Redfish action has been steady through the area this past week. They have been finicky a bit and tough to find in a feeding mode, but most of the success has been around shallow sunbaked flats, mangrove shorelines and dock lines. It appears the incoming tide is working well this past week as well. Live shrimp has been a great option on light tackle, but slow-moving soft plastics worked well too. Remember, when the water is chilly like it is now the fish are moving super slow and are looking for baits that are slow movers too. They will not chase down a fast retrieved lure when they are cold so if you think you are retrieving that paddle tail, fluke, or shrimp soft plastic slow enough then slow down even more and you could be getting close enough to the speed they are looking for. Once you find the fish, find the speed, and stick to that speed as you look for other fish. Long casts to areas you see fish or think there may be fish has been key as they are very leader shy and spooky. If you get to close, cast a shadow, or create vibrations they are much less likely to eat if not, totally scatter.

Snook, like the redfish, are looking for those slower moving baits. They are even more so affected by the cooler water temps, and they are very lethargic. This is the time of year cut dead bait works well for both species. Night dock light fishing is also a good option for snook this time of year especially if you can find those older underwater lights that tend to radiate more heat. These things will warm the water around them and hold lots of fish especially at the bottom closer to the light’s edge. During the day, residential dock lines with sunbaked seawalls in wind protected canals have been working well to find actively feeding snook. However, the right tide is key and finding those fish ready to eat has most to do with not only a little warmer water and the right presentation on your bait but that right tidal window too. Use your tide charts, apps, or tide sites to find the solunar times and observe the difference in action on those solunar major and minor times. Often the best action will coincide with either the major or minor solunar time frames or near them. I like the ‘smart fishing tides’ product salt strong has because it not only shows the solunars but breaks down the days to assign them scores and even the hours of the day to assign hourly scores on when the best time to fish will be for that area based on moon phase, weather, and tidal solunars.

Trout action has been spotty but seemingly improved this past week. We are seeing a lot of these guys around our local passes and beaches. Plus, the back bay waters around those shallow flats, oyster bars, mangrove shorelines and dock lines too. Again, to reiterate, moving your bait slow is key for most any inshore species right now due to those cooler water temps. Live shrimp, small pinfish, and white bait have worked well this past week for the trout action. Find those edges, drop offs, potholes, or cuts around the flats for the best chance at finding concentrated trout action.

Sheepshead around the area are still biting very well from the seawalls to rock piles of the bay any where you can find some structure with some growth is working well to produce sheepshead action. Smaller shrimp, cut oyster, clams or crabs have been the go-to baits of choice for those targeting sheepshead. Local bridges too are great places to find hungry and plentiful sheepshead. When the weather is tough, and the water is stirred up like it will be Saturday afternoon or into Sunday then it’s a great time for sheepshead fishing around protected areas like bridges, canals, or fishing from shore on a pier or dock.

Black drum have continued to bite well around the area where you can find them. Dock lines, bridges, and occasionally the flats. You will find the hungry black drum sometimes in big schools sometimes cruising alone or in pairs. Shrimp is a great option for them but if you want to target them cutting some medium to large crabs in half and sinking them to the bottom around larger local bridges is a great option to get you a big black drum hook up.