Ponce Inlet to Mosquito Lagoon

In the Mosquito Lagoon this week trout are feeding well but the season is still closed. The trout are still taking the Gulp new penny jerk shad in the five inch length. They will also eat the Gulp chartreuse pepper sinking minnow regularly but this bait will catch you the larger fish. Make sure you release your trout nicely not to harm them. You may want to crimp your barb down for easier release. Trout season is closed for another 46 days. Trout are also being caught on the same baits in the deeper water around the Clinker islands. Work them slow; real slow. Use a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig head to get you down where the trout are seeking warmer water. Snook are at the jetties and I took a nine pounded from the serf just the other day on a Gulp 3-inch sardine. Reds are still on the flats feeding on Gulp bloody five-inch jerk shads rigged with a kayle hook. Twitch and pause the bait for the best results. You can also stick fish with a four-inch Gulp new penny shrimp if you are in the schools of reds. The big reds are still at the rocks and will move out soon. Speaking of reds I want to make everyone aware that the FWC is having workshops through out Florida. Whorkshops sounds like a study group, BUT Its NOT it is a meeting to try to have a CLOSED SEASON on REDFISH and SHORTEN THE SLOT LIMIT. These meetings need to be attended and your voice needs to be heard. Information regarding the red drum workgroup and other material concerning red drum management in Florida is available online at "http://WWW.MyFWC.com/marine/workgroups/index.html" \l "Red_Drum". Contact Lee Schlesinger at (850) 487-0554 for information regarding the workshops. Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshops should advise the agency at least five calendar days before the workshop by contacting Cindy Hoffman at (850) 488-6411. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons can arrange assistance through the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TTY) or (800) 955-8770 (Voice). After these 9 workshops, then the FWC is having the last Red Drum Workgroup video conference January 18th, 2007 and then the draft rule will go to the February Commission Meeting. Thursday, Nov. 16 City Hall Council Chambers 123 N.W. Hwy. 19 Crystal River Monday, Nov. 27 Jacksonville Public Library 303 N. Laura St. Jacksonville Tuesday, Nov. 28 Brevard Agricultural Center 3695 Lake Drive Cocoa Wednesday, Nov. 29 West Palm Beach Fishing Club 201 5th St. (Corner of 5th and N. Flagler) West Palm Beach Tuesday, Dec. 5 Monroe County Library Mile Marker 81.5 U.S. 1 (Florida Bay side) Islamorada GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The purpose of these workshops is to review the Commission’s recent red drum assessment, and to review the red drum workgroup recommendations that include narrowing the current slot limit, a potential one-month closure, and increasing the management goal to 40% escapement. The recent assessment has concluded that while red drum are currently meeting their management goal of 30% escapement, increasing fishing effort is causing the escapement rate to decline potentially below 30% by the next assessment in 2009.