Capt. Lee Noga
The shrimp are running! Bye-Bye Hurricane Irma and thank-you for at least saving Volusia County and our shrimping season. I am sad to report that Titusville Pier sustained extensive damages. We have not been given any information concerning a re-open date. This loss is catastrophic to the non-boater community. Titusville pier is an iconic land mark. However, the relief bridge at the mouth of the Max Brewer Bridge parking lot entrance should spit shrimp to the delight of those casting a net. The news is reporting we have a 40% chance of another warm winter. This would make the 3rd year in a row. The take away from this is the water is going to be dirty and we will be plagued with warm water bait fish that cover up our lights and black out our dipping light fields. Good news, is 1 gallon of Edgewater shrimp were reported on November 5th and they were small but around 4” ( my favorite size). This excites me. This means they will grow up to be cowboys and will be our large to jumbo in January and February (5-7 inches). Last season Hurricane Matthew reduced our Volusia shrimp run by killing off a generation of size when it ran over Mosquito Lagoon. We may just have an epic season in Volusia County in 2018. I am seeing higher volume of pink and brown shrimp this November compared to years past. The million dollar question will be, what if any, of 2017 high volume of those rogue jumbo white shrimp (blue/green tail) will bless our 2018 season. It is simple reasoning, millions of shrimp in close proximity fertilize and lay eggs. Did any eggs get laid in Volusia and Brevard County? We are still are reporting a skunk for white shrimp over summer to early Fall in Daytona and Ormond area. Reports at Railroad Bridge are not encouraging for winter shrimp but that can change in a moment. The fact that shrimpers are scouting and dipping shrimp so early in November could be the a sign we will have an epic season. Does this mean we are going to see the 200 boat weekend brigade again in Volusia? No big deal if we do there is plenty of shrimp to fill freezers for everyone. Dirty water is going to be the biggest problem to overcome this season. Warm water bait fish blacking out the lights are going to the the 2nd problem. Remember, MONO-FILAMENT frame nets AKA box nets are illegal. You are required to use green polypropylene (my least favorite, pull very low counts), nylon (my favorite & what I use), cotton or linen bag material. We will be talking about this and all the issues in great details at my seminars and in my educational forum on Facebook, “Florida Shrimping Academy- Tips & Tricks”.
Capt. Lee Noga
Academy of shrimping
www.leenoga.com