Shrimp Report

Capt. Lee Noga

Brad Helms catches the jumbo white shrimp in Mosquito Lagoon heading South.
Brad Helms catches the jumbo white shrimp in Mosquito Lagoon heading South.

We have had 3 years of warm winters and it is predicted 2018 has a 40% chance of being a warm winter too. November we had a short spurt of small shrimp running in Mosquito Lagoon around Boston Whaler. Some were catching by cast net. We had reports of ½ gallon dipped in Oak Hill and they were 4 inches and smaller. This is very encouraging to see this in November. But in December the short spurts stopped and only yielded 2 to 4 shrimp to those anchored up in both Edgewater & Oak Hill. We had one report of a jumbo white shrimp heading South in the Lagoon. We have talked about the white shrimp that mixed in with our brown and pink shrimp last winter. White shrimp like light, they love warm water. Last season Hurricane Matthew blew in a bio mass into Central Florida. The million dollar question is will these white shrimp, “Fat Daddy’s” show this season as well? Personally, you cannot have a high volume specie hit our waters and there not be a residual the following year. Certainly, there was some egg laying going on. Mosquito lagoon is the best Eco nursery to grow up in. The eggs attach to sea grass on the bottom of the river. The reports at Haulover Canal have been poor. The reports at the time of this writing for Railroad Bridge have been poor. The good news is the North side of Max Brewer Bridge (Titusville Pier) is rumored to be open. The South side pier sustained damage from Hurricane Irma. There is a lottery system at the pier, go early and get your number. Closed batteries (AGM, GEL) are acceptable, no batteries that “slosh” or have to be filled with fluid are NOT allowed. Pier electrical outlets require special electrical adapter. Ace Hardware in Titusville have these adapters. Personally, I rather use a closed battery system. I do not want the electrical surges from the pier outlets when they “pop” from being overloaded. Everyone on that outlet goes dark. At the time of this writing there are not shrimp reports. But January is when I start shrimping around 2nd week. The going gets real good by February. Haulover Canal and Railroad Bridge need cold fronts & spinning Gulf lows to drop in. When a spinning low from Gulf side comes in it shifts the winds from the South, as it passes over the State the winds change to West, North East and East. This gets the crickets moving. If your shrimping Haulover Canal, you want a positive flow (during South and West wind) 1-3K speed. At Railroad Bridge setup boat so wind is in your face. Great news the computer driven MacDaddy Smart Light™ I licensed for release was granted a patent. I will be choosing an fishing organization and donating a part of the 2018 proceeds from each light sale. For daily news, views and reports, visit my educational resource site LeeNoga.com or FB closed forum, “Florida Shrimping Academy – Tips & Tricks”.

Capt. Lee Noga
Academy of shrimping
www.leenoga.com