SPACEBYTE REPORTS
Check out the most recent reports submitted by our readers and regular contributors!
A lot of Action Across the Region
There were big schools of 3-4 inch pogies all over the bight and port. At the north jetty, there were a lot of undersized snook eating the pogies. Because of the small baits, I was using a medium-heavy shimano rod, 40 lb leader and a 2/0 circle hook. I'd use a bigger hook with bigger baits and consider heavier leader. There have been a few sheepshead already, and I expect them to become abundant soon. Use a small hook and live fiddler crab or shrimp inside the port.
Good Sight Casting in Mosquito Lagoon
The fishing has been pretty good in the Mosquito Lagoon over the last week with some really good sight casting in the clear cool water. With another big blast of cold air coming through this week I anticipate the fishing to continue to get better. Redfish, trout, and black drum with the occasional flounder mixed in is what you should expect this time of year.
Windy and Wet
We managed three trips over the last week. All three were windy and one was windy and wet. Tony spent a windy Monday morning tossing his usual top-water plugs to no avail. He did however manage a redfish a trout and a barracuda (yes a barracuda!) on a Z-Man Curly Tailz in the pearl white color.
Cooler Temperatures and Clearing Water
Cooler temperatures and clearing water conditions are creating a good bite in the northern Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon for redfish and speckled trout over the last few days. Live shrimp seems to be the top natural bait to use for these two species at this time. We are rigging our shrimp a 1/0 or 2/0 sized VMC circle hook and prospecting sandy potholes in grassy areas or sight casting to fish we see cruising along the shorelines.
Sebastian Inlet Area
Pre front, the bite was pretty good early in the week. Snook and reds were plentiful in the inlet and there were a decent number of tarpon and sharks off the beach -- if you could get out and get to them.
Get Snooking While You Can!
The snook bite has been really good, and you better get out after it before it’s too late! The season is closed on the 15th of December -- that's just five days from now. There's also loads of blues and Spanish mackerel on the beaches, and meanwhile, the pompano are moving in. It's winter time for sure!
Canaveral Offshore & Nearshore
Once again, it was not the greatest offshore week, but we stuck nearshore all week and fished daily. Tripple tail and red drum have been plentiful. Use shrimp and squid strips for all the tripletail you want. Fish the debris fields off the port and chains. There is plenty of stuff floating around right now. It all holds fish.
Flounder Time!
The flounder bite is off the chain right now at the inlet and around the spoil islands. Mud minnows, finger mullet and live shrimp will all get the job done!
Solid Trout Bite in Lagoon
The trout bite in the lagoon around the brides has been solid. We are seeing good numbers of fish being caught. Pineda Causeway is holding some really nice black drum at the moment. Down south the pompano bite has been decent.
Focusing on the Hot Nearshore Bite
The nearshore bite is still hot so that's where I've been focusing full attention this week! Despite some windy weather and unfavorable seas, we have still managed to get some good fishing done! Whether you’re looking for large bull redfish and sharks to tripletail and pompano, the bite remains to be pretty consistent all the way from Ponce Inlet down to Sebastian. Every drop off along the edge of the channel or trough along the beach has been full of large breeder redfish and some really good numbers of pompano which are awesome for the table!
‘Tis the Season… for Pompano!
As the weather and water starts to cool down with passing fronts, don't miss out on the opportunity to get out to the beach and catch some of these wave runners! The best days to go target pompano on the Space Coast is two days before and 1-2 days after the fronts! I'm frequently asked, "what's the best tide, Caleb?" My answer is... simply in your time at your beach and find out for yourself. Camp out all day make yourself comfortable and, most importantly... Take notes!
Rigging Up for the Flounder Run
For the past few weeks we have written about cooler weather and the migratory species that it brings to our coast. The talk has been largely about pompano and bluefish, which are popular targets in the surf this time of year; but, there's more yet coming to be excited about this season, such as one of my personal favorite species: flounder.
