Stuart Jensen Beach Inshore Nearshore Fishing Report and Forecast: November 2015

 Don Liang with a nice over-slot snook caught in the St. Lucie River with Capt. John Young of Bites On Charters. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. John Young.
Don Liang with a nice over-slot snook caught in the St. Lucie River with Capt. John Young of Bites On Charters. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. John Young.

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ess daylight and cooler conditions greet us this month and the fishing will turn on with more of the seasonal species showing up in greater numbers. The slight drop in water temps will have a positive effect on the feeding habits of trout and snook in the Indian River. Bait fish are abundant in the Indian River and there is nothing better than to duplicate a fleeing baitfish then a topwater plug Like a Skitterwalk or a D.O.A. Bait Buster. At first light, up to about 8 a.m., work the edges of the nervous bait schools on the flats. Short twitches usually work best and sometimes a big trout or snook will wait until it’s almost at your feet to strike. I have never seen so many big reds caught before in the river than last month. The redfish population is exploding and getting better as reds are being caught throughout the Indian and St. Lucie river systems. Soft baits like D.O.A. C.A.L. or Berkley Gulp on a 1/8 to ¼ jig head bounced around the potholes in the grass flats and edges of channels work best. Live shrimp under popping corks is also good way to find them. Around the inlet the arrival of the marauding bluefish and Spanish macs are picking up in numbers every day. Once again, everybody has their preference on lures for these toothy critters, but I like a Krocodile spoon with a long shank single hook and anything green and shiny for the macs. You can get away with mono leader of 60-pounds but keep checking for deep frays in the leader. Have not seen too many pompano yet but they are coming. In the St. Lucie River, the black drum never left and are still hanging around the Roosevelt Bridge. Quarter chunked crabs on bottom rigs or shrimp on jig heads is a good way to target them. Our snook tend to migrate into the backwater in the deeper cuts and channels of the St. Lucie when the weather gets cooler. No problem getting them to bite. Plan your night trips around tide changes. You can fish the night bite with big jigs or plugs by working the shadow edge or into the light around bridges and docks. In the day time cast topwater plugs under docks or tight to the mangroves. There are some big mama snook who will surprise you, so be ready for that blow up. Live shrimp on jig heads around structure and mullet will cover the essentials when fishing the St. Lucie River. Keep the waterways clean and get your Mojo gear on!