BAFFIN BAY

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

Tips for the Novice or the Pro

 

 

WE AT PARADISE GUIDE SERVICES hope every one of our readers had a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and an amazing Thanksgiving. We always appreciate everyone’s interest in the information we try and share about Baffin Bay and surrounding areas.

With that said, let us talk about fishing in January and February. This time of year is great for the angler looking for “the one,” but it can also be great for the novice crew. Either way, start with attempting to pick the right weather patterns and days. 

For a novice group or a family trying to get the kids in on the action, I typically try to fish two days or more after a northern front blows in. The wind may still be from the north but has settled down by this point and is not going to blow us off the water. The pressure is usually starting to change and become better for a fish bite to take place. This benefits us as we are trying to get novice fishermen hooked and wanting to come back for another enjoyable experience. Our unique rock structures, along with fish that often warm up in the shallows early in the morning, create a great fishing experience for anglers of all skill levels. With family groups or new anglers just wanting to see if they will enjoy the water, we typically recommend live shrimp under a popping cork. 

Similar approaches can also be applied for the fishermen that are looking for “the one.” This group tends to be a little more hardcore and we typically suggest wadefishing with lures or live shrimp under a popping cork. When it comes to lures, we recommend bringing an assortment of what you enjoy throwing. A lot of the success is due to the confidence in a lure and adjusting if needed when the neighboring angler is having success with a different color or lure. As much as we are working and doing different things this time of year, we always encourage anglers to bring an assortment of plastics. Rest assured, however, we will always have a few different options on hand to help. 

We base lure selection on water temperature, water clarity and what the sky is doing, but also advise you to throw what you are comfortable with. Later in the day, the shallows might warm up more than what the bait fish are comfortable with. Due to this we typically start by fishing shallow water early and deeper water once the sun gets up. We look for grass lines early and structure later in the day depending on water color and visibility. 

We can tailor any trip, so do not think you have to be a professional to enjoy the beautiful waters and fishery that Baffin Bay and the land cut offer!

 

 

•  •  •