Redfish are the bread and butter of winter bay anglers. They are abundant, mild-flavored and fairly easy to catch, when you find them.

But with a shortage of live shrimp, alternative baits are in order.

Live shrimp have been scarce due to the cold weather. According to some, the shrimp are just harder to find and catch when the water gets cold.

Try soft plastics or mud minnows.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, Murray Judson went out to the east flats in the fog and caught more than 10 reds, three of them big, fat keepers, all over 27 inches. He used mud minnows, and fished the deep holes at low tide.

John Price said he prefers soft plastics, but that if you do use mud minnows, try cutting their heads off. The redfish will be attracted to the scent.

Capt. Tom Buckner said he has been "hammering the reds," using soft plastics, especially new penny gulps and Texas Trout Killers in natural colors. According to Buckner, cut bait is better when the redfish are on the move. "Right now," he said "You're better off with the plastics."

John McNatt at Fisherman's

Wharf reported kingfish and blackfin tuna caught offshore and sheepshead and black drum off the jetties.

Scott Garrison at Deep Sea Headquarters said offshore trips are catching kingfish, vermillion snapper and Atlantic sharpnose shark. The 36 to 48-hour floater trips brought back yellowfin and blackfin tuna, amberjack, dorado and barracuda.

Sharon Keehlisen at Woody's Sports Center said anglers are catching limits of black drum at Big Slough, redfish in the potholes in the flats, sheepshead off the jetties and "a few flounder, here and there," mostly around the drop-offs in the ship channel.

MaryAnn Heimann at Offshore Adventures said anglers have been catching redfish and black drum in Redfish Bay.

Tracy Ingalls at Barnacle Bill's Pier House said anglers on Horace Caldwell Pier have been catching "Redfish here and there, back drum and Atlantic sharpnose shark."