Central Florida normally endures a “county” change of guard this month. Volusia and N. Brevard slow down and South Brevard/ Melbourne turn on. Historically, the shrimp run starts tapering down from New Smyrna Beach to Oak Hill in May. Titusville gets more erratic. Anglers head south to start scouting for shrimp in South Brevard waters and Melbourne Causeways. Don’t get me wrong, Titusville will keep swinging nets well into June. In Oak Hill the nights are warm, the bugs are fierce, and the size of the shrimp are getting smaller. Throw in spring pattern bait fish and warm water attracting catfish to our lights, and we quit. But is the end of the season really coming to an end in Volusia & Titusville?
This season we endured a coastal glancing blow from Hurricane Matthew in October. Swarms of large jumbo white shrimp (blue/ green tail) flooded Brevard County. Brevard was reporting full pulls during the day cast netting, and at night using cast nets, lights and dipping nets. The majority of the large/jumbo shrimp where the white specie with 12 – 15 inch antennae. We do not normally see a high volume of any size white shrimp during the winter. We do target them from South Daytona to Jacksonville starting in June/July when our waters warm up. Problem has been our water has been warm all winter hovering 68 – 70 degrees. It is very odd to see the white shrimp have such a strong presence in both Counties for 6 months. Titusville pier, Haulover and Railroad Bridge are on “hit and miss”, you have to put in your time and take a chance. It is not unusual for Haulover and Railroad Bridge to get full pulls in May/June. Melbourne is scouting all their Causeways.
