Ring in the New Year by becoming a better coastal angling student.
Story and Photography by Nate Skinner

January is one of those months that greet anglers with plenty of ups and downs. Depending on the prevailing weather conditions, it can offer some phenomenal fishing opportunities or keep many off the water. The bite between cold fronts can be exceptional, but it’s the timing of these systems that makes things tough.
In a perfect world, we could all just hit the water when optimum conditions occur. Unfortunately that is not the reality the majority of folks live in. Instead, those that are unable to go fishing at the drop of a hat will likely miss the best windows of rod bending action.
It’s no secret that some of the largest speckled trout of the year are caught during the first month of the year. The species is gearing up to spawn and the heart-of-winter pattern makes targeting them an attainable task. These highly sought after trophies feed best under particular scenarios and seem to acquire lockjaw more often than they jump into the boat.
Despite the odds, anglers can still be productive this month. Even if their time spent on the water is met with less than desirable conditions and a slow bite. There’s always something to learn and take away from a fishing trip. After all, that is the reason we love the sport.

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