Many fish love cooler water, but our shrimp hate it fresh; some tips - Daytona Beach News-Journal

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Bet you didn't think you'd be dusting off that Huk windbreaker so soon, did you? 

Around here, we normally put a lap or two on Halloween before casting aside the flip-flops, but here we were in our late summer — you know, mid-October — shivering our timbers, and other regions, by simply approaching open water, much less venturing out in it.

"I had a couple trips in some tough conditions, but the clients still wanted to give it a shot," says Capt. Jeff Patterson, who noticed something else nearly as obvious as this week's plunging mercury.

Yes, there's still a lot of water in the river, and I know what you're saying: "Isn't that basically the definition of a river?"

Yes it is, but we mean "a lot" as in more than the norm, and too much of it is freshwater — the lingering effects of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ian, which overfilled the waterways with direct rainfall as well as the dreaded runoff. 

Here's something you might not have considered (I didn't, and surely I can't be alone in this particular ignorance . . . right?).

SHRIMP ... AND GREENS? At Ike's Granada Pier shop, come for the bait, stay for the collards!

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"The water throughout the intracoastal is still very fresh," Capt. Jeff says, "so don't pump it in your live-well with shrimp from the bait shop."

Shrimp hate freshwater, and they'll prove it by going belly-up on you. Ask me how I know. 

Instead, Capt. Jeff says, spend a few bucks on a bubbler or a recirculating pump. 

Or stick with, or change to, artificials.

And if you do that, one of the area's better redfish chasers, Capt. Billy Pettigrew, clues you in on some subtle changes to make once the water temp begins its annual dip, as it did fairly dramatically this week. 

Yes, we're talking shrinkage.

"As we transition into cooler weather, you should start to downsize your artificial baits," says Capt. Billy (RedfishTails.com is his website). "It will become more effective as the weather keeps cooling. Go from fishing your favorite 4-inch swim-bait or paddle-tail to a 3-incher. Or change your 4-inch shrimp-style bait to a 3-inch.

"Same goes with top-water," he adds. "Try using a junior size over a standard size. Also, try slowing down your presentation while working your bait."

A solid tip for many occasions.

Meanwhile, keep those zip-ups and pullovers nearby. The temps are gonna warm a bit, but it looks like we're in for several days of frisky north winds. Don't shoot the messenger.

How to purchase a fishing license online

You'll need a license to fish. Here's how to navigate the process.

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Halifax/Indian River: Black drum are in play

Once the weather is to your acceptable level and the water clears some more, "sight fishing" should be in play.

"Cooler temps mean the algae blooms clear up, allowing for more sight-fishing opportunities," says longtime local angler Craig Patterson, who owns and operates Donald's Bait & Tackle on the Port Orange Causeway.

"Fish will move into the shallows to get to sun-warmed mud flats, which offers even more opportunities for stalking fish. Reds and trout become more active during daylight hours once the water cools."

Craig expects the sheepshead bite to crank up soon as they begin to school around docks and well-aged pilings. Also, just outside his window, "Dunlawton pier fishermen are landing some nice black drum using blue-crab pieces." 

Capt. Jeff (Pole Dancer charter) says another solid bet right now is black drum around the bridges in Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach — "they've been pretty thick," he says. 

It's been a good few days for hot collard greens, which Ike Leary serves from a crockpot at his little Granada Pier shop in Ormond Beach. Not a bad week for fishing, either, on the planks behind his shop.

"Good catches of snook," he says. "And the little cold snap should turn on the black drum even more."

Surf: Pompano trickling in; try crab knuckles

Remember how Craig Patterson said pieces of blue crab were working on black drum? Well, with sandfleas still largely AWOL, he says those same bits of crab might also work on the pompano that are trickling our way for their fall migration.

BJ Taylor (Southern Bred Charter) says the surf has started to clean up, post-Ian, and he's also waiting on the flood of pompano. He's hearing talk from north of us about a good run headed our way (and through, usually).

"The hot bait has been crab knuckles, live sand fleas (if found) and fresh clams," he says. "FishBites have also been producing."

Flavors of choice: White and yellow crab, coquina clam and sandflea flavor.

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With shark-fishing business slowed by storm damage and a general lull in angling tourism right now, Dustin Smith (NSB Shark Hunters) ventured a bit south in recent days. Along with catfish and puffers, he says, there's been a decent catch of mangrove snapper around the Haulover bridge in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

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Flagler County: Matanzas Inlet the hot spot

Capt. Mike Vickers (Hammock Beach Bait & Tackle) keeps hearing about plenty of pompano in Duval and St. Johns Counties, and expects the faucet to spring open soon in Flagler and Volusia.

"We're day by day, waiting for the action," he says. 

Meanwhile, those who can get to the tide line are seeing some reds, drum and, as always, whiting. The Matanzas Inlet area has been especially active. 

The main river is offering some from the area's wide menu of sought-after fish, but the Bing's Landing area specifically, Capt. Mike says, has been producing come large croakers — "some in the 20-inch range."

Around here, the croaker is what we call a dual threat: Great bait when small and great supper when big. And with a bag limit of 50, you know they're plentiful.

St. Johns: Water still up; specks heating

If you can find safe places to fish the St. Johns, without fear of inundating riverside properties with your wake, you'll notice that speck season is warming up.

"We're seeing some catches of speckled perch coming from anglers trolling on Lake Woodruff with artificial jigs. Nothing is red hot, but you can catch a few," says Capt. Bryn Adams, whose Highland Park Fish Camp is wide open for business and boaters. 

Surrounded by wildlife refuge, you not only can launch your boat from Highland Park, but probably get into places where you couldn't reach before Ian brought all that additional water.

Fishing for vets

Veterans Day is Nov. 11, and on the next day, a Saturday, Port Orange's Dunlawton Pier will be home to the fourth annual Tom Lloyd Veteran Fishing Event.

The full morning of fishing, from 8 to noon, is sponsored by the Halifax Sport Fishing Club, and is free to all veterans (bring your military ID or discharge papers, they ask). Sign-up is 7:30 to 8. Rods and bait are available to all who need them.

Breakfast, coffee and prizes. All free. 

More info: HSFC.com.

Hook, Line & Clicker: Send us your fish pics

We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to ken.willis@news-jrnl.com.

Please include first and last name of angler(s), as well as type of fish (we're occasionally stumped). All are included with our online fishing report, and some occasionally make the print edition.

Do I need a fishing license?

You can find all the license info, including exemptions, on Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission website: MyFWC.com. But the basics are:

No: If you're 65 or older, 15 or younger, you don't need a license.

No: If you're fishing with a licensed guide or charter boat, both of which purchase commercial licenses that cover their customers.

Yes: Most everyone else, including visitors from other states. 

Yes: Even if you're a shore-based angler (shoreline, dock, pier, bridge, etc.). However: The shore-based license is free . . . But: You still need to register for that free license.

Where do I get a license, and what does it cost?

Many bait shops sell licenses, as do the bigger retailers (Bass, Dick's, Walmart, etc.). 

Florida's FWC uses a third-party site for buying or renewing fishing licenses: GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. 

The cost: $17 for an annual license. 

Don't forget: Whether you're fishing fresh or saltwater, you need the specific license. Freshwater and saltwater licenses are both $17 annually.

I'm here on vacation, do I need a fishing license?

Yes you do, and they're also available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or certain bait shops and big retailers. 

Cost: $17 for three days, $30 for seven days, $47 for a year.

Also: Non-residents need to purchase that license even if they're just fishing from shoreline or shore-based structures. (Florida residents need that license, too, but they're free.)