a chance to sleep in a little longer during December. Many times, particularly following fronts, fishing will be better later in the day as the water warms a few degrees. Trout and reds will pile up in deep holes when the tide is low and reds may tail on shallow grass as the tide begins to flood the flats. Fly fishing for snook at night is usually hot during December, but they are out of season beginning December 15 (catch and release only). In the coastal gulf waters, you might find Spanish mackerel, little tunny or tripletail depending on how cold it is.

            Snook fishing can be good during December. I do very well fly fishing for snook at night in cooler weather. The exception would be immediately following a front, when they may head for deeper water and not feed much for a few days. When the water temperature dips below 60 degrees or drops drastically, I leave snook alone until it warms up.

    Small white flies, fished on intermediate or sink-tip fly lines are very effective. You’ll also find them around docks, in creeks and canals and around oyster bars and in potholes on warm, sunny afternoons. Jigs and plastic baits worked slowly or larger profile flies will work best in these areas.

Reds and trout will be found in the same areas at this time of the year. When we have negative low tides, like we do most of the month, they will concentrate in potholes. It can be like fishing in a barrel. Jigs with a variety of plastic tails or Clouser flies fished on a sink-tip or a floating fly line will work well when fishing potholes. I’ve often seen small crabs in the mouths of snook, trout and redfish, so crab patterns and plastic crab imitations would be another good choice for pothole fishing. Trout season remains closed during December, so handle them gently.

When conditions are right, usually a negative low tide in the morning with not much wind, reds will tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla and Pine Island Sound. Weedless-rigged plastic jerk worms or flies with weed guards that sink slowly or suspend will work best for tailing reds. Cast as close to the fish’s head as you can while it is tailing and when the tail disappears (fish is horizontal) twitch your jerkworm or make a quick strip with you fly and hang on. Sometimes you’ll spook the fish, but I’ve seen them charge the fly just as hard. Gasparilla and Pine Island Sound in Charlotte Harbor are my favorite areas to fish for tailing reds. You’ll also have good pothole fishing there and in north Sarasota Bay and the Terra Ceia Bay area.

Fishing docks with jigs or Clouser flies on sink-tip fly lines is another good technique to catch a variety of fish. Reds, mangrove snapper, flounder and sheepshead maybe found around docks when the water is cold and the tide low. Sheepshead feed more with their nose than the other species, so sometimes tipping a jig with a tiny piece of fresh shrimp will make them easier to catch. I prefer docks that are deep, have hard bottom and are located in an area where they get a good tidal flow.

You may find tripletail, Spanish mackerel and bluefish in bays or coastal gulf waters. If it gets too cold they’ll move further south, but many times they are around during December. Look for surface activity to indicate the presence of blues and mackerel or fish over structure, which will usually hold baitfish. Sometimes you’ll catch them by blind casting over deep grass flats close to passes or in passes. Jigs on spinning tackle or flies tied with synthetic materials on long shank hooks and fished on sink-tip or full sinking fly lines.

Tripletail should be around crab trap floats or buoys, either on the surface or just below the surface on the anchor line. Live or plastic shrimp, shrimp fly patterns or dark baitfish patterns fished on a floating or sink-tip fly line will get the job done.

There may still be some little tunny (bonito) around, especially in early December. Look for breaking fish or terns hovering close to the surface of the water to find them. You may see them porpoising out of the water chasing baitfish, much like Spanish mackerel will do, only they have a wider profile and usually create more of a commotion. Jigs on spinning tackle or Clousers and Crease flies on fly tackle will work for these speedsters. The key is to duplicate the size of the bait that they are feeding on. A couple of years ago, little tunny were plentiful during early December and were even in the passes and on deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay.

Don’t be afraid to change your game plan to adjust to changing conditions during December. If it’s cold following a front, sleep in a little longer and fish in the afternoon. Protected coves and shorelines may be a few degrees warmer than windward shorelines. When you have negative low tides, take advantage of fish being concentrated or target tailers when the tide rises. Night snook fishing is usually a good option for fast action unless it gets real cold. 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.

(941) 923-7799

E-mail snookfin@aol.com

www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com