Fishing

Offshore report

Dropping water temperatures play a major role in fishing this month. Most Decembers, you have frequent cold fronts passing through the state. Some migratory fish leave, heading south or offshore. Other species flourish.

King mackerel are far from impossible. There might not be as much action along the beaches, but count on a scattering of fish 10 to 20 miles offshore. Many of the wrecks holding bait schools attract late-season mackerel.

Temperatures play a big role when deciding where to fish. Shallow waters close to the beach will be the first to cool, and after the water falls below 65 degrees, kings leave. Offshore, the water temperatures remain tolerable to kingfish, at 65 or higher most of this month.

Some of our best days kingfishing have been in December. You can't count on the action to be consistent, but when you locate the fish they cooperate. December kingfish eat as if it is their last meal, ravaging baits. This is probably because they are looking for food before finishing their migration to the Florida Keys for the winter.

Cobia and sharks pretty much leave the inshore waters after temperatures drop below 70. We have witnessed a big decline of these fish from three weeks ago. We recently have caught some of each about 15 miles offshore, and the temperature was about 73 at that depth. The only place cobia are found in the colder months are around the warm outflows of power plants.

If we do have a warming trend, don't be surprised if game fish appear in waters that have been cooled. This is unlikely, but it happens. I witnessed this two years ago in December about a mile from the beach. We thought kingfish season was pretty much done, as water temperatures had dropped to 65 degrees. But after about two weeks of warmer than normal weather, a push of fish showed up. The kings were huge, averaging about 25 pounds with even bigger ones mixed in. And they were aggressive.

The cooler water also gave them more speed and fighting power. Some of the drag-screaming runs sounded as if the reel would melt. It was unbelievable, having three and four big kings on at once, catching one one after another for hours. The a cold front came through, ending the action for the winter.

Gag grouper fishing peaks this month. The depths of 30 to 40 feet are starting to produce decent numbers of fish. Patience is a virtue when bottom fishing close to shore: You can sit over a shallow rock for 15 minutes without a bite. Anglers monitoring tides and water clarity will come home with the most fish in these shallower depths. Temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees seems to be the best for gag grouper in 40 feet or less. The time to target them is the first part of this month.

In 50 to 60 feet are some great places to target reds and gag grouper during the winter. Legal-sized red grouper can be found mixed in with the gags, but they are not nearly as abundant. Most the reds average about 18 inches and have to be released unharmed. They grow quick, so be careful removing those hooks. An 18-incher that is released today could be on your dinner table next year at this time.

Farther offshore, gags will be available. On your way out, monitor the sonar machine for bait. Depths of 80 to 100 feet hold massive schools of sardines and pinfish during the winter, and it's one-stop shopping for live bait when you find these huge schools. The wrecks in more than 100 feet hold some nice gags.

Amberjacks will be the focus soon. Already a few have trickled over some wrecks. More will follow, as winter weather approaches. When the water thermometer reads 68 offshore, it's time to start poking around the springs and wrecks.

Monitor the thermometer on your depth sounder carefully this month. If you don't have a thermometer, be sure to put it on your Christmas list, because it keeps you in the fish more often.