Thanksgiving report

Dropping water temperatures (67-68 degrees) have fired up the fish in our local waters. Speckled trout are plentiful and cooperative both in the river and the ICW, especially north. Most are just below keeper size. They will hit live bait or artificials; plastics worked slowly and deep should also produce. Trout like for their quarry to try and escape; i.e., when using live bait make sure it's fresh and flipping. There are also yellow mouth trout in the area. They usually hang near the bottom in deeper water and will hit all of the above plus cut bait.[img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/12950.jpg[/img] Sheepshead have moved in and are providing lots of action at area jetties. Fiddlers, live shrimp, or cut crab will all catch fish. Ten to twelve inch mangrove snapper are plentiful, and can be caught in the same areas as sheepshead. Good size bluefish have been schooling under birds in the river and will hit almost any kind of lure or fly. We actually caught a nice 9-lb snook pitching live shrimp for sheepshead at the jetties earlier in the month. I also caught one on a plug working the rocks there. [img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/12949.jpg[/img] Flounder continue to be a favorite target for local anglers. Several double-digit doormats have been caught recently. There is no finer table fare from our waters. Northeasters get them moving toward the ocean this time of year. Generally, the flounder fishing has been slow. There are good size whiting in the surf, along with a few pompano and bluefish. Black drum are showing up in the river, at the jetties, and in the surf sloughs, and can be caught on shrimp, clams, and crab. Redfish of all sizes are available throughout our area creeks, the ICW, and the jetties. Most of the jetty fish are slot size, although we caught a 21-lb red yesterday. You have to watch the weather closely this time of year and also consider the tides and moon when planning a trip. Keep your hooks sharp! CAPT Bob Cosby