Skinny Water Charter’s Capt’ Craig Lahr breaks down the what, where and how to get on the fish this December and January on Clearwater’s inshore.
Trout:
Trout fishing has been hit or miss. Speckled Trout have not made a big push to our area. Until we start cooling down, these fish will be moving around to keep us guessing. Start looking for Silver trout off the beaches, which creates non-stop action. Once located, these fish will feed fast and furious for hours.
Redfish
Redfish are scattered on the flats and around spoil inland as well as oyster bars. Live grass grunts or shrimp under a popping cork has worked the best on the last hour and a half of the incoming tide and first hour and a half of the outgoing tide. With the extreme low tides look for the red fish to be tailing near potholes or thinned out turtle grass which make for great sight fishing. Good bait for the low tide; topwater Zara Junior in the red fish pattern, gulp jerkbait watermelon seed rigged on a 3o/t weighted worm hook also z-man scented paddle tails rigged on a 1/8oz jig head have worked well. It’s also a great time for fly fishing these bruisers.
Snook
Snook are still on the flats cruising around due to the warm water. Amazingly still some on the beaches and passes with this above normal water temps.