Aucilla River gets a lot of fishing attention during colder months but there are certainly other less-pressured spots. Tidal creeks to the east and west of Aucilla River can also be productive. Deeper creeks are best and the only thing anglers need to remember is to leave before low tide. The fish also seem to move in and out with the tide so it works out well.

Econfina and St. Marks rivers should also be included on the list of winter fishing holes. Econfina River is similar to the Aucilla in that there are limited numbers of deep holes to fish. St. Marks River offers many more choices for anglers. The Newport Bridge marks the upper end of the fishing for reds and trout with most rod bends taking place closer to the St. Marks Power Plant. The entire river down to the fort and beyond can be fishy. East River, which is northwest of the lighthouse, is close to lighthouse boat ramp. It is protected from inclement weather and easy to fish from small boats.

Offshore anglers need to keep an eye on the sky. The Alphabet Towers offer great fishing—if conditions permit. There are five of these Air Force training towers south of Carrabelle that are roughly 15 to 30 miles offshore. They offer good fishing for amberjack, grouper and snapper. When the water warms up, blackfin tuna, kingfish, dolphin and cobia move in.

There are numerous artificial reefs much closer to shore that you can reach via small boats. These reefs offer good grouper, flounder and seabass fishing. The GPS coordinates for all these reefs are listed at Myfwc.com under fishing/reef locater.

BEST BET: NORTHWEST

Every year, white bass move up the Apalachicola River as far as they can travel to lay their eggs. The Jim Woodruff Dam is the limit for this upstream migration. Shad also make their spawning journey at the same time.

White bass seem to prefer a moderate current, especially around structure. The fish usually come upriver in small schools, so the fishing happens all at once. Whities take a variety of baits, including small red-and-white jigs, spoons, spinners, streamer flies, grass shrimp, shad and small crawfish. The fish seem to bite best close to the bottom, so a sliding weight above a swivel and a short leader tied to a small hook works well for live baits.

When the wind is blowing and the temperature drops, fishing this protected river offers a great alternative to braving open water or staying inside playing couch potato.

FS