January Fishing SGI
Hello all--longtime lurker here. I've fished SGI for years from a center console spring thru fall, but i've never tried my luck in the winter time. I just bought a fishing kayak, and i'm thinking of coming down to camp at the state park next month to try it out. So, i have a few questions: Will there be much hope of catching trout/redfish around the oyster bars at the state park this time of year? It's a favorite spot of mine in the warmer months, but I'm not real sure where to go when the water's cold. I've read thru some old threads, and it sounds like a lot of the trout hold up in the river at Apalachicola that time of year...should i just drive to Apalach and fish the river? Also, I'm used to cast netting pinfish/finger mullet/etc. to use as my primary source of bait...how much harder is it gonna be to find them? I'd appreciate any tips if anyone wants to point me in the right direction as far as good areas to find baitfish and trout/redfish. Thanks guys
Replies
You might consider launching at the Ten Foot Hole downtown and fishing the distributaries of the delta, or launch up at Cash Creek and fish the lower creek and shoreline of the bay.
I hope you have a good trip.
OD
D
And.....be careful Yak fishing in the dead of winter. The river is deep and has decent current. A tip over that would be a PITA and good for a laugh in the summertime can be a life threatening event in the winter. Fishing alone in cold water, the gear you wear to stay warm will quickly become a big problem if you have to swim to shore or climb back into your Yak in 15 or 20 feet of water. It is not the kind of fishing that I would recommend as your first foray into Kayak fishing.
So....good luck, but I personally think you would be better off to bring the center console boat for the winter and wait to break out that Yak come early spring when the fish are shallow and hungry on the back side of SGI.
This is my first "fishing" kayak, but i'm experienced in canoes and kayaks, so the risk of falling in the cold water isn't gonna keep me away. Fair warning though, and i will exercise caution.
Thanks for all the feedback. I'll post a report when i get back