Weather will be the key component, the main player, and the overall catalyst for off shore fishing this November. Rhythmic cold fronts, packing high velocity winds will begin to drop deep into the Florida peninsula, initiating temperature changes and mechanizing the natural hydraulics that put saltwater fish in motion and ultimately land them on the front door step of our St. Lucie Inlet. Snapper, grouper, king mackerel, cobia, and sailfish are just a few of the pelagic species that will school up and settle in for a several month winter season. November`s weather flavor is enhanced by its distinction of also being the last month of Hurricane Season. Late season tropical weather is by no means rare (e.g. Hurricane Sandy 2012) and has a huge, potential impact on off shore conditions as the tropical season âmeets and greetsâ cold fronts from the north and west.
With this in mind, off shore enthusiasts will have to watch the weather and pick and choose days that suit their off shore abilities and needs. There will be many days in a typical November, where it is just too rough to go. However, when the seas subside and the off shore playing field becomes user-friendly, anglers are frequently treated to new and hungry wads of biting fish.
Offshore anglers will find large schools of snapper, especially lane snapper, begin to populate the near shore reefs of Stuart in 60 feet of water during the fishable days of November. These fish live around structure/reefs, both naturally occurring and artificial, and will eat a wide variety of cut bait (squid, sardines, ballyhoo, grunt, pinfish, etc.) presented in just about any configuration of hooks sized 3/0 to 5/0. Short, 50 lb. mono-leaders will get the job done as will âchickenâ or âhigh/lowâ rigs, with multiple hook presentations. Fishing at anchor, over top of these inshore reefs, will yield the best results although drift ing will also bring some success. Anchoring the boat proves to be best, as the spots are characteristically small in size. Outfit your boat with a good anchor, a good shot of anchor chain, and a healthy supply of anchor line that will appropriately hold your boat fast to the bottom in 60 feet of water and you`ll be able to fish the many (several dozen) reefs that are just off shore the St. Lucie Inlet, by only a few miles.