2/10/2025
Birds Eye View: Writing today’s report with a high of 50* and a low of 37* brrrrrr! Don’t let that fool you though. We are certainly on the verge of spring, if the amount of pollen ive had to clean out of the boats the last week or so is any indication. Temperatures are forecasted into the mid 70s most of next week which should provide some great fishing days in the Back Country.
Inshore: Winter sheepshead fishing is slow. A few fish a tide is about all one can expect. Haven’t messed with them in a month or so due to the spotty nature of catching.
Redfish action has been spectacular this past week. Many fish were had in the 20-23” range with a few stand out individuals. Whether shallow or deep that’s been the staple catch. Keeping it simple and varying areas to keep pressure off the same schools has been important. Targeting using live shrimp on a jig head and being very mindful of how much the jig moves has been key. To much action and you’re getting the “Middle Fin”.
Trout fishing has been on the back of my mind right now with the Redfish being so good and consistent. Ive found them still hanging around main river creek mouths. The colder temps have brought in more yellow mouth than speckled trout coming in and less birds to give away their position.
Offshore: Much to my surprise after speaking in favor of the Red Snapper Hot Spot/Study Fleet at the federal fisheries meeting nearly 2 years ago I was selected for 1 out of 5 permits issued to For-Hire charter operators from Cape Canaveral to the Georgia State Line. This allows 36 Red Snapper per boat or a new 15 snapper grouper aggregate bag limit. I declared my first of 4 trips on 2/18 under the guise of a decent weather window. What we found when we reached the dock was anything but perfect. Flags straight out and a 10-15 mph NNE wind. Making the call to grind out a longer than usual run to get into warmer water was met with the right results on the first stop, until the sharks took over. Fished a few more ledges in 115-125’ feet of water for a few medium sized fish, a gag grouper and a small Goliath grouper that were all released. With 6 Red Snapper out of the 36 possible in the box with a few hours in. I decided to make a run into a piece of bottom that holds copious amounts of medium sized snapper expecting to pick 10 fish and work the rest of the area for the rest of the Red Snapper. It was on like donkey kong when we rolled up the first couple fish. An entire school of Snapper came up with no Chum required. We caught our remaining fish in the matter of 45 minutes and headed to the house. If you’d like to read more on the Red Snapper EFP program check out this link.
https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/atlantic-red-snapper-efp/
Closeout: Its time to start thinking spring fishing and spring break. My phone mostly dormant through January and February has started to ring a bunch for dates in March and April. If you’ve been eying something now is the time to book. I expect great action on the Back Country 4 Hour trips focused around the low tide as well as quick half day runs Inshore in the 24’ Pair customs. Offshore weather will remain hit or miss but as we get closer to warmer weather conditions should stabilize.
Trip Log:
2/17/25 4 Hour Back Country 10 Redfish up to 24.5”
2/18/25 8 Hour Red Snapper EFP trip 36 red snapper, gag grouper, amberjack, Goliath grouper.
2/20/25 4 Hour Inshore AM A dozen nice Redfish up to 24”, scattered trout