Changing things up a bit! What a great month of fishing! From triple-tail and bull redfish nearshore to skinny water tailing redfish and trout in the flats, we have seen some good variety this month!

The weather is finally starting to get into a winter time pattern: cool temperatures with breezy north and westerly winds. With this being said, the next month or so at least I’ll be focusing more of my fishing inshore! The snook bite has slowed consistently but there is still some to be caught around our inlets and passes all the way from Ponce to Sebastian. Smaller live baits have been the ticket: anything from greenies and pogies when available to pins and pigfish; the smaller the better! I’ll be focusing more of my fishing towards the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. The cooler weather has really turned the trout bite on as expected! Some days average 20 to 30 fish of all sizes from 15 to 25 inches. Most fish are being caught around deeper troughs and grass flats in the 3 to 5 foot range! Live shrimp on a popping cork or an 1/8 oz mission Fishn jig-head with a gulp shrimp is a deadly combo this time of year.

Subsequently, the redfish bite has picked up as well! Most fish have been chewing a bit better with the cooler weather a little later in the day. I’m starting my trips around 9 o’clock, if not a little later, and am really taking advantage of the afternoon bite. These fish have been cooperating well with small gulp shrimp and weedless jerk-baits, in pearl white, bounced slowly off the bottom. The north end of Mosquito Lagoon has been the best bet, where most fish are between 15 and 30 inches. As usual with the lagoon, practice catch and release to preserve these species for future generations!