The recent winds and cold fronts have been dropping water temps into the mid 50s to low 60s. Inshore fish are moving to deeper flats, canals and around docks with good water flow. With the tides being lower than normal and the persistent north winds the redfish have been more scattered on flats.
Finding Redfish
As the weather stabilizes look for the reds to forage for small shrimp crabs and bloodworms.
Hooking the Reds
My favorite baits are live shrimp and gulp shrimp in newpenny or watermelon seed with a 16th once Mustad peg hook.
Next would be the redfish pattern in the zara jr. topwaters. With the water temps dropping, bait will start thinning out.
Bait tip for any inshore fish
Shrimp will become the go to bait for most of the inshore species.
Get on the Trout
The trout have started to move to the spoil islands up in St. Joseph sound because of the shelly and rocky bottom. This is one of the first areas where trout congregate.
Deeper Docks Tip
The deeper docks will be holding redfish, sheaphead and blackdrum. The best docks are one with lots of oysters on the pilings with good water flow.
Late Day Fishing Tip
When the day warms up the trout and reds will push there way on to shallower flats to seek that warm water. This is where you will catch your bigger trout.They will be laid up in the potholes or right on the edges.
Make sure you find flats with mullet or frybait. The redfish will be in with the mullet as they stir up the shrimp and other Crustateans.