Southwest Florida Inshore Fishing Forecast for January 2006

 

Fishing in Sarasota Bay in January can be like fishing in a barrel. The negative low tides during the weeks of January 1^st, 15^th and 29^th will concentrate reds and trout in potholes. It’s also a great time to fish docks for reds, snook, flounder, sheepshead and more. Tides and weather are the two biggest factors and they are especially important during January. Time your fishing trips so you’re fishing ahead of fronts or after a front, consider fishing protected water on a sunny afternoon.

Snook season will remain closed during January, so this is catch and release fishing only. Snook are protected during January because they are vulnerable to cold weather. An extended freeze will stun or kill them, so I won’t catch and release fish for them following a freeze or an extended period of cold. However, fly fishing for snook at night with small white flies can be fantastic during January. The area known as ‘snook alley”, near the Venice Inlet funnels the tide and creates an excellent feeding situation for snook. I prefer docks close to the edge of the ICW from Siesta Key to south Venice.

Another place to hunt for snook is in rivers, creeks and residential canals. The dark bottom will soak up a degree or two more of heat, which makes a big difference for snook in the winter. You’ll find them under docks or in deep spots, which will usually be on the outside bends. I prefer to fish jigs, plastic baits and flies slowly along the bottom in these areas. When you are fly fishing, you’ll need to use a sinking or a sink-tip fly line. The Manatee River, Bowlees Creek, Whitaker Bayou, Philippi Creek and South Creek are a few spots that will hold snook in January.

Reds and trout will pile up in potholes near Long Bar, the Terra Ceia area and in Gasparilla Sound when the tide is at it’s lowest. There may be a small window when this happens and when the tide rises enough they will spread out on the flats and be harder to find. You may also find flounder in these holes. I target them with jigs fished slowly along the bottom. Find a protected cove on a sunny afternoon and you may find reds and trout feeding there in the slightly warmer water. A gold spoon or a jig with a shad tail are good lures to cover a lot of water to locate fish.

Reds will tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla Sound on negative low tides as the tide starts to rise. Look for tails and cast weedless-rigged jerk worms or flies with weed guards or flies that will suspend. Cast close to the fishes head when it is tailing and move your lure or fly when the fish is horizontal.

I will also fish docks for a smorgasbord of fish. Reds, snook, flounder, sheepshead and jacks may all be feeding under docks. You may need to fish a lot of docks to find the one that consistently holds fish. My favorite areas for this is along Siesta and Casey Keys or the mainland side of Roberts Bay, Little Sarasota Bay or Blackburn Bay. Look for docks that are deep, have a shell or hard bottom and a good tidal flow to locate fish.

Timing is everything during January. You might sleep in the day after a front and go out in the afternoon. Take advantage of low tides to concentrate fish or snook fish at night on the strong tides. 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