This is Where Florida Fish Go to Keep From Dying in the COLD!

[@michaelsimko7694]

The sound of the explosion by that big snook sounded almost identical to the sound of a 30"+ striper hitting a spook. This winter has been the coldest I've seen and felt in 5+ years John. The series of Arctic outbreaks have been crazy. I remember when there was a winter within the past 10 years that devastated Florida's orange growers and killed a number of snook, reds, and jacks. Lakes and ponds closer to the shoreline here in CT have been nearly covered with ice, which has been the first time I've seen it this early in the winter in 5+ years. This winter will probably mark the first ice fishing season in 4 or 5 years.

[@Fishing4life1997]

Really enjoyed this!

[@angelswalkingwithus2876]

Hi John! We had frost in Saint Augustine last evening! Love the Bimini Bay combo. A must this month..

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

This cold has me worried for the snook. Water temp at sanibel is 61 now. Two more cold mornings to go. Glad you like the Bimini Bay suit. I can't believe how much I wear that stuff.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

This video makes me miss Florida. It's been miserable on the Chesapeake Bay now since before Thanksgiving. So I'm ordering and buying stuff locally to be ready for the flounder in the spring. Thanks for showing us some snook fishin, they might be my favorite fish to catch. Definitely in Florida.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

It's got to be tough for a Florida guy to be up North this time of year. Hang in there! Weather will start turning in 6 weeks.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@JohnSkinnerFishing I'm ready!

[@Onewayto2024]

Thanks John! PS - last night under a local wadable bridge I did a good job on the snook (and even a couple of big bluefish) on 6” Mag Darters and bottle plugs. Even got one on a 7” Bomber. I had this same pattern last January too.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Snook and bluefish! Cool!

[@Onewayto2024]

@ Don’t listen to the “snook only eat small baits in the winter” stuff. Maybe the big ones I’ve gotten on big plugs didn’t get the memo 🤣. BTW, in the fall of 2023 I asked you about using big “Long Island” stuff for snook down here, you said why not, go for it - that was really good advice - thank you!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

​@@Onewayto2024I grew up snook fishin in Florida. A lot of stuff for stripers and for largemouth bass also catches snook. I used to catch a lot with 6 lb test monofilament and a jig head made for crappie with a live shrimp pinned through the chin and out the top so the gold hook is just above their horn. As long as you have room to fight them without structure that is the best method for snook in the winter that I know of. My biggest on that rig was 38.5".

[@steveannunziato92]

Hey John, you ever think of getting a video on near shore tuna back home? Thinking of trying it and love your tutorials

[@davidfriedman3962]

Thank you for continuing to teach us. The rod and reel, can you provide description/details and casting bait/weight ranges. Again thank you

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Rod: bit.ly/45GoMej Reel (2000): bit.ly/3TaSWCS New Dark Matter Feeder Minnow Lure: bit.ly/497mV4I

[@jeffgibson-c6o]

God damm Johnny, nice f'ing job dude !!! Beautiful man.

John, will the seminar be streamed somewhere or at least recorded for future public release? If so, may I ask for the details? Thanks and be safe out there.

[@wayneduncan36]

John I live n Tampa fl Next to the ship yard on 22 at u know of any spots around there??

[@miket4548]

John, do you prefer the fishing in Florida or on Long Island?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

That's really hard to answer, but I've decided tarpon are my favorite fish to hook.

[@ATREZ0123]

Some real nice fish! What a life you have made for yourself. Its freezing in NY. So, do you not like to use the regular jig heads for swimbaits when fishing for Tarpon and Snook? You seem to always use the weedless hooks. Why is that? Is it for more of a finesse presentation? Or what? Love to hear your thoughts Thanks

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Wow that's a good question. I prefer regular jig heads if the water is slightly deeper, which here means 3 feet or more. The forward weight lets the jig fall straight down, so I can let it fall, twitch, crank, let it fall... The swimbait hooks are for fishing 3 feet or less, which is a lot of my fishing. In that case I prefer the distribution of weight on the hook which allows the bait to swim level. The tarpon fishing I do involves swimbait hooks even though I'm in 10-20 ft, but the fish hit high in the water column. My experience is a swimbait hook holds on a tarpon WAY better than a jig head, which they throw easily because of all of the weight being in one place.

[@brucebartolomeo2755]

John, Providence this year?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Not this year. I'm going to do the big show in Edison, NJ instead.

[@vincentengongoro2705]

John do you crush the barb on the swim bait hook too??

[@johnw.cirago9300]

JOHN ITS FREAKIN COLD HERE IN LONG ISLAND...

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Hey - we might see 45 degrees tonight!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

It was 22 on the Chesapeake Bay this morning. The brackish marshes were frozen in the shallow water. Gross