Fishingcast: Conditions for Marco Island, Dec. 22-28

BACKWATER

Super weather early week for Christmas and anglers. Tanks late week, rain, cold, wind. Water temp orbits 70 degrees. Clarity holding good till late week. Tides mild both ways. Snook stay active in borderline temps. Johnson Bay, Henderson creeks, mid-morning incoming, current points, pilchards with shower. Scattered redfish Upper Addison last hour incoming with shrimp tight to overhangs. Big sheepshead action adverse in too warm water. Spec trout east edges Sea Oat circa Hurricane Pass on cast shrimp early incoming tide.

NEARSHORE

Early week thru holiday flat conditions. Cooler water temps draw big sheepshead from inshore. Structure on first, second reefs working tad shrimp, cut crab vertically on soft lift technique for keepers. Mackerel, some bluefish early mid-morning incoming Walton Reef with tipped top water jigs over chum. Five Mile southeast corner for lane, mangrove snapper with weighted tipped jigs under chum.

OFFSHORE

Placid sea conditions till late week. Red grouper stays at top winter deep target. Need 60-65’ hard bottom working west. Stout tackle, tight drag with live pinfish, cut ladyfish worked tight to outcroppings on tidal drift or at anchor with major chum effort, same baits. Stone crab season, pot markers draw “sunning” tripletail. Set underway lookout, double back, work tipped dark color jig.

More:Fishingcast: Conditions for Dec. 15-21