By Capt. David Lifka
mail@floridanewsline.com
It’s officially winter, and we have reached what can be the most difficult time of year to wet a line. Wind and cold definitely add to the difficulty factor, plus cooler water temperatures will slow the bite. Warm spells in between cold fronts can often turn on a bite and should be taken advantage of when you get the chance.
Last winter there was pretty decent black drum bite that happened through January and lasted well into the spring. Fishing docks and bridge pilings (U.S. Highway 17 bridge) in the Doctors Lake area of the St. Johns River seemed to be the hot spot then. Trying any docks and pilings at the Buckman Bridge or north and south of the bridge are definitely worth a try when those pretty days occur.
One species of fish that really likes to bite during the pretty days of winter months is the speckled perch or crappie. Most freshwater lakes and creeks in our entire region will provide some excellent speckled perch fishing over the next couple of months. A quick online search of bait stores and fish camps can help you find out where the best bite is currently happening. Also, while you are searching, you will find there are still some old-fashioned fish camps that can still provide you with a rental jon boat and kicker for a day on the water.
If you happen to own a boat, but would rather just wait for spring to roll around before getting out on the water again, remember we live in Florida. In just another six to eight weeks our winter is already over. Since the virus, the number of boaters on the water has increased dramatically. Now might be the perfect time to beat the spring rush and get your boat serviced for the upcoming season of fun on the water.
Finally, a New Year’s resolution that should be easy to keep: Do not let your down time from being on the water go to waste. Make this year’s resolution to take a day to make sure that your boat meets and exceeds all safety requirements. Safety on the water should always come first for yourself and your crew and passengers.
Fishing Report: Speckled perch are your best freshwater bet this time of year. Saltwater species are going to be hit and miss, but on milder days anything can happen anywhere you happen to try.
Whether you catch one, some, or none, the family time spent fishing will last a lifetime.
