Sunstate Pest Control

WEEKLY FORECAST

11.4.2024 – 11.10.2024

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BEST FISHING REPORT

democracy

If you hit the polls today or already mailed in your ballot, you probably thought your democratic deed was done, but NOT SO FAST!

American Democracy is probably not at stake this week, but our rights as recreational anglers may be, according to fishing organizations such as the CCA, among others. NOAA Fisheries is pushing a new Secretarial Amendment that could severely restrict bottom fishing in the South Atlantic. Critics of this action are calling it a “paper crises” and federal overreach based on outdated and inaccurate data; one that could reduce access to fishing and have a negative economic impact on local fishing-related businesses. If you are in agreement, now is the time to speak up —- public comments are open until November 8, and your input could help protect our access to these waters.

Jasin Youmans Dental - Melbourne, FL

WEATHER & CONDITIONS

BITE OPPORTUNITY INDEX

OFFSHORE

2.8

INSHORE

6.8

SURF

3.6

FRESHWATER

7.2
american air and heat of brevard

Weather Overview

Well, it looks like we are in for another windy week of weather. As I write this, Tropical Depression 18 is working its way north through the Caribbean and will most likely develop into hurricane Rafael by the end of the week. It is currently tracking towards the Gulf of Mexico. Winds will be predominantly out of the ESE throughout the week. Rain chances increase as well with a 45% chance of showers most of the week. Saturday is when we should see the heavier winds start to diminish and continue to settle down some into Sunday. As with last week, you will want to focus on our interior bodies of water this week such as our lakes and lagoons.

benjaminsaver water systems

GIVEAWAYS

Cornhole Giveaway

cornhole fsu

Since 1960, Carroll Distributing has been keeping the local shelves stocked and taps flowing for a long list of everybody’s favorite beverages. Now, they are going to be distributing some awesome prizes to Spacefish readers every month. This month, the prize is a FSU themed cornhole set!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Caroll Distributing - Anheuser-Busch

Weekly Strike-Zone Giveaway

strike zone gift card giveaway Each week, we’ll randomly draw a name from our email subscriber list to award a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card. To enter, all you need to do is subscribe to our weekly forecast email (once subscribed, you’re eligible to win EVERY week).

Congrats to this week's winner, Juan Hernandez, Melbourne

NOTICE: If you are announced as a winner, you must EMAIL US within 5 days to claim your prize (please include your phone number and mailing address), or your prize will be forfeited and added back into the giveaway pool for future winners.

LATEST Reports

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
High Water Levels in Mosquito Lagoon
November 19, 2024

High Water Levels in Mosquito Lagoon

mosquito lagoon red

Then water level has been this past week due to some easterly winds and full moon tide swing. The bite was still steady while focusing on the areas that were holding bait worked the best.

Then water level has been high this past week due to some easterly winds and full moon tide swing. The bite was still steady while focusing on the areas that were holding bait worked the best. As we get back to a normal tide swing this week I foresee the bite continuing to get better and with a possible cool front moving in by mid week should help, as well. Spoons, soft plastics and live bait have all been working well along with cut bait also.

by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Fellsmere area report
November 19, 2024

Fellsmere area report

Water has cooled off and grass is dying back
Square bills paddletail baits spinnerbaits and worms all fair to good
Scattered clumps of hydrilla are key
Also is you find clumps of vegetation wedged up on reeds and trees are showing up as flipping spots
Cold fronts will slow down bait fish so that pattern is gonna be good
3 forks is still good
They sprayed death on alot of vegetation. Must have gotten more money
Stickmarsh is the next shining star search and you will find em

benjaminsaver water systems

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Indian River Kayak Fishing Report
November 18, 2024

Indian River Kayak Fishing Report

sheepshead frenzy

Sheepshead Frenzy!

The sheepshead bite has been absolutely on fire lately! Over the past week, I made a couple of successful trips targeting these convicts, using mangrove tree crabs along the mangrove lines. The results were impressive, with a high catch rate and quality fish.

Snook Action Heats Up with Full Moon

With the full moon phase, I shifted focus to snook fishing. Targeting areas with abundant bait, I found success using small 3” paddle tails. This proven technique yielded some exciting catches.

snook

Looking Ahead: Winter Patterns Emerging

As temperatures drop this week, fish will begin transitioning to their winter patterns. Anglers should note that fall hotspots may become less productive. Adjust your strategies and locations accordingly to stay on top of the action.

Key Takeaways:

– Sheepshead: Mangrove tree crabs along mangrove lines
– Snook: Small paddle tails in areas with bait
– Winter patterns emerging; adjust fishing locations and strategies

Upcoming Forecast:

Stay tuned for more updates as the winter patterns develop. Tight lines!

by John Page
JP Kayak Fishing and Tours | (321) 345-8388

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Port Canaveral November Report
November 18, 2024

Port Canaveral November Report

port canaveral november fishing

November is here and all we need is one solid week of calm seas for all the good things to happen. Sea conditions and the fishing always gets very difficult after the first tropical storm or hurricane of the year. This year September & October have been brutal. Cool weather and calm seas with bring us some epic nearshore and deep sea fishing opportunities.

