The new year marks the most challenging season for anglers taking to the water along the Forgotten Coast. Regular cold fronts, windy conditions and chilly water temperatures often give the fish lockjaw. But they have to eat sometime and when they do, the action can be fast and furious for short bursts. The trick is knowing when and where to go to get in on the action.

The bite typically shuts down until after the front passes. By the third or fourth day, however, temperatures return to moderate levels, the barometric pressure stabilizes and the fish resume feeding. If you can time your trip for these windows between blows, your odds of success increase significantly.

With the pelagic targets long gone to warmer climes, our bread-and-butter resident game fish-redfish and speckled trout-take up interim residence in bodies where the water temperature is more constant. Channels and deep holes in the coastal rivers and tidal creeks are the main sanctuaries, but don't overlook those scattered depressions out on the flats, either. That's because on the warmer, blue-bird days following a front, the fish will often venture back out along the flats, but never stray too far from those deep pockets.

Water temperatures can dip into the upper 50s with extended cold spells and when that happens, the fish's metabolism slows down. They don't eat as much or waste much energy chasing down a meal. As a result, the presentation must be slowed accordingly. Whether you're fishing live bait like shrimp or finger mullet or artificial lures, work everything much slower than you would the other three seasons. The strikes will be subtle also; set the hook on the slightest tap. Sensitive braid fishing line helps in this regard.

My favorite lure this time of year is the 1/2-ounce DOA shrimp in either rootbeer/gold flake or glow. The added weight lets the lure crawl along the bottom and holds better in the tidal current. Sub-surface plugs like the DOA BaitBuster deep-runner, 52M MirrOlures, Rapala, Yo-Zuri or Corky Mullet patterns are all effective. Natural colors are the top choice, although it's hard to beat the classic white/red head combo. Whatever you choose, retrieve it extremely slow.

Mud flats, rocks and oyster bars retain heat longer and are great places to prospect for fish, especially after a front. Topwater action can be excellent. Again, natural colors get the nod, but it never hurts to have a lighter lure in the box. Bone plugs have caught many a cold-weather trout. A number of walk-the-dog style stick baits will work. I have been throwing the wooden Hall 'Em In plugs with good success recently.

January and February is also a good time to chase different species if the weather permits. Spunky rock bass will readily take plastic grubs, live shrimp or pieces of squid on a jig head. On light tackle, they're a blast and steady fun for the kids. You can find them on the rock piles or artificial reefs throughout the area. Sand or silver trout (known as white trout locally) are still more cooperative players. They'll take the same offerings as the sea bass. Look for them in the deeper holes as well.

Sheepshead are another winter mainstay with plenty of fight. Use live or fresh-dead shrimp or fiddler crabs for these striped scrappers around structure like bridge pilings, channel markers and the nearshore wrecks. Finally, if the water temperatures stay moderate, gag grouper will gladly pounce on soaked dead baits around structure within state waters. They'll also smash diving plugs like the Mann's Stretch series or Rapala CDs.

If you still can't find any fish, the new year is a good time to be on the water regardless. The boat needs running periodically anyway, and the extreme winter low tides offer the perfect opportunity to scout new spots (and find otherwise hidden rocks) and load waypoints into the GPS.

Captain Dave Lear's BIO:

Besides contributing to a number of magazines and web sites over the last 20 years and winning numerous awards, Capt. Dave Lear is a long-time advocate for marine conservation. He was the communications director for Florida Conservation Association during the Net Ban years, served as executive director of The Billfish Foundation and later ran the successful campaign to unify Florida's fish and wildlife management. In 2006, he was recognized by the International Game Fish Association as the 51st angler to join the Royal Billfish Slam Club. When he's not off on writing assignments, Capt. Lear guides clients to tarpon, redfish and trout along Florida's Big Bend coast from St. Marks to St. Joe Bay. He specializes in sight-fishing using light-spin or fly gear. Eco-tours and photo excursions are also available in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Contact Info:

Capt. Dave Lear

 (Ph) 850-320-2001

www.captaindavelear.com