PC/PCB Fishing Report 1-2-26
Bay Fishing
The trout are not pushed up into the creeks and intracoastal waterways just yet, as we have not had enough prolonged cold weather to move them there in large numbers. They are still spread out on the flats, especially near drop-offs.
After speaking with one angler this week, he reported catching trout on cast after cast. The area was quiet until the tide changed, which really improved the bite. He found the trout were gorging on ghost shrimp. Every fish had full, bulging bellies, and some were even spitting up shrimp. He was throwing a soft plastic that was nearly twice the size of the ghost shrimp, and they were still eagerly eating it. The trout appear to be feeding heavily to fatten up for the cooler times ahead when bait becomes less available.
Redfish are still feeding in the pass and around the bridges. There is ongoing pipeline construction near the Dupont Bridge, so if work is active in that area, you may want to consider fishing elsewhere.
Surf Fishing
The whiting bite remains good, especially if you locate a solid school. There are also plenty of nicer-sized fish mixed in. Bluefish are still fairly common and will hit most baits, but cut finger mullet remains one of the better options. Several anglers are also hooking into big black drum, with many fish coming in well over slot.
Pompano are still being caught, and improving temperatures should encourage more fish to move up onto the beach. Before the last cold front, water temperatures reached 66 degrees. They have since dropped back to around 60 to 61 degrees and may warm slightly this week. An approaching front with west and southwest winds could silt up the beach water. When the water is dirty, fishing typically slows until it clears again.
Pier Fishing
Pier fishing has been very similar to the surf bite. There has not been much action all the way out at the end of the pier. Fishing from the beach out to the sandbars has produced bluefish, black drum, redfish, and whiting as the primary catches.
Bottom Fishing
Red snapper are now closed in the Gulf. Red grouper and triggerfish remain open, while gag grouper are still closed. Amberjack are also closed. Anglers can still target vermilion snapper, almaco jack, white snapper, and a few other open species. You can still get out and bend a rod, but be sure to watch regulations closely to avoid serious trouble if checked with out-of-season fish onboard.
Nearshore Trolling
There is not much to report this week. You may find some bluefish around the bars using basic Spanish mackerel setups, but activity is limited this time of year.
Offshore
There were no offshore reports this week. Cold temperatures, windy conditions, and holiday commitments likely kept most offshore anglers in port.
