February 2014

FEBRUARY FISHING FORECAST 2014

February will be much like January for the how and when to fish. A few exceptions to

species is late in the month there could be a few spanish and people will be preparing to

catch cobia which start in March. I do not know of anyone actually catching a cobia in

February even though the full pull did have a chance at one they spotted on February

27th several years ago when we have a very mild winter.

Fishing in winter months especially January can be very weather dependent, look to fish

on the days just before a weather front comes in. Lets say we are supposed to have a

rain event on a Thursday and cold temps rolling in Thursday night after the rain. In that

scenario tuesday and Wednesday should have the warmer temps and a southerly flow

of wind making them the better fishing days. Normally those days leading up to the

passage of a front have warmer moist temps with a south to southeast wind. This is

especially true for surf fishing and bay fishing. If I was looking to go bottom fishing for

Amberkack and Mingo Snapper normally the days after a front seem to be better

because od sea conditions. In our earlier scenario of w weather front on a Thursday

most likely Friday would be very windy and rough but starting on Saturday the winds

would start to diminish and Saturday, Sunday and Monday should in most cases be cool

but have relatively calm sea conditions making for some nice days to get offshore and

find some bottom fish

Pompano

Throw jigs, sand fleas or shrimp from the jetties or pier. Bottom fish with sand fleas,

shrimp or fiddler crabs from the surf.

Whiting

Bottom fish the pier or surf with small hooks and fresh peeled shrimp in the shallows.

Flounder

Fish the pier, harbor and bay with grubs, Berkerly gulp and live bull minnows. For boat

fishing in the fall use bull minnows or live shrimp fished on the lee side or reefs or

wrecks, around the sea bouy and just outside the pass.

Speckled Trout

Use live shrimp under a popping cork drifted across the flats.

Try a live shrimp free lined with just a split shot around boat docks.

Cast Yozuri Crystal minnows, Crystal Shrimp or live Target Pinfhish and Mullet lures on

flats, deep water docks and mouth of bayous. Berkeley Gulp work as a good sub for live

shrimp.

White Trout

Bottom fish with shrimp, Berkeley Gulp, or grubs around bridges, bayous and harbor.

Sheepshead

Fish live shrimp, fiddler crabs and oysters on a fish finder rig around bridge pilings,

jetties, pier and docks.

Redfish

Use live shrimp or menhaden to bottom fish around bridges, jetties, bayous and docks.

Cast hard baits, grubs and Berkeley Gulps in the harbor, bayous around docks and

flats. Also jig 2oz spoons in the pass and around the Destin and Midbay bridge.

Vermillion Snapper (aka Mingo Snapper )

Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one

ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut

squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Trigger Fish

Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one

ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut

squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

White Snapper

Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one

ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut

squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Amberjack

For you rig us a circle hook about the size of a half dollar on a 5ft 80lb leader and a egg

lead one ounce for every 10ft of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom mostly in

water 125 to 400ft depths. Best spots are on the southwest edge or just beyond. As for

bait live and frozen cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring, northern mackerel and

hardtails. Butterfly jigs are a great option.

Red Grouper

For you rig us a circle hook about the size of a half dollar on a 5ft 80lb leader and a egg

lead one ounce for every 10ft of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom mostly in

water 125 to 400ft depths. Best spots are on the southwest edge or just beyond. As for

bait live and frozen cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring, and northern mackerel.

Butterfly jigs are a great option.

Yellowfin Tuna

Troll small Islanders and Soft heads with or without ballyhoo, Zuker feathers, cedar

plugs and Yozuri plugs. Fish the spur, squiggles, steps and rigs. Jigging with butterfly

jigs works good around rigs and chunking at night while chumming on the spur also

does good. Fishing the rigs will be the most productive during the winter months.

Sharks

You can catch them from the surf or boat, using a 5ft or longer steel leader with a large

circle hook. The best baits are northern mackerel, cut ladyfish, bonita chunks or

bluefish.