Mixed Bag

This week's trip saw a lot of species coming into the boat. Before water temperatures dropped into the 60's, snook were still biting well. Live chumming mangrove points and moving water along creeks were the best ways to locate them. Still using the free lining method with 30 lb test and a 3/0 circle hook produced fish with live pilchards. Good numbers of trout were in 4-6 feet of water over grass flats with spotty bottom. Look for these fish to be laying in sandy holes near the edges of the grass and drop offs. Live shrimp gets them going and bigger fish were caught on live pilchards. Trout love the sound of a popping cork; use that to your advantage when fishing an area to help bring them in. Spots that you were catching snapper in are now seeing lots of sheep head. They like rocky and oyster bottoms that are lying next to mangroves. They prefer shrimp or fiddler crab on a number 1 hook and light leaders with a split shot. Most red fish caught this week were either just under or just over slot. They are eating both shrimp and pilchards. I have been seeking these fish at higher stages of the tide in creek mouths deep in the mangroves. Fish were caught on the bottom with a split shot and using a popping cork. As water temperature continue to cool down and cold fronts continue to move through make sure you slow down your fishing and give the fish a chance to come out and eat.