Pine Island Sound Fishing in December

[daniel123]

I'm trailering my '99 200 Osprey CC from Ohio to to Pine Island for (a much needed) Xmas break with the wife and son. We're actually staying on North Captiva, but launching at Bokelia and using the Aquasport to get there and back and to fish from over Christmas week. My question is about what fish may be active then and therefore what tackle to pack. Do I need 30 lb level-winds for anything? (tarpon, cobia, mackerel) or am I good with 12 lb spin for reds and trout, and 20 lb for anything larger? Will it be worth it to bring cast nets for pilchards or is the water too cool that time of year to school them in shallow water? Are flounder an option? Any advice much appreciated!

[Blue Agave]

For inshore 10 lb gear is all you need. Trout, redfish, and snook can be caught. Regarding the cast net I recommend keeping it in the boat with a couple cans of jack mackeral in the event you do find bait. Live shrimp is hard to best this time of year as well as jigs.

[daniel123]

Thanks, BA. Are pompano or flounder an option there this time of year? We've never targeted either. Is anything running in Boca Grand Pass? I imagine it's too early for tarpon. Anything worth pursuing off the beaches or nearshore (mackerel?) on the Gulf side of the islands?

[love2fish]

always keep that castnet in the boat! haha

there is a link on both the Florida Sportsman website and on FWC that has a chart for fish species and time of year to best hunt them in Florida. you can also check the FL Sportsman area forums to read up on what people were catching at certain times last year (for your upcoming travel window). this has been a pretty warm winter so far, with the first cold front really just now coming through, and even it is mild... as Nando said: trout on shrimp, snook on livebait, reds on shrimp or cutbait, and maybe some grouper/snapper if you catch the moon/tides right in the just off-shore areas.

[daniel123]

Thanks, guys. Got me stoked. Speaking of fronts, can you say 'lake effect snow?' Now I just have to hope I don't have to yank the rig out of a snowbank to get her on the road next weekend! Meanwhile, feel free to share any jack mack chum recipes/techniques...

[Blue Agave]

I've seen/heard of all kinds of different recipes used for chum. I just open up a can pour out the liquid put the jack mackerel in a bucket and mash it into small pieces and start chumming. You can also add whole wheat bread to make the chum go longer. If the bait is skittish I'll add some menhaden oil, but typically straight jack mack works just fine for me.

[daniel123]

Thanks, BA! Jack mack and ho' wheat it is.

[Blue Agave]

If mixing with bread you may want to consider using some or all of the liquid as it is smelly and oily and the bread will soak it up.

[daniel123]

Roger that. May help to keep the wife at bay and back on the dock to boot!

Dan