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Weather Must Be Confusing Fish

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Ray Markham.

If I didn't have a calendar, I'd be confused about what month it is.

Imagine what fish are thinking when the high for a December day is 84 degrees. Water temperatures are similar to those in late October, but fish are where they would be found in October, November and December. September and October are transitional months that begin moving fish toward their winter living quarters.

When the first cold fronts bear down on us, usually in late October or November, they pick up the migration pace. We've had several mini-fronts followed by days of warm weather. While this acclimates fish to colder weather, these warm days have fish scattered all over the place. Because fish can be found in many locations, concentrations of fish are few.

The bite has been more dependent on tide and moon phases. Negative low tides concentrate bait and fish - a scenario for fast action - but by choosing to fish those locations by boat you could be making a commitment to stay there until the tide rises, allowing you to exit.

Many of the best holes are isolated, and portaging is the only way in or out on the bottomed-out tides, so early arrival is your only option. If something spooks the fish during the drop and they leave, you could be stuck for hours in a non-productive area.

Choosing to not roll the dice this week, we picked away at pot holes and channel edges from Joe Bay to the Manatee River, finding snook, trout and plenty of redfish using CAL jigs with shad tails. Jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, flounder, gag grouper, bluefish, loads of ladyfish and even a warmth-loving barracuda was in the catch.

Ray Markham co-hosts "Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and may be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.

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