Charlotte Harbor fishing report

As typical for this time of year, we’ve been working on getting out between fronts. However, it seems like it’s been a bit colder this January than most years. Tides have been a challenge limiting access to many of our flats and backcountry shorelines. Fortunately, my Maverick Mirage tunnel has allowed me to get into all my favorite areas and even though it’s been cold our spotted sea trout have been chewing. To a lesser extent, we’ve been sight fishing a few redfish. In particular, this has been the case on the best tides with the incoming being my favorite. For the most part, our spotted sea trout are the most active winter gamefish. Too, they eat flies real well. Out on the grass flats, the clouser has been my go to fly and in the backcountry in and around the mangroves I like a shrimp or kwan style pattern. As this month winds down, it looks like the weather is beginning to warm up and stabilize a bit. If this is the case, all our gamefish will get more active. Keep in mind, Spring is just around the corner.