Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook Jan. 8, 2025

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook Jan. 8, 2025By David “The Pierpounder” Thornton

As we should expect in this fortnight through mid January, we could well see some of the coldest temperatures of the year, at least so far. That means nearshore water temperatures will likely take another dip once extremely cold, dry continental air slips south over the relatively warmer Gulf water.
Water temperatures just 12 miles offshore are typically in the lower 60s by this time of year, but so far this season have averaged about 5 degrees warmer. Even the back bay water temperatures have not gotten frigid yet, meaning many of our native fish like sheepshead have lingered inshore. The heavy rains that occurred after Christmas may push some speckled trout out of the inshore rivers and creeks, but that just means the speckled trout fishing along the Intercoastal Waterway may continue to produce for a while longer despite the cooler temps. Sheepshead can tolerate lower salinity water than trout anyway.
Colder temperatures often concentrate species like bluefish, redfish and sheepshead around the jetties at Perdido Pass. And even flounder, pompano, and speckled trout may be caught there on occasion with lures though live bait is more reliable at times. Some current is essential for bluefish to feed since they prefer to stay relatively deep in the water column downcurrent from the large boulders on the bottom, then rise up to ambush schools of minnows or small mullet which happen by. For this reason they are often caught on diving plugs like the Rapala X-rap, but also readily strike pearl colored Zoom Flukes on a ¼ ounce jig head jigged over the bottom. Even though the sharp teeth and strong bite of a bluefish can shred the soft plastic baits, they are fairly cheap. The tails cost less than live shrimp and may produce multiple fish before being rendered unusable. They can sometimes even be Super-glued back together You can cover more water three-dimension-ally as well as faster, though there are plenty of times when a free-lined live shrimp will garner bite after bite not just from bluefish, but other desirable species too. Bluefish also eat dead bait like shrimp, cut mullet or other fresh fish on bottom rigs. These may be Carolina style rigs, Fishfinder rigs, or the Double Drop Pompano rigs.
Meanwhile catching along the Gulf beaches has been a little more consistent with continued landings of pompano, and even small spanish mackerel at the Gulf State Park Pier first thing in the morning when it is calm.
And I suspect some of the same from the south end of the west jetty at Alabama Point in the later afternoon during the incoming tide. The afternoon incoming tide can increase water temperature, salinity, and visibility markedly in Perdido Pass in just a few hours January 8th through 16th before we near the NEAP tide period centering on January 19th. Several exceptional red snapper were landed by dedicated pier fishermen during the last couple of weeks along with black drum, whiting, flounder, and pompano. The primary catch bottom fishing the outer half of the pier has been smallish white trout, ground mullet, croaker, and silver perch. Though some of the winter standby larger croakers and gafftopsail catfish have made appearances recently. Both are hard fighters and fine table fare that can make an otherwise cold and boring day fishing become quite interesting and fun!
Surf cast set rig fishing from the beach is another activity that can be unproductive for hours this time of year, then suddenly come alive. Savvy anglers have learned that certain baits and tactics can up their odds of success even in mid January, especially for the often elusive pompano. Putting your bait in the right spot is crucial.
The old saying about 90% of the fish being in 10% of the water is so true about mid-winter surf fishing. Finding spots within your casting range are a critical key to finding fish since these cold-blooded fish will not expend a lot of energy searching for food in colder water. Tackle is another key to being successful, as using too heavy or too light of tackle or terminal gear is often the difference between a fine meal or two at home and eating takeaway restaurant food. Selecting a nice variety of choice terminal rigs and gear like hooks, weights, and leader line to cove a variety of weather and water conditions is made easier by visiting local tackle shops with employees that often fish the same waters with the same methods and share those with customers. Their good advice is capped off by procuring quality baits, or even getting a ghost shrimp pump.
If you intend to slurp up and fish with ghost shrimp be sure to pick up some Miracle Thread to help keep this soft bodied bait snugly on the hook until it gets eaten. And if the thread comes off the hook, no worries because it is biodegradable. Ghost shrimp are the favored prey item for pompano and whiting in the surf, as well as other species that happen along. Consequently, red or black drum (even large specimens) are fairly common bycatch when targeting pompano or whiting with light tackle, and every year provide epic battles on lighter gear intended for the smaller, more plentiful species.
Blue crabs are another useful bait if you are targeting larger game like the big black drum or oversized redfish on heavier tackle from the beach or along the banks of the canal. Both of these species are primarily catch and release because these adult fish represent the brood stock which may well live 25 to 40 additional years once they have reached maturity, if allowed. Plus the quality of their flesh is no where near that of smaller, younger specimens. Besides large black drum are reputed to be infested with spaghetti worms (a harmless yet disgusting looking parasite) in the flesh of the larger drum.
Live shrimp and fiddler crabs are often used to target sheepshead this time of year. That is made a bit easier for sheepshead anglers at Perdido Pass Seawall and west jetty once the water has cooled below 65 degrees because most of the pinfish and grunts that are so worrisome in warmer water now become scarcer. So, live shrimp can now be used to target just about anything that swims in the cooler water this time of year. But that still means a variety of bycatch such as striped burrfish, stingrays, skates, etcetera, in addition to undersized regulated species may interrupt your catching and not receive an invitation home for dinner. But cumulatively, they add up to an interesting day on the water especially if you have any kids along. It doesn’t take much to hold the attention of younger children, who are often well pleased catching just about anything, especially if it is something they have never seen before.