By Jimmy Tomazinis
mail@floridanewsline.com
In contrast with what we experienced last year, we actually got some seasonal weather in October, which cooled the water down nicely. Without any unforeseen weather — and we can never count that out anymore — we’re on our way towards our winter patterns through November.
Shrimp will be around, but there will be fewer and fewer. You can still continue to catch them for bait or food throughout the month, and for the most part, the same fish will still be around except flounder and sheepshead. They seem to travel towards the inlet as it gets colder. Stripers, redfish, and black drum will still be happy to have a shrimp. Look for them around bridges, deeper docks, and shell bars.
It’s also a great time to take some of those smaller river shrimp you may have kept and frozen earlier in the year to the beach to try for pompano and whiting. As long as water temperatures stay between 65 and 75 degrees, both will still be around in good numbers; if it gets below 65 you’re going to get more whiting, which I prefer over pompano anyway, not to start an uproar or anything. Remember to look for the right conditions first.
I was hoping to hold off until next month, but during the intense heat of the summer I could not help from daydreaming about wearing a jacket and enjoying a cold day of speck fishing, so I’m going to let the cat out of the bag. They don’t mind the cooler water and are actually reveling in it. At least in my mind they are. I’m still hoping to wait until the end of December to start my own pursuits, but I know a few purists are already at it.
If nothing else, it’s a great time to get out on the water and see the leaves change. Our wetlands and swamps bordering the river and creeks have high densities of deciduous trees which allows us to peep the best we get in these parts. Bring a rod while you’re at it and make the most of our seasonal weather. Tight lines.
