Finally, we are transitioning closer to the hunt for the brown and pink winter shrimp in Central Florida. We are hearing reports of small juvenile winter shrimp popping around Melbourne. I do not think Hurricane Irma will affect our season, and I hope to see some population recovery from the impact of Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The fact that the summer white shrimp got pushed into our warm winter water, it only makes sense they laid eggs in Brevard. It would not shock me to see these whites every winter in Central Florida if we have warm water winter seasons ahead.
Pull your gear out, test it, sew up net holes and look forward to the up and coming season. The hurricanes of 2017 have wreaked havoc on our N.E. Jacksonville Region, and shut down our Melbourne Causeway hardcore warriors. If Titusville Pier is closed for repairs, you need to check the regulations concerning how far a boat must be from a designated pier. I am hearing boaters plan to suffocate the pier if closed to non-boaters. Trappers may be able to get some cages off the concrete and into the drink but make sure you do so with permission. Look for the whites this month with your cast net at the relief bridge entering Titusville parking lot. They showed up last November in Brevard at Titusville Pier. Those relief bridge spots are taken from sun up to sun down, the white shrimp love the light. Please yield to the commercial folks. This season will be a roller coaster and I am watching all the variables that will affect our season.
