December Fishing Forecast
Have fun this holiday season catching flounder, trout, redfish and black drum inshore. Try your hand at some bottom fishing for grouper, amberjack, vermillion snapper or scamp. Who needs ham or turkey when you can have fresh grilled fish for Christmas dinner! Fresh caught fillets make a great present!!
Most kids will be on winter break and December is a good time to get them out on the water. Yes there are days that are cold, but there are plenty of days with highs in the 70's with a bright clear sunny sky.
Bay Fishing
Speckled Trout
Trout will be found in deeper water this time of year. Try fishing deep water boat docks, bridges, deep holes in the bayous and channels. Your best baits for trout will be live shrimp, pinfish, croakers, and pigfish. Fish these on a Carolina rig or under a popping cork.
Deep running or sinking plugs, DOA shrimp and Savage shrimp are some of the best lures. Fish this very slow this time of year, as the water is cold and trout are less aggressive. Fishing the lure too fast will limit the number of bites.
A good way to locate trout is to slow troll with a shrimp tail soft plastic jig in the deep channels of the bayou to locate the trout and then switch to live bait to get the max number of bites.
Speckled Trout
Trout will be found in deeper water this time of year. Try fishing deep water boat docks, bridges, deep holes in the bayous and channels. Your best baits for trout will be live shrimp, pinfish, croakers, and pigfish. Fish these on a Carolina rig or under a popping cork.
Deep running or sinking plugs and DOA shrimp are some of the best lures. Fish this very slow this time of year, as the water is cold and trout are less aggressive. Fishing the lure too fast will limit the number of bites.
A good way to locate trout is to slow troll with a shrimp tail soft plastic jig in the deep channels of the bayou to locate the trout and then switch to live bait to get the max number of bites.
Redfish
Most or the redfish will be caught fishing live shrimp, pinfish, croakers and pigfish. Reds will be hanging on docks, bridges and jetties. You will get most of your bites fishing with live bait on a Carolina rig on the bottom. Redfish have to be between 18 and 27 inches to keep.
There are a lot of bull reds around during the winter months and you will find them in the passes, deep channels and around deep water bridges. These bull reds are fun to catch and release. If you chose this type of fishing make sure to net the fish and do your best to unhook them while still in the water only using the net to control the fish.
Troll for them using deep running lures. If your lures have large lips and troll 15 of more foot you can run them by themselves. If you have lures wilt small lips you may need to add trolling lead 4 to 6 ounces to get the lure deep enough. Add single hooks to your lures rather than the treble hooks that normally come on them. Single hooks make it easier to release the fish unharmed.
Redfish
Most or the redfish will be caught fishing live shrimp, pinfish, croakers and pigfish. Reds will be hanging on docks, bridges and jetties. You will get most of your bites fishing with live bait on a Carolina rig on the bottom. Redfish have to be between 18 and 27 inches to keep.
There are a lot of bull reds around during the winter months and you will find them in the passes, deep channels and around deep water bridges. These bull reds are fun to catch and release. If you chose this type of fishing make sure to net the fish and do your best to unhook them while still in the water only using the net to control the fish.
Troll for them using deep running lures. If your lures have large lips and troll 15 of more foot you can run them by themselves. If you have lures wilt small lips you may need to add trolling lead 4 to 6 ounces to get the lure deep enough. Add single hooks to your lures rather than the treble hooks that normally come on them. Single hooks make it easier to release the fish unharmed.
Flounder
Flounder will be in the bay and gulf this month, November and December feature some of the best flounder action of the year. Flounder can be caught hook and line or gigged in good numbers.
Fish a Carolina rig on the bottom near docks and bridges that have sand bottom with access to deep water and oyster beds for best results. Your best bait will be live bull minnows, but flounder belly strips, DOA lures, Savage Shrimp and Gulp will also work.
You will find the best flounder fishing just outside the passes and near shore reefs and wrecks. For these flounder in the gulf, bulls minnows fished on a Carolina rig will produce the most fish. Fish on the lee side (down wind) of the reef or wreck. Unlike snapper or grouper fishing you don’t want to be directly over the wreck but more the sand bottom on the lee side of the wreck. Flounder much prefer to lay on the sand bottom than rock waiting to ambush prey.
