Ran a trip yesterday out of Clearwater and it started out great, the winds where calm to 5 mph and the fish where eating every shrimp that hit the water. After an hour and a half of steady catching the weather began changing, the winds picked up and the bite seemed to stop on live bait.
We stayed a few more minutes and I decided to get closer to the shore hoping to catch some wind break and find some gator trout holding in the sandy potholes. There was enough water to float the boat but it was still too clear and shallow and we spooked every fish before we could get a cast in their direction.
With winds starting to blow in the 10-15 range from north it was almost impossible to get a break in the inter-coastal so I went south and found a broken bottom grass flat with a good tide flow. We changed up to artificial lures with ¼ oz. jigheads, dropped the drift sock over the side and started our drift. The winds kept building, the rain started and the temperature started dropping. It felt like a sure 40 degrees considering the chill factor. My guys where from Canada and this didn't bother them a bit.
The bit started picking up and the harder it rained and blew the more the fish ate. We caught good numbers of Spotted Sea Trout, Silver Trout, Bluefish, Mackerel and Pompano. They seemed to want any four inch jerk shad with plenty of sparkle.
After and hour our so, I called the group together and told them they may be loving life in this stuff but this cracker was freezing to death and we where headed to the dock. They ribbed me about the cold but that to be expected after all when the temperature drops to 70 I go get a jacket.
For charter information or to book trips call Captain Woody Gore at 813-477-3814 or visit my website at WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM
