Coastal River Charters

Winter can be tricky time to fish! Nonetheless, cold water can mean good fishing! On once recent trip fishing structure about nine feet deep there were plenty of stripers and reds! A deep water winter pattern isn’t as unusual as sounds. Anything structure that is above the water has the potential to absorb heat and radiate that heat into the water. There are lots of variables just because a pattern worked well one on one tide doesn’t necessarily mean you can easily duplicate it. An increase or decrease of the current can be critical as well the availability of bait. In general in cold conditions don’t expect hot fish. These fish are expending as little energy as possible. Typically fish will hold tight to structure and close to bottom.

Guys that like to fish a bait could find stripers deep! Fishermen could find success deep jigging or dragging a lure deep.

Reds are flats! Reds during the winter can be easily spooked. The splash of a1/4 ounce jig while appropriate on lots of days can way too much during the winter. Long casts are the norm. Downsizing your fishing line, using a section of fluorocarbon leader as well lighter lures can be helpful. On many days you can see a fish throw to that fish and know he’ll eat. During the winter its more problematic. Fish can become very skittish in cold clear coastal water. Sometimes the pressure of hull can send fish scattering. Noise is critical as well. Despite the challenges winter fishing, on some days, can be good as anytime of the year! When fishermen are up to the challenge winter fishing can be fun!

A fishermen and friend George Hammond will be the chef at Tortugas Grille(across the street from the Bahia Bleu marina -2815 River Drive) on January 29th! George is a renown chief. I asked George about the 29th. George said he just likes the owners and restaurant. The menu looks exceptional! For more information or to make a reservation call 912.201.3630.

Winter is great time of the year to get ready for the new year! Attending a seminar or seminars is a fun way to glean lots of information in short period of time. There will be a few seminars you wont want to miss! The first is The SaltWater Sportsman’s Seminar February 5th in Savannah. For information or to sign up contact George Poveromo at 1.800.448.7360.

Miss Judy will be presenting two Inshore Seminars: one on February 19, the second on March 12th. For information you can call Capt. Judy at 912.897.2478.

Hope this of interest and help! Keep the fish you want to eat and release the rest!

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan

Wintery days have limited fishing opportunities. When the weather has allowed fishermen have caught redfish, stripers, sheepshead and seatrout. The winter time live baits are mud minnows, finger mullet, fiddler crabs and pogies. In cold water a redfish or seatrout bite on live bait is typically a very slow soft bait. The bite on a plastic is a little more aggressive. Days with some cloud coverage are typically the best. When the skies are completely overcast and water is clear it can be difficult to see more than a feet away from your boat. Overcast skies and clear water can make the surface of the water like a mirror. A question fishermen can ask themselves is how many redfish have they failed to see. Likely given those conditions there been redfish that just were not seen.

Lots of large redfish are covered with sea lice. These sea lice are a small creature that shows up during the winter. These little creatures indicate redfish moving in from deeper water onto the flats. These creatures are thought to be harmless nonetheless you might experience small blisters if your hands come into contact with them. The prevailing thought is when redfish are covered with sea lice these are “new fish” coming into from deeper recesses in the sounds or ocean. Seeing redfish covered with sea lice could be a good thing much like ducks pushed in by a cold front One fishermen said its all about the bait. Redfish are coming up on the flats are looking for bait. When you find an area with lots of pogies or mullet its likely you’ll find some nice reds! When pogie are flicking on top of the water likely cow nose rays are under them. Popping the head off the small pogie and fishing it on a jig on the bottom can be productive way to catch some dandy reds!

During the winter ideal colors and patterns for redfish are those that imitate a pogie or mullet. Other effective colors are gold, copper, new penny, arkansan shiner and a red/gold shiner.

Despite the challenges of winter time fishing can be fun and rewarding! Chris Weber and I fished some of flies in recent days experiencing nice schools of redfish! Chris is of the best commercial fly tiers of both warm warm and salt water flies. Some of my favorites are Chris’s carolina critter, rattle shrimp and crystal minnow flies. Winter time is an awesome time to fly fish for stripers as well!

Keep what you plan to eat and release the rest! Lastly support your CCA Chapter by becoming a member.

Fish On!

Capt. Jack McGowan