Flounder
Flounder will be in the bay and gulf this month, November and December feature some of the best flounder action of the year. Flounder can be caught hook and line or gigged in good numbers.
Fish a Carolina rig on the bottom near docks and bridges that have sand bottom with access to deep water and oyster beds for best results. Your best bait will be live bull minnows, but flounder belly strips, DOA lures, Savage Shrimp and Gulp will also work.
You will find the best flounder fishing just outside the passes and near shore reefs and wrecks. For these flounder in the gulf, bulls minnows fished on a Carolina rig will produce the most fish. Fish on the lee side (down wind) of the reef or wreck. Unlike snapper or grouper fishing you don’t want to be directly over the wreck but more the sand bottom on the lee side of the wreck. Flounder much prefer to lay on the sand bottom than rock waiting to ambush prey.
Mullet
If you have not tried fresh mullet you are missing out, it is no wonder they make such good bait as I can definitely see why other fish would want to eat them. Also this time of year they are filled with roe and fried mullet roe is yummy.
Mullet for the most part are caught but throwing a cast net off the dock. mullet are vegetarian and are difficult to catch on a rod and reel but it can be done.
If you want to try you hand at catching on rod and reel you need 3 or 4 treble hooks on one line and 1oz lead at the bottom. Tip one prong of each treble with a small piece of a chartreuse grub. Chum the water where you are fishing with dry Ole Roy Dog food. Drop you rig over and wait to feel the mullet sucking on your grub and then snag them with one of the trebles.
Mullet
If you have not tried fresh mullet you are missing out, it is no wonder they make such good bait as I can definitely see why other fish would want to eat them. Also this time of year they are filled with roe and fried mullet roe is yummy.
Mullet for the most part are caught but throwing a cast net off the dock. mullet are vegetarian and are difficult to catch on a rod and reel but it can be done.
If you want to try you hand at catching on rod and reel you need 3 or 4 treble hooks on one line and 1oz lead at the bottom. Tip one prong of each treble with a small piece of a chartreuse grub. Chum the water where you are fishing with dry Ole Roy Dog food. Drop you rig over and wait to feel the mullet sucking on your grub and then snag them with one of the trebles.
Pier, Bridge, Jetty, and Surf
Pelagics are moving out so no the focus will be redfish, sheepshead, flounder, black drum a few pompano and whiting. Winter bonita will start to show at the pier and surf.
Redfish
Catch keeper reds on a Carolina rig and live shrimp fished on the bottom around the jetties or pier. Slot reds in the surf on a 2 hook bottom rig and shrimp.
Bull reds on the pier, jetty or surf are caught on cut mullet or pinfish fished off the bottom.
Redfish
Catch keeper reds on a Carolina rig and live shrimp fished on the bottom around the jetties or pier. Slot reds in the surf on a 2 hook bottom rig and shrimp.
Bull reds on the pier, jetty or surf are caught on cut mullet or pinfish fished off the bottom.
Flounder
Use live bull minnows on a Carolina rig with a 1/2oz to 2oz egg sinker.
Fish around the docks in the bay or harbor, off the pier and around the jetties.
You can also fish Berkley gulps, DOA shrimp and Savage shrimp lures.
Flounder
Use live bull minnows on a Carolina rig with a 1/2oz to 2oz egg sinker.
Fish around the docks in the bay or harbor, off the pier and around the jetties.
You can also fish Berkley gulps, DOA shrimp and Savage shrimp lures.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead will be plentiful off the pier, bridges and jetties. Fish a fiddler crab, live shrimp or oyster on a Carolina rig right next to the pilings or jetty. Sheepshead have a very small mouth so make sure you have a very small hook or you will get a lot of bites and not catch many fish.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead will be plentiful off the pier, bridges and jetties. Fish a fiddler crab, live shrimp or oyster on a Carolina rig right next to the pilings or jetty. Sheepshead have a very small mouth so make sure you have a very small hook or you will get a lot of bites and not catch many fish.
Pompano and Whiting
Pompano and whiting will not be as plentiful in the surf this time of year but a few can be caught on sand fleas, shrimp or fiddler crabs. Most of the pompano and whiting will only be in the surf.
