We left the docks around 8:30 am and headed north of St Joseph Sound. It was low tide at 9 am and I wanted to check out some deep holes back in the mangrove cuts. A cold front just passed and winter chill was in the air.
This time of year, late December, January and February, the low tides create an excellent opportunity to find fish. Cold fronts will push through every week or two and sometimes even twice a week. These weather conditions will produce extreme low tides. The strong north west and north east winds, push a lot of water out of the bay and expose grassy bottoms and oyster beds in the back waters, canals and mangrove cuts. The deeper holes adjacent to these high and dry areas may be holding lots of fish.
At our first location, we started throwing jigs with plastic tails and immediately caught trout 18 to 20 inches. Also there were lots of lady fish mixed in. Our second spot produced similar results with addition to a couple of blue fish.
A few days before our typical cold front arrives, the winds will increase and start blowing from the south and south west. As the front gets closer, the temperature will increase, the SW winds will be around 15 to 20 mph and the pressure starts dropping. Fish will start feeding and catching will pick up during these conditions.
As soon as the front hits, strong winds switch from the west and it usually rains. As the front passes, the winds turn from the north west, barometric pressure increases and the temperature will start dropping.
The first day after a cold front passes is usually not a good day to fish. Winds are still blowing a strong 20+ out of the north west, the bay water is awfully dirty and the barometric pressure is very high. Also, the unseasonably cold air will drastically drop the water temperature 10 or so degrees. This scenario totally shuts down the fishing and their environment. Wait a day or two then start fishing again.
Next area we targeted had residential docks on one side and exposed grass flats on the other. We idled into the canal as far as we could and drifted out. Our casting covered a lot of docks with no catching. We did see several snook hanging under the docks but they were not interested.
Don't let the Florida cold fronts keep you high and dry. There is plenty of opportunity to get out and catch fish during the winter months.