Backwaters of the Banana River

Happy Monday Spacefish!

I hope everyone is doing well, and enjoyed a warm weekend because this morning was chilly! We are still in that wonky weather pattern of a few warm days followed by a sobering cold snap. It’s quite a roller coaster! This can make fishing challenging because things are all over the place.

One of the things I like to do during this time of year is to fish areas that have a good mixture of thermal refuge spots, areas where fish can warm up in the sun-baked shallows, and areas where they can ambush baits. I have written an article here on Spacefish back in 2024, detailing some of my top spots. I actually went searching for it and came across this…

Which reminds me, for people like me that love to write and share our fishing stories, tips, and tactics etc – one thing that has irked me as of late has been Google’s AI overview, which sometimes is good for the reader, but sometimes it gives bad and/or inaccurate information (as I have to frequently remind high school students). Not only does the falsehood aspect irk me, but it also leads to a bypass of many original sources. If you ever read a report or article I write and say to yourself, “man, that guy is an idiot!” that is totally fine by me, but please make sure you actually come to that conclusion after clicking on the link and reading my article, not whatever Meta AI says I said. I guess it could also apply if you think I am really smart, but I never miss an opportunity to call myself an idiot; it keeps me grounded. Clicking on links also helps us to keep our web traffic data up to date, which is how we know whether what we are producing is meaningful and entertaining…Ok, rant over.

Back to the topic at hand, good winter spots; I like finding areas that have a mix of deep water, shallow water, and structure that blocks the wind, and provides choke points that predatory fish can stage to ambush bait fish and shrimp.

Backwater Area in the Thousand Islands

So, for this report today, I am talking about a recent trip to the Thousand Islands Conservation Area in Cocoa Beach. I am not sure if this is truly considered backwater or not, but I had success in an isolated area off of the main channel that is accessible through two narrow cuts in the mangroves, and accessible to paddle craft and micro skiffs. I targeted this area on a warming trend after a cold snap.

This pocket is located just north of the main boat channel if you follow it out of Ramp Road Park, and stay north, when the channel runs east to west just south of the Minuteman Causeway near Cocoa Beach High. It is located just north of the channel and just south of Minuteman.

I spent a lot of time in this area ,banking on the fact that Redfish and Trout will have pushed in here to take advantage of sunning themselves in the shallow area, but could also use the mangrove islands and the depth contours around them to ambush prey.

Warm Water Refuge for Redfish & Snook

I got my slam on this trip, I only caught 2 Snook, and 3 Reds – I caught a ton of Trout. I continue to stand by my statement that the Thousand Islands are a Juvenile Trout factory and a crucial habitat for the species, especially with the scarcity of seagrass in the Banana River Lagoon.

But going back to the Snook, my two Snook were caught along a deeper shoreline en route to my “spot” mentioned above. Ramp Road Park is closed, so I used the launch over by the country club and went into the aforementioned area from the west. I caught both fish on an NLBN 3-inch, casting under overhanging mangroves and working the bait slowly out, keeping contact with the bottom.

While the Snook were caught on deeper shorelines close to structure, the Redfish I caught were signfished in shallow, clear water in the backwater pocket. Once I started seeing Reds, I latched my pedals and used my paddle to push around in skinny water. The water has been pretty clear in many places. The cold snaps kill off some of the phytoplankton and algae, and the lack of rain keeps the water cleaner and clearer as well.

I also parked the kayak and did a little wading, but if I can get away with standing and pushing with the paddle, I will for the vantage point. The Redfish I caught came on a MirrOlure 17MR in Bone Camo, a limited color they had for a while. I typically prefer the broken glass ones myself, but I had just lost my last one on the trip before.

This is a good sighcasting bait. I throw it in front of a fish and give it very subtle flicks. Too much action can spook fish, and the landing of a plug in the water seems to give more stealth than a soft plastic/jig combo. Watching a Red hit a MirrOdine is awesome! They have that overbite, and they roll over the bait, almost pinning it down, in shallow water. It leads to a huge disturbance in the water, so it can blow out an area for a while, but it’s worth it for an epic eat!

Skinny Trout & Fat Trout

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the Thousand Island area is a great spot to catch lots of smaller Trout. Every once in a while, I will catch decent-sized ones. On this trip, I don’t know what it was, but I kept catching longer, skinny Trout – or I would catch shorter, fatter Trout.

Below, I have featured a picture of a Trout who is built like a Wide Receiver, and a Trout that is built like a Fullback.

I caught Trout on a few presentations, but the two pictured below were caught on a New Penny JYG Shrimp on a ¼ oz Mission Fishin’ Jig. I used this presentation to get baits lower in the strike zone when fishing deeper water and depth contours going south of 5 feet. For Trout on flats, and I found a decent amount on the flats as well, I used the Paul Brown Fat Boy. Many “truchadors” swear by the Paul Brown; this meaty soft body plug is dense and casts a country mile. It suspends and hovers in the strike zone, and Trout, a fish that will hit on the pause, holds on to this soft body bait longer than a hard body plug. Originally called the Corky or the Fat Boy, this bait is a staple for the hardcore Trout guys who wade the flats of Texas’ Gulf Coast. It has been a bait I have added to my arsenal this year as well. I have not caught that big Gator Trout on one yet, but it has been productive when targeting Trout on flats, and on moderate 2-5 foot drop-offs.

Conclusion

As long as this winter keeps throwing us warm-ups followed by cold gut punches, the key is flexibility. Fish are not just randomly scattered, they’re sliding between thermal refuge, sun-warmed shallows, and ambush structure. If you can find areas that offer all three within a short swim, you dramatically increase your odds.

The Thousand Islands continue to prove why they’re such a special fishery for us here on the Space Coast. Between the juvenile Trout habitat, the shallow-water Redfish opportunities, and those sneaky Snook tucked along deeper mangrove edges, it’s a place that rewards anglers who slow down, observe, and adjust.

Whether you’re sight-fishing skinny water Reds, working deeper shorelines for Snook, or hopping drop-offs for Trout, this time of year is all about subtle presentations and smart positioning. Keep your eyes open, fish methodically, and don’t be afraid to spend extra time in areas that offer that mix of depth, protection, and warmth. Winter fishing isn’t always easy, but when it comes together, it’s incredibly rewarding.

And of course, none of this skinny-water exploring would be possible without the right setup. If you’re looking to upgrade your kayak game, make sure you check out Kayaks By Bo right here on the Space Coast in downtown Cocoa. The crew at KBB know our local waters, and they’ll get you rigged with a setup that fits how you fish — whether that’s sight-casting shallow flats, probing mangrove edges, or covering miles of lagoon.

From pedal drives to rigging accessories and expert advice, they’ve helped dial in my ability to quietly access places powerboats simply can’t reach. If you want to fish spots like the Thousand Islands effectively and comfortably, start with the right platform. Be sure to tell them Knox sent you!

Have a great week everybody! Stay warm, be safe, and go catch some fish! Until next time!