Canaveral Inshore Forecast: Dec 2013

PORT CANAVERAL- As the waters of Cape Canaveral cool into the 60 degree range anglers will find a different variety of fish species to target in and around the port this month. Flounder begin to show up in pretty good numbers along sandy drop-offs throughout the Ports basins. Small baitfish and shrimp rigged on a jig head or sliding sinker rig are top producers for these tasty fish. Jigs can also be tipped with artificial lures like the Trigger X 4-shrimp. The grey ghost color is one of my favorites. Flounder are not the only species that will hit these live and artificial offerings. Weakfish will begin to show up along the main shipping channel. Often these fish are suspended 4 to 10 feet above the bottom so it’s wise to look for them on a fish finder and drift through the area working a jig or shrimp just off the bottom. A few whiting, pompano, and sheepshead are also a good bet in and around the port this month. Pieces of cut shrimp, clam, sand fleas, and fiddler crabs rigged n a small hook with just enough weight to hold bottom generally work best on these three delicious tasting varieties of fish.

Tripletail are another species that can be found around the Port Canaveral waters this month. Look for these fish free swimming or floating at the waters surface near structure like buoys, pilings, and weeds this month.
Tripletail are another species that can be found around the Port Canaveral waters this month. Look for these fish free swimming or floating at the waters surface near structure like buoys, pilings, and weeds this month.

BANANA RIVER LAGOON- Trout should be on the comeback in the Banana River Lagoon basin again this year. Excellent numbers of baitfish combined with cleaner than average water conditions will hopefully give anglers a chance at some very nice sized trout again this year. Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad tails in the Pink Ghosts, Slamin’ Chicken, Silver Mullet, and watermelon red flake colors are often tough to beat when targeting these fish. Live shrimp are good to use as well if the pinfish don’t become a nuisance. Redfish and sheepshead will hit live fiddler crabs near dock pilings and redfish will also take cut baits fished around mangrove roots or branches around the 1000 island area.

small redfish are often very plentiful around docks and mangroves covered shorelines throughout the winter months in the Banana River Lagoon. Trigger X shrimp are a great lure to use if pinfish are a problem where you are fishing.
small redfish are often very plentiful around docks and mangroves covered shorelines throughout the winter months in the Banana River Lagoon. Trigger X shrimp are a great lure to use if pinfish are a problem where you are fishing.

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