Anglers should start to see more fish making the transition from the shallow flats they have inhabited over the summer and fall months to areas with deeper water like residential canals, and dredge holes. As the waters cool, these deeper areas usually have more consistent temperatures and become favored places for black drum, redfish, and speckled trout. Live shrimp or fingerling mullet on a weighted rig or jig head can be one of the best ways to get these fish to strike.
If the fish are aggressive jigs, suspending plugs, and small spoons or gotcha style plugs are often good options for anglers wishing to use artificial lures. Some fish will remain on the flats if the weather stays relatively warm, but look for them to move closer to these deeper areas so they have a short swim to more stable water. Soft plastic jerk baits like the 5-inch Saltwater Assassin shad rigged on an un-weighted or lightly weighted worm hook can be extremely effective on redfish and large trout that are ambushing prey near these drop off areas.
Capt Jim Ross
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