Fishing

November inshore forecast

Prime fall conditions typically continue through November. While each year is different, water temperatures usually stay above the mid-60s until Thanksgiving, warm enough to keep baitfish around and inshore species such as snook, trout and redfish actively feeding.

Large numbers of speckled trout will show up on grassflats in 4 to 7 feet of water. They prefer the cooler water and can be found where schools of baitfish hold above the grass. Small diving birds such as terns will signal the location of the baitpods, which look like tiny rain droplets dimpling the surface of the water.

By working either live whitebaits or baitfish imitating jigs in this vicinity, you should find lots of specks (from 12 inches to 2 pounds), ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and even a few blacktip sharks. Many veteran trout fishermen use a tandem jig rig and often catch two at a time when a good concentration of fish is located.

The larger trout, also known as "gators," seldom mix with their smaller brethren. They are found in very shallow water during periods of lower light, such as dawn and dusk and on overcast days. When cold fronts come through and water temperature drops rapidly, trout (as with most other fish) leave the flats for the more stable climate of deep holes and dark-bottomed canals.

If you are fortunate enough to find the right hole during these post-front conditions, it is not uncommon to catch 50 or more trout in a few hours. Keep in mind that speckled trout are out of season south of Howard Park (near the Pinellas/Pasco county line, including all of Pinellas County) in November.

Since trout are relatively fragile, they should be handled gently with a wet hand. Never wrap a towel around a fish for a better grip. Towels or rags remove the protective slime trout need to survive.

For a majority of flats fishermen, this will be the last month of good snook fishing. By December, most have retreated to deep holes and marina basins where they become lethargic and reluctant to feed. For now, though, they will be found around river mouths and docks near their wintering areas, where food is abundant but deeper water is not far away.

Dock light fishing is good in November and provides good opportunities to hook up with trout, redfish, flounder and snook. Stealth is important when working the lights. A small boat equipped with a trolling motor or a pushpole will help get you into casting range without spooking the fish.

Artificial and live baits work in the lights but should be matched to the size of the bait that is present. Often, the illuminated portion of water will be filled with tiny glass minnows, and that will be the only size bait the fish will strike. When the bait is very small, a similar glass minnow fly on an 8 or 9 weight flyrod will draw more strikes than anything else.

Other times, when the forage fish are larger, such as whitebaits or finger mullet, live baits or larger plugs are effective.

Since early October, schools of redfish have been reported from Tampa Bay to New Port Richey. These fish should remain for the duration of the year, or until water temperatures drop below 60.

These "herds" will move short distances from day to day and from high tide to low tide, but normally will stay in a general area for quite a while until fishing pressure becomes too much for them to be comfortable. For this reason, you may want to keep your redfish honeyhole your own secret when you find it.

Toward the end of the month, depending upon how cold it gets, it's a good idea to have a tackle box with a basic set of artificials in case the baitfish have vanished. The basic three lures for late fall are a three-quarter-ounce gold weedless spoon, a one-quarter-ounce soft plastic jig with spare tails (in a variety of colors) and a topwater plug. Those three will suffice in a variety of situations. Subsurface plugs, and unweighted soft plastic jerkbaits, are also good second choices.

One of the more unheralded inshore species is the flounder. While they may be caught anywhere, the best place for them is in the passes. Any inlet connecting the gulf to the bay provides a prime feeding area for this bottom dweller. Those with structures (docks, bridge pilings) are even better.

John's Pass is perhaps the best in the area for big "doormat" flounder. This fishing requires a lot of patience as you slowly creep a weighted live bait along the bottom, waiting for the subtle thump and deadweight of a flounder bite. The rewards, however, can be great: Few inshore fish are as good to eat as a nice, thick flounder.

Regardless of your favorite, fall won't last much longer. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the action while it lasts.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@lighttacklecharters.com