Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By ED WALKER, Times Correspondent
Published December 31, 2007

Winter inshore fishing action can be very good if you modify your techniques to fit the conditions. When the temperature has been moderate and stable, you'll find spotted sea trout and redfish in very shallow water on lively grass flats. Look for flats that have mullet, diving birds such as osprey, and gamefish. Empty flats can be remarkably fishless during winter.

Find your way back:Once you locate a productive area start casting soft plastic jerk baits as you drift with the wind and current. This subtle lure will catch redfish and trout and can cover a lot of area in a short time. I use a GPS plotter when drifting large flats. When a few fish are caught I mark a waypoint on the plot screen. At the end of the drift a line across the plotter screen shows your exact course which is helpful for lining another pass.

Adjust for the cold:When a cold front comes through the temperature on the flats drops significantly, chasing shallow water fish to deeper water. On the cold mornings, focus on channels, rivers, and deep holes. The cold slows the metabolism of the fish, so switch from artificial lures to live shrimp.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@lighttacklecharters.com.

[Last modified December 30, 2007, 19:48:09]