Angler's Outlook: Warmer weather gives anglers late Christmas present

By RED STIER, Special to the Eagle

January 12, 2005

Last week I wrote about the cool, windy weather that was slowing offshore fishing. I said what we needed was an extended warming trend.

Well, the ink was hardly dry when we got just what we needed: warmer weather, clear skies and slightly warmer water.

Offshore anglers were able to put some red, gag and a few black grouper in their boxes, along with some lane and mangrove snapper. They used cut mullet, squid, cigar minnows and live bait, including pinfish, minnows and crabs near the bottom.

Other successful grouper grabbers continued to troll deep-running lures and large jigs over the various wrecks, near the towers and locations with good bottom. They added some kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bonita, barracuda, bluefish and large jack to the day's excitement.

There could be an increase in the patches of bait from the passes out, increasing the number of large bull redfish running the nearshore wrecks and fish havens. Capt. Joe Barbee measured one at 35 inches.

Black mullet season in now in full swing, attracting additional large snook, redfish and shark at the beaches, passes, riprap sea walls and up at the Naples Pier.

Our backwaters and flats should be producing nice-size trout, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, mangrove snapper, snook and whiting, all with a fine food value. Don't forget, snook have to be released until Tuesday, Feb. 1.

I would drift the flats with popping corks rigged with live minnows or shrimp. Don't rule out using a tipped jig with the popping cork. These corks come weighted or unweighted.

I would have both types in the tackle box and use the one I was most comfortable with.

Working the outer shoreline of the Ten Thousand Islands with live bait or jigs, then moving inside and hitting the points of the islands, should be productive.

Sheepshead and black drum will be found near the bottom.

A deep hole can sometimes produce a mother lode for these species.

You might want to downsize your hook or jig if you are not hooking them. The midday hours could be best for productive fishing on most fronts.