As December brings 2013 to a close I’m expecting a productive month for Mosquito Lagoon anglers. Unless winter comes early we can look forward to fairly stable conditions and active redfish, black drum and spotted seatrout on the shallows.
While our water clarity is improving I doubt the entire lagoon will be drinking water clear until real winter sets in and chills the water temps down enough to halt further algae blooms.
Still, water clarity will be good enough in many areas to allow us to see our favorite predators as they prowl the flats. Although these fish will still feed upon the remaining mullet, pinfish, etc. they will soon be focusing on shrimp and crabs.
Tails sticking up in the air is an indicator that fish are rooting out a food source from the bottom. Crabs, clams and marine worms are all possibilities, but the most likely creature is a shrimp. Offering a tailing redfish, black drum or yes, even a big seatrout a live shrimp is simply a good tactic. BTW, unless I’m targeting breeder redfish, monster black drum or gator sized trout I see no need in buying jumbo shrimp. In fact, I’ve seen so many slot reds shy away from a huge shrimp I try to buy my live shrimp just large enough to easily cast.
For those like me who enjoy the challenge of fooling these wary creatures with artificial lures I strongly suggest soft plastic lures which imitate a shrimp or small crab. My personal favorites for covering water are the Exude Dart and Exude shrimp. They both cast well even in the wind and can be fished in both shallow and deeper waters. My favorite finesse lures for “tailers” are the Exude Fan Tail Shrimp and Exude Cajun Crab. Rigging all of these lures in a weedless manner gives me and my clients an array of fish catching tools.
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