Inshore report
The cold, windy, and sometimes rainy weather recently has had a "chilling" effect on fishing. The flip side is the boat ramps are less crowded! On the few days in between fronts it is still worthwhile to wet a line.
Sheephead and spawning ringtail porgies are available at the jetties. These are hard fighting fish and excellent table fare. Try a small piece of fresh shrimp on a light jig at the jetty tips. Yellowmouth trout are also a good cold water fish when you can find them. They like deeper water than thier speckled cousins, and put up a better fight.
Speckled trout are off limits in February, other than catch and release in our area waters. Redfish are also biting occasionally at the jetties. A 28 pounder was caught recently on 12lb tackle. A fish of that size is a rare catch inshore this time of year. Redfish are in the creeks and ICW and tend to school up in the winter. The water clears with the colder temperatures making it easier to spot the redfish along the ICW and creek edges.
Whiting are available in and behind the surf, on area piers, and in the inlets. Black drum frequent the channel edges, creek holes, and jetties. Some striped bass have been caught in the St Johns River south of Jacksonville around bridge pilings.
February might be cold, but if you like to fish, there are still good opportunities to catch some nice fish!
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Captain Bob's Fishing Charters,Inc.
http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com
