South Indian River Fishing Forecast - January

January Fishing Forecast

Well, it appears that we just might be in for another cold winter here on the Treasure Coast. Night temperatures have plummeted into the 20's and 30's once again and that will certainly keep the water colder than normal for this time of year. Hopefully, we won't see the fish kills like last year around the state. We will be fishing deeper water for some time now, but action can be exciting in some areas of the river in January. Water temperature is very important in January for your success on the river.

January is typically a windy month. You might enjoy one or two days a week that are calmer, but expect it to be windy. Using the right ramps can make your day better. There are many ramps around the area that allow you to launch depending on wind direction. The river can be rough some days, but you can still fish most days if you plan your trips carefully. It is a great month to fish in spite of weather conditions that might not be to your liking.

Bridges will continue to produce sheephead, black drum, croakers and bluefish. Most of the anglers on the catwalks prefer live or frozen shrimp for these fish. The inlet and turning basin will be full of bluefish, jacks and mackerel this month. Live or dead bait on a jig head will give you plenty of action along with silver spoons or shiny lures. Around seawalls, channel edges or deeper structure you can find grouper for catch and release action in January. Snook action around the jetties and bridges will be active mostly at night for anglers using feather jigs, TerrorEyz and live bait. Snook will remain closed this year until September.

Redfish can be found around docks and sitting on the flats on warm, sunny days. DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits work great for wintertime fishing. Docks will be loaded with sheephead in January with nice sized fish. Pompano fishing will depend on water temperatures for their location, but they will be in the area throughout the winter. Surf anglers will be targeting these fish on days when the beach is fishable. Flounder should be found around the jetties on the beach side and on sand flats around the inlet. If you can find warmer water on the flats, you will most likely find trout feeding in those areas. Last year, we were rewarded many days as the sun would warm up a patch of water and get the fish actively feeding. CAL jerk baits were very successful on the trout. Ladyfish will be all over the river for fun action for the little ones.

January Tips: Dress for the weather. We might get one or two days each week that might be warmer, but most days will be on the cooler side. There can be a 30 degree swing in temperature on some days. Dressing in layers can keep you comfortable throughout the day in January. Once you become cold, it's hard to warm back up again. Keep yourself comfortable and enjoy some good fishing in January. Stay warm and safe and enjoy the winter!

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Thanks and Good Fishing!
Captain Charlie Conner

www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852