Bulldog Fishin inshore report

Brrrrrrr! The cold weather did not let up at all last week. This constant blast of cold air has kept most anglers inside and not on the water. As you guys know, I am a fishing guide out of Hernando Beach and my phone did not ring from clients looking to book a trip. Probably because you would have to be insane to get on the water to brave these elements. Not only is the weather down right cold, but there has been negative low tides to contend with for most of the week. I got a case of cabin fever last week, so I called my good friend and fellow guide Capt. Joel Gant of Fish Daddy Charters. I invited him out fishing and he accepted since he to was in need of a fishing fix. We had to wait for the tide to move in a bit before we could navigate the skinny waters of Aripeka so we decided to work the cuts at the Hernando Beach channel and some of the near by rock piles like Gomez Rock. The water Temperature was holding in the lower 50's in these areas and the fishing was slow. As a guide I have learned that when fishing in conditions like this you have to be patient and persistent. I have found that by fishing slow and targeting numerous locations you will find fish. Once the tide allowed us to move in, we hit some deeper cuts in the backcountry and tossed large select shrimp fished on small jig heads. We were able to get some sheep head and red fish to bite. The bite slowed so we slowly worked the mangrove shore line tossing a variety of baits and lures. The majority of red fish were holding in 8 - 12 inches of water on muddy bottom. The muddy bottom holds the heat and provides a nice warm bed for fish. This bottom held good numbers of mullet and redfish. We also found jack crevalle and lady fish that were on the move and actively feeding on bait fish. Silver spoons were the hot lure for the jacks and ladies. They say that 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water and that is a fact especially in these conditions. Anglers brave (or foolish) enough to battle "Old Man Winter" will be rewarded with tight lines if they slow things down, target the right areas, and above all are patient. TIP- Remember to layer clothes and over dress when your on the water during these cold days. You can always dress down rather than being cold. It is alway colder when you get on the water! Good luck out there and tight lines! Capt. Keith Tomlinson Bulldog Fishin Charters www.bulldogfishin.com (352)238-3581