Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By JIM HUDDLESTON
Published December 23, 2007

What's hot: With water temperatures reaching normal winter ranges, inshore fish will hang around structures to feed. The most consistent bite during the next two months will be speckled trout in the 3- to 5-pound range. They attack artificials worked slowly across the bottom. Larger oyster bars that face south often hold heat from the afternoon sun on colder days. By keeping a good cast away from the structure, repetitive casts with a weedless bucktail or soft plastic jig can draw aggressive strikes.

Redfish fall for darker artificials. A freelined select-sized shrimp is the best live bait. Tail-hooking these crustaceans allows for a farther cast and looks natural when slowly popping it back to the boat.

Pro's tip: With so much angling pressure on speckled trout, anglers can increase the hook-up ratio by downsizing tackle. Superbraids in the 10-pound test range expand the casting distance.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at 727 439-9017 or at jim@captainhud.com.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 23:37:29]