As the weather gets colder, you can expect many days of catching 50 plus fish on a regular basis.  

The top targets for December heading into January are redfish, spotted sea trout, black drum, flounder and an occasional snook.
 
The cooler temperatures are coming and redfish are now in their winter transition mode in both of the lagoons.

As the weather cools down more, we can be catching anywhere from 10 to 40 fish per day. The colder the better.

Redfish are now roaming both of the lagoons on the flats.  Since the recent cold front, the flats in the middle and south portions of the Mosquito Lagoon are starting to acquire good size schools of reds feeding in the shallows.

Because water temperatures on the flats are warmer, look for redfish, drum and sea trout in the shallows over darker bottoms.

Both redfish and black drum have been eating a variety of baits when fished in three feet of water or less.  The majority of redfish have been feeding on live shrimp and jerk baits fished near sandy pot holes.

Tiger Shoals near the middle of the Mosquito Lagoon and Whale Tail to the south, is being fished pretty hard by the fishing guides, but the redfish schools are there and they will continue to grow in number.

 

It's not yet cold enough for the massive winter schools of fish to form.  This usually happens during the latter part of December, but this year it's coming late.

The water clarity in the Mosquito Lagoon has cleared considerably, allowing for excellent sight casting.  However other areas of the lagoon and the Indian River are still pretty cloudy. 

As the month rolls on and water temperatures continue to drop, the sight fishing will dramatically improve.

Right now, the redfish are still shadowing the big finger mullet schools. Find the schools of baitfish and you'll find redfish.

Although most of the big redfish are homing in on live mullet,  the sight casters in the lagoon are doing just fine using live shrimp for bait. 

Artificial lure fishermen like myself are throwing gold spoons, DOA shrimp and soft plastic jerkbaits.  According to the guides I talked to, the fly fishermen using crab flies or a Borski slider are doing well.

Sea trout are also following the schools of finger mullet. 

As the water clears up more in January,  Sight casters will get a shot at some of the really big gator trout that hole up in the sandy pot holes during the cold snaps.

January is one of the best times of year for sight casting to world class 8 to 10 pound sea trout.

Stealth approaches and long casts with smaller diameter lines are necessary to catch them on live shrimp, DOA shrimp or soft plastic swim baits.  These fish don't get that big without being wary!

If all else fails, you can always freeline a live finger mullet around a school of baitfish or just outside a school of  redfish to catch a big trout.  They usually hang together.

Ive been told that the schools of Black Drum that hang around the Peacocks Pocket area in the Indian River behave erratically but like the redfish and sea trout, can be easily caught using live shrimp under a cork. 

Black drum in this area like their shrimp portions in small pieces and peeled. A fresh piece of cut ladyfish or mullet also works.

Again, long casts with small diameter lines and slow bait presentation will get you a lot more hookups this time of year.

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