By Jimmy Tomazinis
mail@floridanewsline.com
Deep breath in. Slow exhale out. That crisp morning air must mean it’s November finally. Time for some consistent cool weather that’s maybe even cold at times, but it’s about time. We’re on the down hill towards winter fishing and the opportunities that brings.
Unfortunately, November can be a slower month than the previous two months. Not that fishing is bad, but on average it’s not as good as September and October — in our area of the river at least. This may cause some to gravitate towards other hobbies and get away from fishing for a bit. For those 12 month fishermen though, it’s a matter of changing expectations and getting excited for the different types of fishing that the colder months have to offer. For instance, a cold morning in November will probably set the scene for my first speck trip of the year. Specks, speckled perch, or crappie are just some of the reasons to fish through the winter. If you’re intrigued, I’ll have more to say about them in the coming months.
Until then shrimp are still in the river, but will be declining in numbers through the month. The ones that are left should be big, but there were still lots of smalls in October so maybe they’ll still be a little mixed. Sheepshead will be on pilings and more energetic for the remaining shrimp, as will the stripers. Redfish will be around and looking for a piece of crab or cut mullet. Some may even be pretty big this time of year. In the saltier waters, surf fishing for whiting this month can produce great numbers of quality fish. Inshore fishing around the Intracoastal Waterway will also be productive for trout, redfish, drum, and sheepshead.
Break out the jackets on colder days and maybe just a long sleeve shirt or even shorts on the rest. The river hasn’t frozen over yet! Go fishing.
