Anglers in unusual position

The weather has heated the water temperatures to the mid-upper 70s, and that's a substantial change from just a few weeks ago.

Every year, we have to wait for the first cold fronts to kick-start the fishing after a hot summer. But it seems we are reverting to the fall pattern instead of changing to our normal winter ways.

Usually at this time, our water temperatures are in the 50s or 60s. Due to the unseasonably warm weather, they are warmer. If you want to be consistent in catching fish, you have to stay up on the changing conditions.

Large schools of bait fish have returned up and down the coast. Most of them have been glass minnows and white bait.

These schools have caught the attention of just a few species -- Spanish mackerel, lady fish, trout, jacks and even some nice cobia.

How can you find these bait schools?

Get out early and look for diving birds. If you don't see them, or the birds haven't found all the schools, look for the mackerel skyrocketing out of the water.

You won't have to go far. Here are a few places to search: south, just off Howard Park; and north, between the power plant and Anclote Island out to the sand bar near the Cotee River and as far as Sea Pines.

One of the schools we fished earlier in the week yielded good catches of Spanish mackerel, trout and a couple small cobia.

Throwing jigs, spoons and other soft plastics got the best results. All the baits used were small so we could match the size of the bait fish.

You will get cut off every once in awhile. But if you don't mind losing a jig or two and use wire leaders, you will get more bites.

While scouting the area, we saw a lot of snook on the flats around the Cotee River. The water was clear. If you can see the snook, they can see you. This makes them hard to catch, so try fishing early morning or late afternoon when light levels are low. Use live jumbo shrimp or live white bait for the best results.

Redfish and snook can be found moving back out to rock piles at the mouths of channels, rivers and creeks. Most area creeks and rivers are holding good numbers of these fish, and changes in the weather conditions can trigger feeding.

We managed to find a few small schools of reds on the flats just south of Green Key and in Sand Bay.

The best way to catch these fish is to locate a school, then figure out what direction they're working. With a stealthy approach, cast small jigs, spoons and flies in front of the redfish, and work them slowly.

Live shrimp or whitebait chummed in front of them will help not only catch reds but keep them in that area.

Offshore, the fishing has improved from 18-60 feet, with scattered catches of grouper, mangrove snapper and kings coming now and then.

I have had reports of good catches of mackerel across the artificial reefs in 20-30 feet of water. These fish are easily chummed and will eat anything, but for the best luck, try live bait.

If you venture offshore in the next couple of days, be prepared for anything.

-- If you have a question or comment, call Capt. Steve Bowler, Fish Tales Guide Svc. Inc., 727-861-FISH.

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