Captains' reports

Captain Tom Chaya

Water temperatures are hovering in the 50s for the past several weeks, making it the one of the coldest Decembers on record. This will restrict what types of species to target. Grouper were a bit more tolerant with good catches from 50 to 60 feet. Water was a bit churned up and the best baits were dead sardines and octopus. You may have to work an area much longer to get a bite going in these temperatures. In the bay you will have to look for the most protected areas. Big trout will fall into deep holes and you may have some great rallies. Small reds can get packed around docks. Bluefish are probably the most cold water tolerant of all species. They can be found tight and roaming the beaches. Another main key to a bit more success is slowing everything down to a snail's pace, especially working jigs and other artificials. Give your areas a bit more time to produce. This can be very difficult when you have success-hungry tourists on a half day charter.

Captain Mark Howard

The wintertime fishing pattern is in full effect and the redfish are being very cooperative. On a recent charter with islander Doug Terry and his son in law, Nick, they were able to land redfish to 13 pounds fishing tight to deep water docks. The bait of choice was select live shrimp or two small ones rigged tandem on the hook with a split shot – ie a lot of meat on the hook. The extra low tides will also provide excellent opportunities to wade fish for redfish and speckled trout. On the extreme low tides, wade to the potholes on the flats surrounded with exposed sea grass. Using artificial baits or live shrimp slowly work your rig into the pothole for fishing in a barrel action.

Sheephead fishing is starting to come on and will only get better as the wintertime pattern advances. Remember speckled trout fishing season opens on Jan. 1. This past year bodes well for the speckled trout season as my parties have been having a banner year catching a lot of oversized ones. Tight lines and have a safe and fun filled holiday.

Captain Larry McGuire

We are celebrating happy holidays with gag grouper gone wild. Show Me The Fish Charter parties are catching limit catches of gag grouper for Christmas, then heading further offshore to catch red, black and scamp grouper, mangrove snapper and amberjack. This week the grouper action started out in about 50 feet and on any rock pile and ledge out past that. Amberjack are going strong out around 115 feet. Large live baits like pinfish, sandperch and grunts are producing the larger fish. This time of year we have to be flexible and fish in between the cold fronts, and you could have a trip of a lifetime.

Captain Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing the ICW near Venice with me on my flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released snook and trout on an evening trip last week. I also had fast action with trout in Palma Sola Bay when I fished a day with my friend Steve Gibson.

Longtime friend and customer David Schofield, from Sarasota, and his son Mike, from New York City, fished lighted docks and bridge fenders in the ICW near Venice with me on Wednesday evening. I was monitoring water temperature all week and was cautiously optimistic. Sunny afternoons warmed the water a few degrees this week and fish responded favorably. They caught and released five snook to 22 inches and an 18-inch trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Although there weren't a lot of snook in the lights, we found them actively feeding in a couple of spots.

The next day I was the guest of Steve Gibson, of Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing, to do some kayak fishing. We fished Palma Sola Bay and had fast action with numerous trout to 22 inches and a few small reds and flounder on CAL jigs with grubs and shad tails. Gibby can be reached at www.kayakfishingsarasota.com .

Next week's tides and weather should improve towards the end of next week. With a strong front pushing through this weekend, conditions may be windy and cool for a couple of days. Afternoons may fish better due to warmer water. Fish jigs and flies slow and close to the bottom for the best action. Happy holidays to everyone!