Sheepshead, speckled perch & black drum: Cool weather will heat up some action

Ed Killer, Florida Today
·3 min read

Another cold front will descend along the Florida peninsula by Saturday keeping temperatures cool in the morning and at night. Sunny conditions will lead to a warm up each day to mild conditions.

How cool will it get? Nothing like this same week in 1977. That's when snow actually fell on the Space Coast.

Don't worry. The cool conditions won't shut off the action. Anglers will be able to find good fishing for sheepshead, speckled perch, Spanish mackerel and bluefish — all species which tend to feed aggressively when they feel the mercury dip.

Specks galore: Cool weather means freshwater anglers can start targeting speckled perch in area lakes with good success.
Specks galore: Cool weather means freshwater anglers can start targeting speckled perch in area lakes with good success.

Closures in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.

  • Snook: The closure began Dec. 15 and runs through Jan. 31.

  • Grouper: Shallow water grouper are prohibited from harvest Jan. 1 through April 30. That includes gag grouper, red grouper, scamp and six other lesser species.

  • Hogfish: No harvest of hogfish is allowed in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida from Nov. 1 through April 30. Harvest re-opens May 1.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Mosquito Lagoon

Anglers are finding good fishing right now for black drum. Fish the shallow sides of some of the islands with live shrimp. Some of these black drum will be water barely deep enough to cover their dorsal fins. There will be speckled trout on the points. Water levels have been pretty low due to wind conditions moving water out through the canal.

Offshore

There have been a few cobia and kingfish caught on the reefs along with triggerfish, lane snapper and mangrove snapper. However, conditions the next few days may not be ideal for bottom fishing. Mahi mahi and blackfin tuna can be caught out in 120 feet of water.

Surf

There has been decent fishing along the beaches for pompano and whiting. Friday and Saturday may be suitable for surf fishing, but Sunday may not be. Use Fishbites or pieces of shrimp if sand fleas cannot be found. No one has seen a sand flea in the surf between Juno Beach and St. Augustine all season.

Sebastian Inlet

Flounder are being caught along the sides of the inlet on live mud minnows and finger mullet rigged on a sliding sinker rig. Anglers fishing at night are picking up a few using gigs, too. Redfish will bite during the outgoing tide. Use live crabs to catch them, and possibly tarpon if they are still around. Spanish mackerel and bluefish can be caught on spoons or flashy jigs.

Indian River Lagoon

Black drum and redfish are being caught in the lagoon near Cocoa Beach and Titusville. Look for the schools feeding in shallow water. Use live shrimp on a popping cork or soft-sided jigs on 1/4-ounce jig heads. Sheepshead can be caught around seawalls, under bridges and around dock pilings with shrimp-tipped jigs or fiddler crabs. Speckled trout will be caught in low spots, channels and cuts as they seek water with more stable temperature.

Freshwater

Got specks? Try using 1/32 or 1/16-ounce jigs and live minnows to catch speckled perch. The action ahs been picking up with the cooler nights. Bass fishing is pretty good on area lakes. The fish will be coming off the beds following the full moon this week.

Ed Killer is florida today's outdoors writer. Friend Ed on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Speckled perch & sheepshead will be the best targets this weekend