As we have entered the month of December the cold fronts have started to bring the cooler temps and change of wind direction to the Lagoon. These conditions are what we need to kick the winter time pattern into full swing. You can still find the large breeder redfish holding on the rocks of the jetties and along deeper channel drop offs. I like to throw a live pin fish or mullet on a 1/2oz jig head on the bottom.
They can also be caught jigging the bottom with artificial but just be prepared for hang ups do to the amount of debri on the bottom from over the years. With the changing of the wind direction in the next few weeks from upcoming cold fronts the water level in new Smyrna and mosquito lagoon should be be dropping and water conditions clearing. I have been finding the the red fish to be hanging around the oyster bars and wind blown points along with cruising the shorelines in the northern lagoon. As for the south Lagoon they can be found holding in the pot holes and along the edges mixed in with the bait. I like to throw the Aqua Dream Living spoon,soft plastics and live shrimp when the water clarity allows for sight fishing. live finger mullet and cut bait have been producing a great bite on some of cloudy and windy days that we have recently had. The trout bite has also been good through out Mosquito Lagoon look for the bait holding over a mix of grass and pot holes and you will find the trout. I like to use jerk baits, top water plugs and twitch baits but you can never go wrong with a free lined finger mullet for that trout of a life time. The flounder are still holding through out the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach,Edgewater and Daytona Beach. you can target them with a 1/16oz and 1/8oz jig head rigged with soft plastic or live shrimp bounced slowly along the bottom.We have also had a good number of black drum through out the lagoon system which always make for a great fight. I have been catching them on a live shrimp rigged tail hooked along with a gulp shrimp and crab patterns rigged on a jig head. the key is being stealthy to get
within range to present the cast.
Good luck and be safe !
Capt Patrick Rood
www.spotntailcharters.com
(386)566-1394