We had a warmer than average November, but the water temps are cooling off. With the cooler temps in December means we get some cleaner water. The cooler temps also help the flounder bite around the spoil Islands and mangroves from Grant through Micco. Anglers can catch their fair share of flounder from 3 to 5lbs with the occasional larger fish as well. Fish paddle tail baits on ¼-3/8 oz. VMC Boxer Jigheads and work the baits slow on the bottom.
Pompano will be in the lagoon with the cooler water temps also. Target areas with moving water around spoil islands or sand bars. The pompano will be working the bars looking for shrimp, crabs or small clams washing over the bars. If we get as good of a run as we did last December, there will be plenty of pompano to go around. Best baits are Doc’s Goofy jigs or soft plastics such as Mirrolure Lil Jon on a jighead.
The flats of the Banana River as well as the shallow waters of the Thousand Islands in Cocoa will be holding schools of redfish and Black drum which will stay deep early and move up to the flats later in the morning after the sun warms up the water. Fish the drop-offs and deep cuts along the mangroves with live or dead shrimp. The clean, clear water will allow anglers to sight fish the reds, Black drum as well as Gator trout. Use jerk baits rigged weedless and work them slow across potholes or use live shrimp to entice a bite.
The Creeks from Sebastian through Melbourne should be a good place to catch Black drum as well as Mangrove snapper and sheephead. Use shrimp and fiddler crabs on the deeper drop-offs and around the oyster bars. Trout and redfish will be in the warmer, deeper waters of the creek as the lagoon gets cooler. Soft plastics like the Lil Jon and subsurface baits like the Rapala Clackin Minnow, Twitchin Rap and XR 08 in Silver are go-to artificial baits.
Keep abreast of the weather patterns and fish before the front if time allows. Most fish will feed before the front and shut down for a few days after the front. Once the pressures move a day or two after the front and it warms up, the bite will improve. Keep your baits slow and low in the cold waters to be more productive.
[easy-social-share]