AUTHOR
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Experience the Best of Hudson Waters with Captain Eric
Gasparilla Sound - Charlotte, FL
The winter pattern is in full swing here in Hudson, and while we’ve dealt with a few chilly mornings and passing fronts, the bite has remained incredibly consistent for those who know where to look.
The Inshore Scoop With the water temperatures hovering in the mid-60s, we’ve been focusing our efforts on the darker mud bottoms and deeper backcountry holes that hold onto the afternoon heat.
Redfish: We’re seeing some solid schools of reds bunched up on the flats. Stealth is the name of the game right now since the water is crystal clear. Small, live shrimp on a light jig head have been the most reliable "go-to" for consistent hookups.
Snook: The snook have moved into their typical winter haunts—residential canals and deeper creeks. We’re finding them stacked up near structure. Slowing down your presentation is key; they aren't chasing fast moving baits right now, but they can't resist a shrimp drifted slowly into their strike zone.
Sheepshead & Trout: The "winter stars" are definitely out. We’ve had some 20-40 fish days recently, with sheepshead moving onto the local pilings and rock piles. Spotted sea trout are also plentiful on the deeper grass flats in 3–5 feet of water.
Looking Ahead As we move toward the latter half of February, keep an eye on the tides surrounding the upcoming New Moon on the 17th. We’re expecting some strong water movement which usually triggers a more aggressive feed.
While the "Silver Kings" are still a few months away from their peak spring migration, we are already starting to see juvenile tarpon rolling in the protected canals and upper harbor areas on the warmer afternoons. It’s a great time to be on the water before the spring crowds arrive!
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