Seatrout - Winter Fishing with William Toney

Understanding Seatrout Behavior in Winter

To locate speckled trout during the winter months, it's essential to understand their behavior. As the water temperature drops, these fish seek out areas that are exposed to the sun during outgoing or low tides. The sun's warmth is absorbed by the shallow flats, keys, and limestone rocks, creating pockets of warmer water. When the tides turn and push water back over these areas, seatrout will school up to take advantage of the warmth and feed on the baitfish being carried by the incoming water.

A Day with Capt. William Toney

In this In The Spread Winter Sea Trout fishing video, we join Capt. William Toney, arguably one of the best saltwater inshore fishing guides in Florida. With decades of experience targeting speckled trout year-round, William knows their habits and preferences inside out. On this particular day, he faces the challenge of a full moon tide and a stiff west wind, which rapidly pushes a huge amount of water onto the keys.

Stalking Winter Seatrout

Capt. William Toney begins by selecting a spot he wants to target and then methodically stalks his way towards the area where he plans to present his baits. Moving quietly and slowly is crucial to avoid spooking the fish. Watch as he repositions time and again to improve his vantage point for casting, adapting to the changing conditions as the water level rises.

Lure Selection and Retrieval Techniques

In this video, William shares his favorite soft plastics for targeting speckled trout and demonstrates the most productive retrieval methods. He explains how to work the fast-moving water and stiff winds with different baits and line management techniques, ensuring you can effectively present your lures to the fish.

Reading the Tides and Moving Spots

One of the keys to successful winter seatrout fishing is reading the tides and knowing when to move to a new spot. Capt. Toney does an excellent job of profiling ideal keys and points to fish and explains how long to spend on them before running to a new location. By understanding how the tides influence fish behavior, anglers can make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success.

Learn From the Best, Catch More Fish

This In The Spread fishing video is packed with tactics and techniques to help you catch seatrout during the challenging winter months. Take advantage of the knowledge that Capt. William Toney has acquired over a lifetime and tighten up your inshore game. With the insights gained from this video, you'll be well-equipped to adapt to changing conditions and enjoy a productive day of winter seatrout fishing in Florida.