We are in mid-December, and we have already experienced a handful of very strong cold fronts here in Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. In between the cold fronts we have been having great success on our fishing charters. Since the water temperatures have gone down to the low 60s pretty consistently lately, we have been seeing a great spotted seatrout bite on the grass flats, and we are starting to fish some of the structures in the bay and in the Gulf of Mexico in search of sheepshead and pompano.

On our fishing charters in between cold fronts lately we have been on one of the best spotted sea trout bites that I have seen in years. There are a lot of healthy sized fish in the 17–20-inch range. These fish this size put up a nice fight and are a lot of fun to catch on live bait and artificial baits. We are catching them mostly on shallow grass flats 2-4 feet deep. Since the water has gotten cold fast the water clarity is very good and has allowed us to see the trout on most days before we even start fishing. They are also phenomenal table fare for a fresh fish dinner. Another fish that we have been starting to target with the cooler water temperatures are the sheepshead. These fish are also great eating and put up a nice fight near structure to test your angling skills. The fillet on a sheepshead is a white flakey texture that locals like me say has a lobster-like taste. On our fishing charters we mostly use live or cut frozen shrimp to target the sheepshead. We get the occasional black drum, redfish, and mangrove snapper while fishing in the areas that we target sheepshead. Another fish that is fun to target this time of year on our fishing charters is the pompano. They travel in schools this time of year and provide great fights on light tackle and are great to eat as well. We find the pompano along the beaches, around some of the bridges and artificial reefs, and even on the shallow grass flats.  

If you are looking for a fishing charter in the Bradenton or Anna Maria Island area, give me a call or text 813-220-8725. The winter in our area is a beautiful time to be out on the water. We are family friendly and cater to beginners and the pros. We fish with live bait that I catch each morning before our fishing charter to insure our best opportunity at a successful fishing trip.