Winter fishing season has officially arrived in Southwest Florida, and it’s time to slow down and match the pace of those cooler, more lethargic fish. The chilly waters have brought in some exciting opportunities, with sheepshead stealing the spotlight as the hot winter bite. Not only are they a great challenge to catch, but they’re also fantastic eating! A tried-and-true method for targeting sheepshead is to pin shrimp to the bottom. However, fiddler crabs and sand fleas also make excellent bait choices for this species.
For rigging, I recommend using a knocker rig, where a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce sinker is placed just above a Mustad 1/0 live bait hook. This setup ensures your bait stays close to the bottom, which is where the sheepshead prefer to feed.
If redfish are on your radar, you can find them hanging around oyster bars and tucked underneath mangroves, particularly along the small, shallow islands. Live pinfish or shrimp under a popping cork tend to be the most effective baits in these areas. For those who prefer to fish with artificial lures, try skipping a Hybrid Flurry on a 1/4 ounce jig head beneath mangrove overhangs and along oyster bars. Make sure to bounce it slowly along the bottom to mimic the movement of a distressed baitfish.
Snook, too, are heading back to their winter haunts in the backcountry, creeks, and rivers. If you’re into fly fishing, this is an excellent time to target them, with patterns like the Clouser or EP Peanut Butter being very effective. For artificial lures, I like to use the Wyze Guyz Tackle 5″ Bada Boom in Gold Nugget, rigged on a Mustad 4/0 weedless hook. This combo works wonders, especially in the cooler waters where snook are congregating.
Winter fishing in Southwest Florida offers some of the best conditions of the year: cooler temperatures, clear blue skies, and an abundance of fish species to target. Whether you’re a fan of live bait or artificial lures, now is the time to get out there and take advantage of these prime conditions. Give me a call, and let’s make a plan to hit the water together!
