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Cold Weather Cooled Hot Bite

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/18/2007 09:55 pm

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.

High winds and cold weather plunged the water temperature 20 to 30 degrees in parts of Terra Ceia Bay, dropping it into the upper 50s in some areas and putting the skids on fishing the past few days.

The recent cold front radically dropped the water temperature in the shallows, moving fish and putting a crimp in their appetites.

Areas of the flats with a couple feet of water that had good concentrations of fish Saturday prior to the cold front seemed devoid of fish Monday.

Saturday's peak water temperature where we fished in Terra Ceia Bay was 80.8 degrees. The norm is upper 60s to low 70s. When fronts like this come through and make these radical changes in their environment, the fish temporarily stop feeding.

This week, temperatures will climb back up into the 60s and perhaps low 70s in the warmest spots, creating a feeding scenario again. Most inshore fish will begin responding to artificial shrimp with a greater preference.

The availability of natural baitfish on the flats is going to get much tougher during the coming weeks, and the natural switch to crustaceans is on. The DOA Shrimp will become my go-to bait.

The night-glow color in the quarter-ounce size has been my most productive during the years, but several new colors in the Carbonated Series are also producing well.

Ray Markham co-hosts

"Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from

8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and can be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.

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