December should bring winter fishing patterns to East Central Florida, water temperature swill drop and should continue to clear in the intercoastal waterway, also levels dropping with northwest winds and dry weather. Inshore fish will form into schools, hunting red fish on the Mosquito Lagoon and backcountry is a winter favorite. Key spots include shallow flats and adjacent sand sloughs in the lagoon area, as well as shallow mud and oyster bays, coves, and creeks in the Edgewater to New Smyrna Beach backcountry.
On sunny days, fish stay shallow, enjoying the sun-warmed water. The dark mud bottom sand oyster shell bars can hold more warmth in cold water, because dark colors absorb heat.On cloudy chilly days, some will still be in the shallows, but also look closer to the edges near deep water as they drop off deeper during the colder nighttime and cloudy day temperatures. Select-sized live tail-hooked shrimp can be the go-to bait, but small live finger mullet, Gulf shrimp, and small size soft plastics will catch both reds and trout on the flats. Work the schools slow as they are usually spooky. Use a quiet push pole or slow speed trolling motor to get in casting distance or set up on anchor and wait for them to return to your location.
Large size sea trout also are found in the winter shallow sand can be among the wariest of all. Long-distance sighting and accurate cast give the best chance to fool a big speck into biting. The big ones can be solitary fish but on occasion schools of trout are also seen on the winter flats. Smaller trout generally school in deeper water, on drop offs, holes, sloughs, and deeper hard bottom spots on the lagoon. They will be near the bottom in the chilly water, a live shrimp dropped with a split shot, and light weighted jigs of 1/16 or 1/8 oz.in light colors. Small size baits and lures are usually best during the cold months, as winter meals are smaller size shrimp, crabs and baitfish. It is also time to go as light as possible with fluorocarbon leaders, weights, and terminal tackle as stealth is an important factor in clear water. Remember, redfish are catch-and-release only year-round in the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, and spotted sea trout a reseasonally closed in November andDecember in our zone.
For deeper water winter tactics, target black drum on the bottom of holes, drop-offs, and channel edges, Ponce Inlet and Haul over Canal, shrimp or blue crab pieces are the bait of choice. Sheep she ad fishing improves with dropping water temperatures, they are structure-oriented, so use fish fiddler crabs or shrimp close to bridge, dock pilings, jettie sand rock plies. Bluefish are always a good fly-fishing target for winter, use small flashy lures, live baits, shrimp, and cut bait. Snook season closes December 15, so becareful with catch and release until the season reopen son February 1st of next year.
CAPT. MICHAEL SAVEDOW
Edgewater River Guide
EdgewaterRiverGuide.com