The 2014/2015 winter shrimping season kicked off first week in November when a record breaking cold front dropped in on Florida. This sent many to dig out their shrimping gear and head out to the piers and boat ramps. Did I go out and chase? No, but I did move my boat to Oak Hill in preparation of trips to come.
However, November & December are transition months where colder weather sets in and the rain backs off. Those that got the fever during the early cold fronts reported edible size shrimp at Lopez pier in Volusia County, South of Riverbreeze boat ramp. Reports trickled in from Edgewater Florida reporting small shrimp off piers located around CM 68-69. The “chase” was measured in dozens.
This is normal for November & December, the shrimp are small and but they are in the river. We see fish busting the shrimp on the top water. Reports out of North Brevard, Titusville area are few. The popular Titusville pier is sharing plank with shrimpers who are weathering the cold fronts with dip nets in hand with no kills. You have to “go to know”, and I salute all the scouts out there reporting back their observations.
The water is dirty in some areas and this can compromise anglers with gear not capable of throttling through dark water. This will all clean up over time. Shrimp are well into their life cycle which necessitates they move around in the lagoon to meet their evolving nutritional & salinity needs. We intercept them in the channel when they move around the flats to bury up and continue their growth cycle. This is what we are seeing this month in our lights, nothing but localized movement.
When do the bio mass shrimp runs begin in Central Florida? Over the last 5 years, these epic runs have started typically in late January- February in Volusia County. By March we are married to our gear, missing work and filling freezers. Haulover Canal and Rail Road Bridge in Titusville have the advantage. They typically ring the bell of success before Volusia County starts reporting activity. Let me share a secret with you. If you hear Brevard has fallen into the crickets, 24-72 hours later, these crickets coincidentally appear in Oak Hill.
Low pressure fronts influence Brevard, and move those bugs,and push them through the canal and into the Lagoon. The Academy is putting on a BBQ and half day seminar January 10th, 2015 (outdoors, Riverbreeze pavilion) at noon – 4pm, free to attend. Capt Lee will be dishing the latest in strategy, gear advancements, and all things shrimp. RSVP, limited seating.
Captain Lee Noga
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