Fishing In a Winter Wonderland...

Many fishers get turned off when it gets chilly out, but Capt. Larry's trips have been awesome despite (or maybe in spite of) the cold. He only made one trip this past week due to the winter winds, but the cold weather wont stop these fishermen! If you can get out on the water, you will definitely be rewarded with a bountiful catch offshore, in between the cold fronts. There's no competition because there isn't anyone out there on the reefs due to the high wind, resulting in the fish are stacked up, ravenous, & ready to be caught. Look at 7 year old Cade Parsons, who wasn't fazed by the cooler weather (being from Lake Orion, Michigan probably helps!), holding a big gag grouper. Cade was using a live pinfish in about 50 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island & caught the gag grouper while fishing with his father.

On Show Me The Fish charters, we are catching many large amberjacks, and in those same areas catching a great number of red groupers, mangrove snappers, plus yellowtail, lane, and vermillion snappers. Though a lot of fishers discount them, we've also caught more than a few triggerfish, and a bunch of porgies, which are actually pretty tasty. These species feed well during the winter, one just needs to find the right day to make the trip offshore. Your best bite will be offshore of Anna Maria Island, in roughly about 120 ft waters, using large live bait.

On the inshore scene, my friends are catching lots of sheepsheads around the docks and bridges, as well as nice sized trout in the Palma Sola bay area. Looks like this is going to be a rough winter, so be able to adapt & get ready to fish in the instance between the cold fronts when you'll be able to get out there.

Capt Larry McGuire
Show Me The Fish Charters
Cell: 941-720-6475 | Email captlarrymcguire@gmail.com
Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center, Bradenton, FL