Captain Scott Gold, Miss Fort Pierce Fishing
We finally made it to December, the last month of the year and the last opportunity to catch keeper groupers until December 31 at midnight. Grouper should be found at all the traditional spots from the shallow of 50 or 55 feet out to 250+ feet. Wrecks are also a popular place to target that last-minute big grouper. Live pinfish grunts and mullet are one of the preferred baits for anglers.
Also, fresh butterflied grunts are an excellent choice. Make sure you have heavy tackle 80- to 130- pound leaders and a good reel that’s high torque, and a higher gear ratio because they will dig in and run back to their habitat and try to cut you off.
Snapper fishing remains good, as they will continue to bite steadily for long after the first of the year. All the traditional spots from 70- to 120- feet of water are excellent choices. Plug grunts, pinfish, and sardines are your preferred bait with a longer leader of 30- to 50-pound test. Mixing with the snappers this time of year are larger triggerfish, and a variety of big porgies.
(Triggerfish make excellent table fare)
All are located on the same grounds. We like to anchor up, but some choose to drift. Pick your weather windows. At the beginning of the month, we had a lot of wind, which will continue off and on through the winter months.
In the river, trout, snook, and redfish will be targets throughout the winter. Trout will tend to hang around the deeper cuts of the river. Move off to three to six feet of water for trout. Live shrimp on popping corks or DOA Deadly Combos will work the best for them. Snook season closes December 15th. Jacks and ladyfish will be plentiful for anglers wanting fast action.
Here at the Miss Fort Pierce, we’ve just finished up all her renovations and a full paint job. “Queen of the Fleet of the Treasure Coast” is back sailing daily. We look forward to seeing you out on the water and good luck. To book your reservations, visit us at www.fortpiercefishing.com or
call us at (772) 766-0191.
Capt. Scott Gold