Another year has graced the Space Coast, and it’s been an amazing one. From events to get your spirts high! To spectacular fishing on all our waters! It’s been a great Year for LocalLinesCharters. com, and for that I thank all of you readers. Coastal Angler is the best resource for local and traveling fisher folks, and has been so good to me over the years. Thank You; Damon Pullias for all your hard work on CAM Brevard and support in the local fishing community! Without you great people picking up this publication we wouldn’t be here, so have a great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. Now let’s get to the good stuff! Fish!!!
The inshore/lagoon fishing should continue to be solid throughout the month. Our summer fish (tarpon and snook) have ether gone far into the backwaters or made their way down south by now. So shelf those thoughts of jumping tarpon and sporty linesider’s until those spring winds blow. That doesn’t mean you can’t find those little hidden spots that will hold during the cold periods. As the cold fronts and associated north winds continue to push down the sand bar we call Florida the SightFishing season will kick off. Lagoon waters drop with those north winds and the cooler temperature don’t allow as much growth of the organisms that dirty the water. Shallow clean flats will be prime for redfish and seatrout that will be hunting for their next meal. The cooler temps will also signal a change in diet for our inshore gamefish. Shrimp, crabs, and marine worms will be targeted more as the ‘finfish” numbers continue to diminish. Your artificial lures should also change with this pattern. Stick baits like the Slayer Inc. SSB in molting does an outstanding imitation of common cold water prey items. As do the DOA Shrimp and various gulp options.
Quietly stalk shallow flats and present your offering to seen fish. Don’t worry about the early start, because this fishing is best done from 10am-2pm with high bright sun. This also allows you to get tabs on the areas where our gator trout will stack up through the winter. These “hot’ spots will typically be close to a form (canal, Hole, shoreline trough) deep water needed for comfort during the coming cold months. As with every year the cooler temperatures will get the Space Coast shrimp on the move, and our fresh off spawn breeder redfish won’t be far behind.
The near-shore fishing can be very susceptible to weather conditions and the number of fronts will dictate your target species. Last year’s early winter warm swell boasted an amazing cobia run that was within striking distance. We will certainly be looking for good amounts of heavy weight tripletail to invade the Canaveral Buoy line. My fish catch logs have December as the top month to test these brutes. Most of these “trips” will be concentrated around the Canaveral buoy’s and are fished with a live shrimp utilizing the Slayer Inc. Destroyer jig head. Heavy tackle is needed to wrestle these gamefish from the anchor chain of the buoy. If you’re interested in this or any other of our offered Space Coast Adventures please feel free to contact us. Don’t forget to get your gift certificate; they make great stocking stuffers. Also make sure to mark the date (Dec. 6th) for a seminar I will be giving at 12pm; Location: KBB Outfitters in Titusville. Should be a good one!
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Capt. Alex Gorichky