While surf fishing is generally slow this time of year, whiting can often be found by those in boats outside the breakers in 30 to 35 feet of water.

Black seabass are the mainstay on wrecks within 12 to 13 miles of the beach, and a few legal snapper may be around, too. Daytona Beach anglers can prospect for cobia on reefs in 60 to 70 feet of water and grouper and snapper starting at around 100 feet.

In fresh water, Rodman Reservoir is scheduled to be at full drawdown stage. This will concentrate bass and panfish and make for potentially fabulous fishing. Bass will be on the beds in the usual spots along the west shore of Lake George. Along the St. Johns River, shiners will catch bass in the tributaries and along the deeper edges of grass north of Palatka.

Speckled perch fishermen should check out Rodman Reservoir, Lake Lochloosa and Trout Creek off the St. Johns River.

BEST BET: NORTHEAST

When the wahoo bite is on, as it was last February, it makes one think that Northeast Florida winters aren’t so bad after all.

During one particular week last February, a rash of wahoo was caught by trolling boats out of Fernandina Beach, Mayport, St. Augustine and Ponce Inlet. On one trip, Paul Dozier’s Inside Chance boat recorded six ’hoos—including a hulking 98-pounder—in 200 feet of water at the Ledge out of St. Augustine. Don Combs and crew on Shark Bait posted nine wahoo on another trip.

Those kinds of numbers are possible this month, weather permitting. Wahoo-savvy captains look for temperature breaks and the presence of bait such as flying fish. Deep-running lures and skirted ballyhoo baits will put a prized wahoo on the table.

The Ledge menu may also include blackfin tuna. If neither trolling species is cooperating, move inshore to, say, 150 feet of water, and bottom fish for grouper and snapper. The 21-fathom bottom will also produce grouper and snapper.

FS