Nearshore we will continue to see epic light tackle fishing for sheepshead, snook, red drum, black drum, jack crevalle, ladyfish, mangrove snapper, flounder and more. We have been doing very well on all these species in October and it will only get better moving through November.

It will be a waiting game for our water to clean up inside of a 100ft but it will happens. 100ft or bust will be the best bet. Go past 100ft you lose is the saying. Action packed days live bait trolling for kings, mahi, sails, cobia and blackfin tuna will be had on the daily. To split the day a good option is to stringer fish for lane snapper, trigger fish and vermillion snapper. We will have North winds to deal with making it where we can’t get offshore sometimes. A short burst of wind due to cold front that might produce 5-6ft seas for a couple days is a entirely different animal than a hurricane that gets seas 12-16ft for a week or more at a time.

We have smooth sailing until February just as soon as we see that first week of calm seas and it will happen at some point this month.

by Capt. Greg Rapp
Sea Leveler Sport Fishing Charters | (321) 794-3474

Sunstate Pest Control

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Finally A Break For Fishing
November 18, 2024

Finally A Break For Fishing

Photo credit: Pompano Bill

Finally, a few days to get out and fish—it’s been forever! The weeds have started to dissipate, but they can still be heavy in some areas of the beach. This week is forecasted to be MUCH better for surf fishing, with the beach swells calming down and the winds finally shifting to make for a more enjoyable time on the beach. Hopefully, the water settles and clears up. The weeds, of course, remain unpredictable, but those who have powered through the greenery have managed to catch some nice fish!

It’s been a mixed bag of fish in the Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral area, with lots of good-sized whiting, eater-sized black drum, margates, lingering pompano, and palometas. The bait of choice has been sand fleas and frozen shrimp pieces. Speaking of fleas, it won’t be long until we start carrying live ones daily—the season is quickly approaching!

There hasn’t really been a defined area to cast into over the past few days to get bites. The fish seem to be stuck in a maze due to the weeds and dirty water, so simply getting your bait in the water is all you can do. However, the northeastern winds have carved out some beautiful troughs for us to fish. Once the water clears and the weeds dissipate, the fishing should be fantastic for a while.

Credit for the picture this week goes to the legend, Pompano Bill. As always, take care, tight lines, and we hope to see everyone soon in the shop!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Wild Winds at Sebastian Inlet
November 18, 2024

Wild Winds at Sebastian Inlet

sebastian jetty rough conditions

Fishing on the jetty last week was not for the meek of heart

Good morning, Sebastian Inlet friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. The weather sure was great! And there is more to come after we get drenched on Wednesday, compliments of tropical storm Sara. After that, cool-down city! I’m hoping the winds and waves calm down, too, so that water can clear up and prompt the fish to play better.

But anyway, there are fish to be had, but they are all on the south side; some are being caught on the north side, west of the cove back at the steel. Most of the fish being caught that I saw, and heard about were black drum, sheepshead and black margates, all on live or dead shrimp. The incoming tide on the north side is better, with less current flow. Some snook also have been reported back here, but they have been caught in the boats fishing the shoreline mangroves. Live pins, pigs and croakers are the baits.

The south side is producing fair numbers of black drum, sheepshead and black margates, all on either live shrimp, or dead shrimp. Again, the incoming tide is the best time to fish. The south jetty is still kind of unfishable due to the large waves and the wind making it very wet and dangerous to be out there. Most of the fish on this side are being caught west of the bridge, where you can escape the big waves and most of the wind. The snook have been playing decently back here on live baits such as shrimp, pins, pigs and croakers, mostly on the early and late incoming tides. I chatted Friday with an angler at the park. He was fishing with his wife by the cleaning table and they caught a couple nice flounder! It’s getting to be that time of the year for them to arrive if the water cools down and cleans up. The surf on both sides has been a mess due to the big waves and blustery winds, so no report on that.

That’s all I have for this week’s report. With the north side being shut down, the reports will be shorter because most of the action happens on the north side. With that, I wish you all a great week! Stay well, and get out and enjoy the outdoors!

by Wayne "Snookman" Landry
Sebastian Inlet State Park | (321) 724-5175

Fergusons Trailer Supply

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Flounder Season Just Ahead
November 18, 2024

Flounder Season Just Ahead

Another week of decent inshore fishing with plenty of trout and some smaller snook. Bite is still hot on soft plastics and some topwater action early. The snook have been around the mangroves with some slot size and smaller fish with some bigger fish around the spoil islands.

The inlet bite around the shorelines on the north and south sides have been good the last week as well. Plenty of snook on pigfish and spots with a few fish on soft plastics. I am sure that night bite on bucktails is pretty hot. Pompano bite has been good around the spoil islands and drop-offs on some of the flats around the inlet.

