By Capt. Michael Savedow, Edgewater River Guide
Early winter temperatures and fishing patterns can begin in November, if we have chilly weather the seasonal transition will begin. The subtropical coastal migrating species will begin moving south where they spend the winter, including Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Pompano, and Spanish Mackerel. The mullet run follows the same south bound route, how soon and low the water temperatures drop will determine the timing. Resident fish such as Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, Snapper, etc remain in our waters through winter, cold water species will begin to move in, including Sheepshead, Black Drum and Bluefish.
Mosquito Lagoon water levels can remain high after a flooded autumn, in the lagoon and backcountry, shorelines can still be a good bet with high water, shallow grass, and the flooded marsh. Potential for more sight fishing if clearer water, more blind casting soft plastics and soaking cut or live finger mullet/mud minnows in cloudy water. In the early morning throw top water lures over shallow edges, and over top of submerged drop offs. After the sun is up, switch to sub surface, soft plastics with 1/8 or 1/16 jig head for deeper water, or weedless jerkbaits in the shallows, in the backwaters free lined live shrimp or finger mullet are always a go to bait, hard plastics like MirrOdines and twitch baits also good. For Pompano in the surf, look for clean water, fish the sloughs between sand bars, sand fleas, cut clam, “fish bites” and peeled shrimp can be best choices for bait. Some pomps also find their way into the backwaters. Snook season is still open, 28″ to 32″ slot size limit, 1 per person a day, a Snook permit on your fishing license needed to keep one.
To target bigger fish, go with bigger baits, like mullet, pinfish and select shrimp, free lined for surface action, with small weight for deeper spots, on artificials, larger swimming lures for surface, jigs and bucktails for deeper. You will want to fish Ponce Inlet jetties, channel, bridge pilings, docks, Spruce Creek, Tomoka areas, and Haulover Canal. In the nighttime, early morning, and before sunrise, moving water can be best in the tidal areas. November also continues the bull Redfish spawn, Ponce Inlet is the center of attention, they can also be along the Intracoastal Waterway, NSB bridges, and Haulover Canal. Anchor or drift and soak half or whole Blue Crabs, live Pinfish, or Mullet. Before the chill comes, Snook, Tarpon, Big Jacks and Sharks can also be in the inlet with the big Reds.
Some years the first cold spell can come this month, if it’s fast and hard, lagoon fish can get a little shocky after a year of warm water as they get used to the first cold water of the year. The near shore ocean this month can be very good for southward migrating schools of Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish from near the beach out to about a mile, watch for surface activity like white water strikes and diving birds, they will be feeding on smaller size baitfish so match the hatch with small long casting shiny spoons, Gotcha plugs and flies. Redfish remain catch & release only south of the New Smyrna SR44 bridge, Spotted Seatrout are closed season in our region November & December & Flounder are closed season through November.
