Winter Trout Tips from Keaton Beach Inshore Guide, Capt. Pat McGriff

Capt. Pat McGriff spoke at the January 2011 meeting of the Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club. Pat is a very successful inshore fishing guide, based out of Keaton Beach, on Florida’s Big Bend, in Taylor County.

Here are a few of Pat’s suggestions for successful wintertime trout fishing:

• If you’re targeting big trout in water that’s 55-degrees or less, stay close to shore in shallow water.
• Fish near warm rocky shores, oyster bars or mud banks.
• Fish in stained water, as it warms faster.
• Brackish water is usually warmer than Gulf salt water.
• Fish outside of bars and rock piles on a falling tide.  Don’t get too close!
• The slow tides between the full and new moon cycles tend to keep the inshore waters warmer.
• Move your bait SLOWLY!
• Learn to ‘twitch’ your baits rather than ‘jerk’ them.

Pat recommends using Bass Assassin soft plastics (in ‘limetreuse’ color) or Paul Brown Corky Mullet lures for big wintertime trout (and redfish)

Pat can be reached at (850) 584-9145.  His Web site is: www.onemorecast.net