Weather plays a big part and you need to put your efforts toward the correct days. Look for a day right before a weather front moves in where the temps are warmer and the wind is from the south and the seas are kicked up a bit. On the cold north wind days, when the surf is flat, the action can be very slow.
Pompano
Whiting
Winter Bonita
Off the piers and occasionally off the jetty or surf there will be large schools of bonita crashing pods of rain minnows. Look for the birds and you will normally find the bonita. They bite best on the coldest of mornings with a north wind.
Toss white jigs or white jerk baits for the best action, sometimes spoons or bubble rigs will work well.
Winter Bonita
Off the piers and occasionally off the jetty or surf there will be large schools of bonita crashing pods of rain minnows. Look for the birds and you will normally find the bonita. They bite best on the coldest of mornings with a north wind.
Toss white jigs or white jerk baits for the best action, sometimes spoons or bubble rigs will work well.
Bottom Fishing
Gag Grouper
Grouper tend to like natural bottom better than wrecks, but the will hang out on wrecks. You can also catch grouper on the beach reefs. We tend to catch the majority of keeper grouper at depths of 150ft to 400ft. You need live cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring or northern mackerel. Grouper can also be caught jigging with heavy bucktail jigs and butterfly style jigs.
Gag Grouper
Grouper tend to like natural bottom better than wrecks, but the will hang out on wrecks. You can also catch grouper on the beach reefs. We tend to catch the majority of keeper grouper at depths of 150ft to 400ft. You need live cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring or northern mackerel. Grouper can also be caught jigging with heavy bucktail jigs and butterfly style jigs.
Scamp Grouper
Scamp Grouper are generally found in the 75ft to 400ft range, They prefer natural bottom but will gather on some wrecks. Fishing a Carolina rig with 1oz of lead for every 10ft of water. Best to use live cigar minnows, pinfish or frozen northern mackerel.
Scamp Grouper
Scamp Grouper are generally found in the 75ft to 400ft range, They prefer natural bottom but will gather on some wrecks. Fishing a Carolina rig with 1oz of lead for every 10ft of water. Best to use live cigar minnows, pinfish or frozen northern mackerel.
Triggerfish
Triggerfish are one of the more tasty fish and fairly easy to catch.
Use a 2 or 3 hook bottom rig with circle hooks no bigger than a nickel in size. The best bait is squid, northern mackerel or bonita cut into 1in chunks, fresher is better.
They can be caught on wrecks or reefs in 50 to 175 foot depths. Another bait not many people use but very effective is Fishbites or Gulp!
Triggerfish
Triggerfish are one of the more tasty fish and fairly easy to catch.
Use a 2 or 3 hook bottom rig with circle hooks no bigger than a nickel in size. The best bait is squid, northern mackerel or bonita cut into 1in chunks, fresher is better.
They can be caught on wrecks or reefs in 50 to 175 foot depths. Another bait not many people use but very effective is Fishbites or Gulp!
Vermillion Snapper
Vermillion snapper aka Mingo snapper or Beeliners are another one of the better eating snappers. In my opinion they are much better than red snapper and can be caught all year. They normally range 1lb to 3lbs but we catch them from 5lbs to 7lbs. If these little guys grew to 20-30lbs no one would care about red snapper.
Use a 2 or 3 hook bottom rig with circle hooks no bigger than a nickel in size. The best bait is squid, northern mackerel or bonita cut into 1in chunks, fresher is better. They can be caught on wrecks or reefs in 50 to 175 foot depths. Another bait not many people use but very effective is Fishbites or Gulp!
Vermillion Snapper
Vermillion snapper aka Mingo snapper or Beeliners are another one of the better eating snappers. In my opinion they are much better than red snapper and can be caught all year. They normally range 1lb to 3lbs but we catch them from 5lbs to 7lbs. If these little guys grew to 20-30lbs no one would care about red snapper.
Use a 2 or 3 hook bottom rig with circle hooks no bigger than a nickel in size. The best bait is squid, northern mackerel or bonita cut into 1in chunks, fresher is better. They can be caught on wrecks or reefs in 50 to 175 foot depths. Another bait not many people use but very effective is Fishbites or Gulp!
