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NAPLES — The first significant cold front of the season moved through this week and shook up the fishing for a day or two. This, of course, is just the first of what will certainly be a long line of fronts that will pass through this season.

Cold fronts typically stifle the saltwater fishing, but what many local anglers don’t realize is that the cooler temperatures often stimulate the freshwater fishing. Bass fishing, in particular, is best in cooler waters, and the largest bass are typically caught in January and February.

If you do not have a boat, it is always difficult to find good freshwater fishing areas, but if you enjoy a little adventure, you might try the Picayune Strand State Forest. This is a relatively remote wilderness area that can be easily accessed via Everglades Boulevard heading south from Golden Gate. There are paved roads throughout the park and several canals with weirs and bridges that offer fishing opportunities.

This area is worth experiencing. It is rare that an area this wild can be accessed by car, and I am sure a person with a little freshwater fishing expertise and a bit of perseverance could do quite well fishing the area.

NAPLES: It has been windy offshore, but the fishing is great, Capt. Tommy Robinson said. Robinson fished Saturday with Dave Brady and his son, Kyle, and they boated a cooler full of huge mangrove snapper up to 22 inches, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, gag grouper and a shark. That day, Robinson was fishing a full day, 20 miles out, but even inside of five miles there are kingfish, Spanish mackerel, gag grouper and baby amberjack taking any bait that is offered.

This week’s cold front might hurt the fishing for a day or two, but the weekend fishing should be even better. The cooling water temperatures tend to get the fish moving, and cobia and gag grouper will move in on the near shore reefs.

MARCO ISLAND: Capt. Roger Parcells has been having good luck both near shore and well offshore. The structures inside of seven miles are holding cobia, kingfish up to 20 pounds and Spanish mackerel. The cobia seem to be moving behind the front and just pop up at any time.

Further offshore, in the 20-mile range, Parcells has been targeting big kingfish and grouper, and on one trip a bull dolphin estimated to weigh more than 20 pounds came under the chum slick behind the boat. The dolphin actually took two lines, but was missed and swam away unharmed.

Parcells said there are also plenty of large mangrove snapper on the wrecks, but there are so many small amberjack and blue runners around that it is difficult to get a bait to them.

EVERGLADES CITY: Capt. Shane Miller fished the Pavilion Key area on Monday, and his party landed 13 snook to 27 inches plus eight redfish between 25 and 30 inches. They also sighted numerous tarpon “busting” schools of mullet. They fished for the tarpon for an hour, but had no mullet for bait, and the big silver kings would not take any other bait.

Miller reported that the trout fishing has been excellent over the grass beds, but unfortunately, trout go out of season on Saturday, so you had better fill your freezer. There are both cobia and permit on the outside wrecks when the conditions allow access.

Miller has been catching all of his fish on the outside in shallow water, but this week’s cold front will start the migration back into the back bays and deeper channels.

WIGGINS PASS/NORTH NAPLES: Capt. Dave Hanson has been having difficulty getting offshore because of the wind, but he did get out six miles on Wednesday with David Koenigsmark and Hubert Wright. The seas were rough, but they managed to bring back 10 keeper snapper plus sheepshead. They released additional mangrove snapper, short gag grouper, two flounders and a three-foot baracuda.

FRESHWATER: This week’s cold front should help the largemouth bass fishing in the area, while the snook, juvenile tarpon and peacock bass continue to feed, Jess Edwards of the Golden Gate Tackle Box said. The new boat ramp on Santa Barbara Boulevard now allows access to the Golden Gate City canal system and such areas as Lake Sapphire. The peacock bass fishing at midday continues to be good in this area, and there are always a few small tarpon to add to the action. Largemouth bass fishing has not been that good so far this season, but could turn on this weekend.

The best baits are top water lures early in the morning, and plastic worms and live baits later in the day. The water is very clear, so live baits can be a necessity.

E-mail John Preeg at captjohnpreeg@aol.com