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Daily fishing report

Acombination of low morning tides, cool water and the lack of baitfish have made for tough fishing on the flats. The afternoons have proven more productive when the water temperature rises a degree or two and the water creeps back around the mangrove roots.

Inshore species such as redfish, spotted sea trout and snook have a small window of opportunity to feed during cold fronts, and timing becomes important. Species such as ladyfish, bluefish and jacks feed actively all day. All these fish like artificial baits. When bait is scarce, jigs and jerk baits often produce remarkable results.

A quarter- to half-ounce gold spoon is a versatile lure that can cover a lot of water with little effort and typically good results. Plastic jerk baits and curly tailed one-eighth-ounce jigs are effective on silver and spotted sea trout as well as redfish. A quarter- to half-ounce artificial shrimp fished around piling and dock structures should produce snook, even this early in the year.

Artificial baits are an effective tool for locating good concentrations of fish. If the bite slows on the jigs and lures, switch to live baits. As the water temperature drops, certain species are stressed because of a slower metabolism. They should be returned to the water quickly and handled as little as possible to help their chances of survival.

-- Capt. Dan Brooks charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 867-7856 or by e-mail at captaindan@baysbestcharters.com.

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