The big cold front coming later this week should push the flounder into the inlet, but keep in mind the season isn’t open yet and will open on the 1st of December. Typically the week of Thanksgiving is the time most Flounder fishermen start hitting up the inlet looking for the doormats. Let’s hope this season is a good one.

by Capt. Glyn Austin
Going Coastal Charters | (321) 863-8085

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Headwaters Bass Fishing
November 18, 2024

Headwaters Bass Fishing

headwaters bass fishing

The water temp is 75 degrees when we started this morning. The S canal is wide open until you get down to the East West Canal there is a blockage just to the north of the East/West.

Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin Tapout worms, Jackhammers and the Mike Bucca 6” Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin Tapout worms with an 1/4oz weight (because we have had so much wind) and fishing it along Bullrush edges. The only colors I used this week were Black and Watermelon Magic. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. I like letting these sink to the bottom and pull it along the bottom fairly slow.

I’m fishing the Golden Shiner and Green Pumpkin Jackhammers anywhere there is scattered hydrilla in water 5′ or less. I only use a 1/2oz with a Zako trailer to match or a Bass Assassin Whoopa Craw to match.

The 6” Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along thick grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Swim these just under the surface for best results. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info.

If you want to catch a bunch of fish pick up some shiners and free line them in deep water areas.

I only have a few dates available in December (4,5,15,16,21,22). Call or text me at 304-610-6066. I have some outstanding guides that work for me that have availability as well.

Tight lines!

by Kenny Hass
Catchin' Bass Guide Service | (772) 494-7400

Miley Marine Surveyors

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Trout & Redfish in the Shallows
November 18, 2024

Trout & Redfish in the Shallows

seatrout mike man

The bite has been on fire throwing soft plastics and topwater lures. We are catching large numbers of trout and redfish working in the shallows and bait pods. The cold front coming this week should trigger a feeding frenzy as the water drops rapidly. I have days available. Give me a call at 386-295-5991 or my visit my website to book a trip.

by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Ocean Obession II - Port Canaveral Deep Sea Fishing Charters

Best Fishing on Freshwater Last Week
November 18, 2024

Best Fishing on Freshwater Last Week

hydrilla bass

Last week’s fishing was best on the freshwater bite compared to the two days on the lagoon. Sunday we had 15-20 mph south winds and we took a beating running from spot to spot but the bite was good. Lots of smaller jacks mixed in with some rather big ladyfish kept it fun. Monday was slick calm but couldn’t put hardly a fish to the boat. With no wind at all it was tough to fish around mangroves due to the large population of no see-ums swarming around us, sharpening their teeth on us.

Thursday was back on Headwaters. To my surprise the road was still dusty and there was no heavy equipment in sight for the paving process. We struggled for the first hour of fishing trying to figure out what the fish wanted to eat. With calm waters the topwater bite was non-existent and so was anything sub surface too. Once we had a little wind we put a pattern together that started catching fish. The bass were holding tight to the topped out hydrilla with open water holes and cuts. My best lure of choice was a Gambler EZ swimmer in the Copperfield color. Rigging it with a 5/0 twist lock belly weighted hook and 50 pound test YO ZURI Super Braid I was able to bring these fish to the boat. Even when the winds did blow the bite never happened for us in the open water areas.

This week we have lots of rain coming on Wednesday so after it passes some areas should have pump stations open and current flow. Our first major cold front might have a slowing effect on the bass due to a drop in water temperature but once that stabilizes the bite will resume.

by Terry Lamielle
| (321) 537-5346

Florida Sport Fishing Association

Fish Lake
November 17, 2024

Fish Lake

fish lake

Went out Saturday morning, put 10 in the boat, lost 4 on the way to the boat, including what would have been the biggest of the day and missed a handful. Started off in the first cove and got the first one as I threw back in the narrow entrance towards the main lake close to the tree. Then started along the reeds to the right and got 2 2lbers off the point. Worked my way around and got another 3, couple of pounders and the biggest one at 5.09lbs. pictured. Got the big one on a Berkley powerbait maxscent General in babybass color right next to the dock beside where the grass ramp ends. The others came on a Yum Swim n Dinger in watermelon pearl and a Strike King Ocho also in Babybass. Moved over to the other cove and got a couple more , pound and a half and another 2lber. Moved across the lake and fished the shore line back up towards the boat ramp and caught the other 2.

Overwhelmed with weed.
November 16, 2024

Overwhelmed with weed.

surf fishing

Slow bite and lots of seaweed off Cape Canaveral. Looking forward to better waters off the beach.

Jasin Youmans Dental - Melbourne, FL

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

CATCH A BIG SMILE WITH JASIN YOUMANS DMD!

jasin youmans DMD

Boaters Exchange - We want your used boats!

LOCAL EVENTS

KBB Fishing Seminar

Nov 2

November 2nd from 2-4 pm Kayaks By Bo Inc. is hosting a Free Fishing Seminar with Chris Mitchell! Are you ready to level up your kayak fishing game? Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the best in the sport! Chris will be sharing his top tips for landing trophy bass, navigating tricky waters, and excelling in kayak fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting, this seminar is packed with knowledge!

Demo Day

Nov 9

demo day

Demo Day

Nov 23

SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY!

Don’t forget, if you’ve been fishing, we’d love to hear from you!

Florida Sport Fishing Association