Redfish, black drum will be biting during this Space Coast cooling down period

After waiting nearly a month for a decent well-organized cold front, Space Coast anglers finally got their wish this weekend. The result will be choppy sea conditions making it uncomfortable for smaller boats to head offshore into blue waters, and possibly rougher conditions along the beaches for surf anglers.

The question for most will be is this cold front or the next one organized enough to move more fish into the area such as pompano, sailfish and mackerel?

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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, 2022.
• Spotted seatrout: No harvest of trout is allowed in the waters of eastern central Florida, from Volusia to Palm Beach counties, from Nov. 1 though Dec. 31. Harvest will re-open Jan. 1, 2022.
• Grouper: Shallow water grouper are prohibited from harvest Jan. 1 through April 30, 2022. 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, 2022. Harvest re-opens May 1, 2022.

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

Mosquito Lagoon

The best bites going in this region are redfish, speckled trout and black drum. The cool water will mean fish are energized, however, the water levels are pretty low so use caution when running wide open to get into well-known fishing spots. There may be a few fewer inches behind those islands and over top of the flats surrounding them.

Offshore

Sea conditions from 4 to 6 and larger are forecast during the next three days along the Space Coast. It might be safer to avoid departing inlets in small boats, especially Sebastian Inlet which can get downright treacherous during the outgoing tide with an easterly wind. Snapper fishing had been pretty steady and anglers were picking up a few cobia and kingfish on the reefs, too. Farther out, the mahi mahi bite has been scattered and anyone looking for a sailfish has had to look pretty hard. They just don't seem to be around.

Surf

The big mystery in the surf scene this year has been where the sand fleas are? The coconut telegraph along Eastern Florida beaches is saying there just aren't any sand fleas south of Jacksonville. Still, Fishbites and pieces of shrimp can catch pompano and whiting, croaker and jacks. The incoming tide seems to be more productive.

Sebastian Inlet

Capt. Glyn Austin of Going Coastal charters in Palm Bay has steered his clients to catches of tarpon this week using live mullet. Why are tarpon here during the winter? No one knows. Maybe it's because water temperatures are warmer than usual, but that is just speculation. Big redfish are also biting. Erin Soltys of St. Cloud caught and released a 31-inch redfish caught from the north jetty deck on a big spinning rod while using a knocker rig and a live finger mullet in the outgoing tide.

Indian River Lagoon

Speckled trout fishing is pretty good in cool early morning air for anglers using live mullet, live shrimp on a popping cork or topwater plugs like the trusty Zara Spook. Fish in 2-4 feet of water or around mangrove shorelines where it is also possible to pick up redfish, snook and black drum. There have been rodbenders like jacks and ladyfish around the channel edges. Jig with Doc's Goofy Jigs or Gulfstream jigs in chartreuse or pin to catch wayward pompano in the lagoon. Split crabs will catch bigger reds and drum in the northern lagoon. 

Freshwater

Speckled perch fishing has been getting better with the cooler nights. Use a 1/32-ounce or 1/16-ounce jig along ledges or drop-offs to catch slabs up to 3/4 of a pound. Bass fishing has been excellent in some of the lakes and marshes including Headwaters Lake on wild shiners.

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