Cannot believe it's December already. The inland waters have really cleaned up nicely with green water west of the ten cent bridge. Water temps remain in the low 70's and with a cold front or two should drop it down into the 60's.
Trout season remains closed till the new year and snook closes December 15th - January 31st. Pompano remains 11 inch min to the fork , 6 per person. Finally Spanish Mackerel are 12 inches to the fork and 15 per person. All bait shops carry some form of regulations. It's important knowing what is legal to keep not only to ensure future fish populations but will also avoid stiff fines handed down to you.
Starting north on the Indian River around the power plant, look for trout, redfish, snook, up tight near the shoreline in the early morning. This is a great time to break out those topwater plugs. Both sides of the river will hold fish.
When the wind blows, fishing the calm side normally holds more baitfish and more trout. However if you target snook, try fishing the choppy side throwing a half ounce redtail hawk working it fast. After 9:00 am fish the 3-4 foot zone as these fish will drop back to deeper water. DOA and Gulp, live shrimp, gold spoons work great.
Also look for other species to appear including ladyfish, pompano, bluefish, flounder, jacks and a host of others. Remember when the temperatures drop, some species become sluggish so slow down your presentation!!!
Area bridges hold snook, black drum, mangrove snapper, sheephead and goliath grouper down deep. Live or frozen shrimp, live pinfish and bullethead jigs work great. Most snook have vacated the inlet by now holding near structure.
Great time for flair hawks at night targeting thses linesiders on the Indian River bridges. In the St. Lucie I like to mix it up with DOA root beer terrorize or jointed bombers. Pompano fever begins lasting into late March. With the new quarter bridge unfishable, landlocked anglers head to the Jensen Causeway throwing nylure jigs, bannana jigs and sand fleas. Normally the last 3 hours of incoming tide is best with cleaner water around. Both catwalks and the smaller mosquito bridge just east attracts the fish. |
