As we finally dip into the winter of 2021 our local Clearwater inshore flats have been on fire with big trout, snook and redfish of all sizes. With the water temps staying consistent, fish have moved to the shallower flats with broken bottoms and potholes. What has kept these predators on the flats is lots of small white bait and pinfish.
Redfish on the flats
Redfish have been very focused on eating cut ladyfish and small pinfish with their tail cut off the lettering on the bottom due to extremely clean water being able to make a day-long cast makes all the difference.
Trout Troubles
Trout have been around but the ladyfish are so thick throughout the entire area from John’s Pass to Tarpon Springs Pass they’ve made catching very hard when we do get the trout to eat live small scaled sardines. Under a popping cork has produced fish from 22 in 224 in.
Amazing Speckled Trout on Boat After Catching in Clearwater, FL
Good Size Snook caught in Clearwater inshore area
Large Redfish – Clearwater Fl
Trout Regulations December 2021
Regulations are 3 trout per boat.
Snook are still on the flats and as of late our best luck has come with cut bait. They are also up in the canals where we’ve been using live pinfish and white Bape has been the ticket to being successful. Remember snook season is closed.