A new statewide law allows 8 total redfish per vessel, as long as no single person violates the allowed bag limit!

Start to look for Sheepshead around inlets this time of year. They will congregate around the jetties, eating the invertebrates that can be found there. If the water is too rough around the inlet, try bridges, piers, docks or any rock formations inshore.

Now go get a bucket of fiddler crabs and get out there to catch Sheepshead!

Now that the 5-gallon bucket has been filled full of fresh shrimp caught in the Florida Shrimp Run, it is time to clean and preserve your catch!

Step 1 – Remove the Heads

In one hand hold the shrimp firmly. With the index finger and thumb of the other hand grab the head using a pinching motion. Twist quickly and the head will pop off!

Another technique is to put the shrimp on a cutting board, and using a drinking glass press the glass firmly at the joint of the head and the tail. This will separate the two parts!

Step 2 – Freeze the Shrimp

The best way to preserve fresh shrimp is to vacuum seal the shrimp and then freeze it. If a vacuum sealer is not available the next best option is to fill a zip-loc style ¾ full of shrimp and the fill it with water. The will turn to ice and keep air off the shrimp!

Step 3 – Thaw and Enjoy!

I ended up doing well on the whiting, 8 total. The reds and flounder where not to be found.

Blue fish did show up and destroyed all of my bait at around noon I called it a day!

I did, how ever, experiment with live updating on the soon to be launched forum!

It will be available soon!

I have heard good things about this park and friends have said they have caught a fair amount of trout from this area….

Well, today was not my day! I was skunked, that is if you don’t count trash fish, and I don’t.

The water was EXTREMELY high and drity1

Good news is I did see a few free swimming shrimp, that is a good sign for the Winter Shrimp Run!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Sticks of Butter
• 2 Potatoes
• 2 Carrots
• 1 Onion
• 1 Stalk of Celery
• 1-2 lbs of fish (cut into cubes)
• 2 quarts milk
• ½ quart cream
• 1 clove garlic
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

• In sauce pan melt ½ stick of butter and bring up to head.
• Add chopped potatoes, carrots, onion and celery
• Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes
• Drain vegetables
• In a stock pot (or large pan) add veggies, milk, cream, 1 stick of butter, crushed garlic and salt and pepper (to taste)
• Cook at low heat until veggies are soft
• Bring up to high heat, stiring constantly
• Once boiling add fish that has been cut into bite size cubes
• Simmer over low heat for about 20-30 minutes

ENJOY!

Fishing for Whiting start to heat up as the surf temperatures start to cool. In Florida this generally happens around Thanksgiving, but sometimes can start a little bit earlier or later. The whiting will stay very active in the surf until around March or April.

Helpful Whiting Links
How to Catch Whiting
Beer Battered Fried Whiting

The winter shrimp run here in Florida is heavily concentrated on the East Central coast.  As the shrimp are heading out to deep waters, they pass by many areas that they can be caught from the shore, here is how!

Lighting Setup

The most effective lighting set up is to submerge a light deep enough that there is only a faint glow visible.  The shrimp that are running are not attracted to light; they are in fact deterred by it.  Having just a slight glow will not chase the shrimp off and will be enough to see the shrimp as they swim past.

Dip Net Techniques

The shrimp that are running usually do so in the upper levels of the water.  They swim with the out going tide on their way out to see.  The best way to catch them is to have the dip net in the water up current of the light field, when a shrimp is spotted gently move the net into the shrimps path to avoid spooking the shrimp.  Every few minutes pull the net out of the water and collect the shrimp in a bucket or cooler.

Tips and Tricks

• Green LED lights are easy on the eyes and don’t spook the shrimp
• Show up an hour before the tide turns to get set up and ready before the run begins
• Be courteous to other shirmpers, and try not to crowd others

Location

Mud Minnows get their name because of where they like to live. They prefer muddy bottoms, but are also found over sandy bottoms. Mud Minnows are frequently found around oyster beds, mangrove line and even boat ramps.

Equipment

Mud Minnows are most often caught using a cast net, however trapping them can be even more effective.

Any cast net that has a small enough mesh size (under ½” ) will do. Size can range from 4’ up. Of course, the larger the cast net the better the chance of catching mud minnows.

For traps, any minnow trap that can be bought at bait shops would work well.

Techniques

Cast Netting

Mud Minnows spend most of their time in quite shallow water, so sight casting works well. Walk the water line near any of the areas they are known to frequent. When a Mud Minnow is spotted throw the net over them. They will most often be found in school so if one is spotted, there are most likely more around.

Trapping

In an area that has very little tidal movement place the trap in shallow water, with about 1/4th of the trap exposed. This will put the trap in the depth that the Mud Minnows spend most of their time.

In areas that are tidal place the trap at low tide using the above technique. Mud Minnows are most active at low tide so placing the trap in the preferred depth at low tide will help insure a larger catch.

Tips and Tricks

• When trapping experiment with different baits.
•  Cut fish and shrimp heads work well.
• Low tide is the best time to cast net mud minnows

Tackle

Sheepshead ranging in size from bellow 12” to around 24”, the do get bigger than 24” but it is rare to catch them inshore. While they are not giants in size, they do require somewhat stout tackle because of where they live.

Sheepshead are most often found around pylons and oyster bars. This type of cover can wreak havoc on line, so a 20-40lb fluorocarbon leader is recommended. A VERY sharp live bait or sickle hook from #2-2/0 works well.

Using a Carolina rig put only the amount of weight needed to allow a strait down drop above a barrel swivel. Attach a 12” leader to that swivel and the hook at the bottom.

Bait

Sheepshead live almost exclusively on invertebrates. One of the reasons they are a favorite on the table is because of this invertebrate diet, remember they are what they eat! Barnacles, shrimp and crabs are their favorite foods.

The most popular bait for Sheepshead is Fiddler Crabs. These crabs are not only easy to find in bait stores around Florida this time of year but they are also easy to catch if you know where to look. Any other type of small crab (oyster crabs, baby blue crabs) work just as well. Chunks of fresh dead shrimp also work well, but will often be stolen.

Presentation

Sheepshead are most often found foraging the pylons of structure. The best presentation is to drop the bait strait down just up current of the pylon. Drop the bait to the bottom and then reel up about 15-20”. When the Sheepshead bites a tap-tap will be felt and then the fish will take the bait away from the pylon. As soon as the line starts to move, set the hook.

Tips & Tricks

• Make sure to use ULTRA sharp hooks.
• Use a strong upward motion to set the hook
• Do not set the hook when the tap-tap is felt, wait for the line to move.
• Sheepshead are great bait thiefs, don’t be discouraged by missed fish
• Bring plenty of bait