Happy New Year! I wrapped up 2024 with an exciting guided trip for Todd from Massachusetts. We braved the early morning fog and were rewarded with an unforgettable fishing experience. Hitting the water before dawn, we started our day by picking up a few small snook along the mangroves. As the sun rose, we moved to a wind-protected shoreline, where Todd landed a beautifully stained backwater snook. It was a great way to end the year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings!

The sheepshead bite has been absolutely on fire lately! Key target areas have been along mangrove shorelines and under docks, yielding catches of up to 20”! These strong fighters put up quite a challenge when trying to pull them out from structure, making for an exhilarating experience.

This week’s focus was on exploring both dock structures and mangrove shorelines/flats. While the docks were relatively quiet, the mangroves and flats proved to be hotspots. Redfish Success Early in the week, I targeted redfish using cut mullet on a 7/0 Octopus hook with a 40lb leader and 20lb braid. Casting close to mangrove shorelines and letting the bait sit until something picked it up, which yielded an impressive catch. A previous encounter with a school of reds in the area helped identify the prime location. Snook Action On Sunday evening, I shifted focus to snook, using finger mullet hooked through the upper lip with a 4/0 circle hook and a 30lb monofilament leader. Slowly moving along mangrove shorelines until finding areas with loud bait activity, and approaching quietly, led to multiple snook catches. Outlook With the current conditions and bait activity, I’m optimistic about the week ahead. Mangrove shorelines and flats are expected to remain productive, making them priority targets. Key Takeaways: – Mangrove shorelines and flats are producing quality catches – Cut mullet effective for redfish – Finger mullet successful for snook, jacks and trout – Quiet approach essential for snook in shallow waters