Scamp Grouper
Red grouper, unlike most bottom fish, seem to bite better on what we call trash bait. Trash can be anything from a frozen northern mackerel to a butterflied vermillion snapper.
Live baits typically don’t work as well for red grouper unlike other groupers as they tend to be very lazy.
Also we catch them in much shallower water. Normally 50 to 150 foot depths.
Red Grouper
Red grouper, unlike most bottom fish, seem to bite better on what we call trash bait. Trash can be anything from a frozen northern mackerel to a butterflied vermillion snapper.
Live baits typically don’t work as well for red grouper unlike other groupers as they tend to be very lazy.
Also we catch them in much shallower water. Normally 50 to 150 foot depths.
Amberjack
Amberjack are generally found fishing wrecks in 50 to 400 ft range, Unlike grouper they tend to like large wrecks rather than natural bottom. Live cigar minnows, hardtails, pinfish and vermillion snapper are preferred baits. Use a Carolina rig with extra long leaders, up to 20ft when fish are picky. Amberjack also love butterfly jigs and large swimbaits.
Amberjack
Amberjack are generally found fishing wrecks in 50 to 400 ft range, Unlike grouper they tend to like large wrecks rather than natural bottom.
Live cigar minnows, hardtails, pinfish and vermillion snapper are preferred baits.
Use a Carolina rig with extra long leaders, up to 20ft when fish are picky. Amberjack also love butterfly jigs and large swimbaits.
Offshore Fishing
Yellowfin Tuna
While yellowfin tuna bite all year at the rigs the prime time for fishing them is May-November, this is when they venture closer to home. Most are caught at the Nipple, Spur, Steps, Squiggles and Rigs.
Tuna can be caught in the day trolling ballyhoo, cedar plugs and bullet head lures. Look for birds working bait or pods of porpoise as many times you will find the tuna mixed in with the porpoise.
At night catch the tuna jigging or chunking. Find a good spot and set the sea anchor and start chumming with cut pieces of northern or Boston mackerel.
Tuna can range form the small football size to well over 200lbs here along the panhandle area!
Yellowfin Tuna
While yellowfin tuna bite all year at the rigs the prime time for fishing them is May-November, this is when they venture closer to home. Most are caught at the Nipple, Spur, Steps, Squiggles and Rigs.
Tuna can be caught in the day trolling ballyhoo, cedar plugs and bullet head lures. Look for birds working bait or pods of porpoise as many times you will find the tuna mixed in with the porpoise.
At night catch the tuna jigging or chunking. Find a good spot and set the sea anchor and start chumming with cut pieces of northern or Boston mackerel.
Tuna can range form the small football size to well over 200lbs here along the panhandle area!
Swordfish
Imagine it’s a warm summer night, seas running a soft 1 to 2, wind light and variable, stars fill the night sky, you have a cold beer in hand and burgers on the grill. Everyone sitting around tell war stories of the one that got away. Lines are set, extra baits are rigged, the Hydroglow’s light spills under the boat turning the crystal blue water a erie green. You can see the 4 buoys marking the lines in the distance. In the quiet still of the night the drag starts screaming, Sword on the Line!!
Swordfish are mostly caught around the Spur fishing the north wall. Most are caught using large offshore squid, whole bonita and northern mackerel. While we do catch daytime swordfish most are caught at night. Fish 3 lines at depths of 50ft, 100ft, and 200ft deep.
Swordfish
Imagine it’s a warm summer night, seas running a soft 1 to 2, wind light and variable, stars fill the night sky, you have a cold beer in hand and burgers on the grill. Everyone sitting around tell war stories of the one that got away. Lines are set, extra baits are rigged, the Hydroglow’s light spills under the boat turning the crystal blue water a erie green. You can see the 4 buoys marking the lines in the distance. In the quiet still of the night the drag starts screaming, Sword on the Line!!
Swordfish are mostly caught around the Spur fishing the north wall. Most are caught using large offshore squid, whole bonita and northern mackerel. While we do catch daytime swordfish most are caught at night. Fish 3 lines at depths of 50ft, 100ft, and 200ft deep.
