Typical weather patterns the past few weeks have been windy days, cold mornings, and slightly warmer afternoons as a result of cold fronts passing through. The constant change in weather can stir the fish up and change the bite from day to day. This time of year people like to visit our great state, looking for a chance to warm up, catch some fish, and serve it for dinner. So let's talk table fare.
Our sheepshead are different from those caught up north. They are a mild tasting fish with a white filet that are great fried, broiled or grilled. They can be found along mangrove edges, oyster bars, and on near shore reefs and rock piles. Their preferred bait is shrimp on a knocker rig, tipped on a jig head or just on a 1/0 hook with a split shot.They really like fiddler crabs as well and are very crafty at stealing your bait.
Redfish are great broiled or blackened, especially on the grill. Lately they have been eating white bait, cut pin fish, or mullet and live shrimp. Floating a cork along the mangrove edges around points and creek mouths with current has worked well. I have caught a few on the edges of oyster bars that meeting grass flats as well.
If you like good action, and need to keep the kids entertained, then trout are what you want to hunt. Drop offs on the edge of grass flats in 2-6 ft. of water will hold these fish. Popping corks with live shrimp have been the trick to get the bite started. The bigger fish have also been eating live white bait. Because sea trout are a fatty fish, make sure to cut the fillets in finger sized pieces when choosing to fry them.
Good luck hunting down your next meal and warming up in the afternoon sun.
