Cold Front Kayak Fishing – Sam’s Creek

Happy Monday Spacefish!

My last day of work before Christmas break began was Friday, so naturally a cold front pushed in with strong north winds. I was a little bummed to say the least, especially considering how fishy the weather was earlier in the week when I couldn’t get out, but hey it be that way sometimes. A few weeks ago I broke down a couple of my top winter kayak fishing spots, so I wanted to try a somewhat familiar place that I have reported on twice before, but wanted to test a hypothesis that it would be a place to go to grind it out during a cold front. The results were mixed, the highlight of my trip was some awesome bird watching, hence the cover picture.

That being said, I wasn’t shut out, I caught more fish than expected, but they were all small Trout, and 2 Ladyfish.

Sam’s Creek

So the place I fished was Sam’s Creek in Northern Merritt Island. The location for the kayak/canoe launch at Pine Island is listed as 1655 Pine Island Rd, Merritt Island, FL 32953. When you get there you will see signs for the kayak launch area and where to drive. This time of year the launch is pretty easy with the water levels being relatively low.

So this is a place that in my previous two trips was on fire, this time it was not as exciting, but to be fair it was in the onset of a cold snap with strong north winds. So I focused on the bottom stretch that runs east to west to find protection from the north wind.

A quick run down of this trip…I started fishing a Vudu Shrimp Black & Gold. I caught several small Trout stacked up on that elbow where the creek turns west. After 7 or 8 Trout the Shrimp got pretty chewed up so I started peppering the mangroves with a Fish, or Die Minutemen Swimbait on a screw lock hook. Hoping I could get a Snook or two out of it. I ended up catching 2 more Trout. So I backed up and started working the Vudu Shrimp again, this time in Cajun Pepper/Chartreuse. More small Trout. After 3 ish hours I went back to the Minutemen and worked the south side of the channel mangroves, which was getting a little bit of wind blown water. Again I hoped for a Snook or two, and again I caught 2 more Small Trout. At this point I started to realize I could stay out all day and catch more small Trout, or I could call it a day and come home and take a warm shower. The warm shower sounded good so I called it a day.

I Promise This Spot is Worth It

Ok so I know catching 15-20 dinky Trout is probably not the ideal pitch for Sam’s Creek, the fishing here on my last two trips was red hot, but these trips were in early spring, and early fall respectively. Which are times of year when the fishing seems to be a lot more productive for Snook and Tarpon. Both of these species can definitely be found here, and on previous trips I have found much bigger Trout than I did on this outing, though to be fair, I caught a bunch of dinky Trout on those trips too.

Tarpon fishing here is probably ideal from May-October; and the Snook are probably always there to some degree, but tend to be much more active in the warmer temps. In addition to Snook, Tarpon, and boatloads of Trout, I have also caught Red & Black Drum in Sam’s Creek as well as Ladyfish and of course a few Catfish as well.

Merry Christmas to All!

So without too much fishing to report on this week, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to fishing over the holiday break once our family that is visiting leaves town, I hope all of you get time to get out & fish as well. May Saint Nicholas bring us all good fishing weather, and low barometric pressure for Christmas!

Stay safe, enjoy time with loved ones, and have a great and blessed season of Christmas. Until next time!