I have never fished saltwater in the winter. Now that I will be able to do some fishing i am wondering if anybody can tell me if the Reds and trout are still in the bays and how to catch them. Also, what other fish are to be caught November-January.

Fall/Winter is the best time, some bays are way better than others.

Late fall and winter fishing is the best in my opinion, the fishing is great there will not be lines at the dock and you can sleep a lot latter. Just make sure to dress in cloths to keep you warm and dry, I like to wear my waders to fish even if I'm not getting in the water they keep you dry and break the wind.

Doublersguidedfishing.com

Thanks, what baits work best if you don't mind telling?

From mid-October to early January is my best time of inshore fishing (bays, marshes, and flats).

As far as baits go, you need to match the hatch.
Sometimes they'll be feasting on shrimp, other times on menhaden or other baitfish.

Last year, I went around this same time of year on 2 back to back weekends.
First weekend, I was hooking them on Mojo Shrimp, the next weekend they wouldn't touch it.
So I switched to a swimming bait and it worked.

Fall/winter is my favorite time to fish the bays. Plenty of fish, its not as hot, and most of all, once deer season starts there is not as much boat traffic scattering the fish.

What you use is always dictated by your location, the conditions and what the fish are telling you. Vague I know..

Usually fall/winter is clearer water, I prefer the sand eel when it gets clear, and it can be worked at a slower pace that seems to be the ticket when the water gets cold. When it really gets cold, trout will pack up in river bottoms and channels, a rattle trap is pretty deadly when you find them in that situation.

Third day of a warming trend will have them scarfing a top water in the back lakes, so let the fish tell you what they're wanting.

Thanks guys

I personally love to throw a soft plastic paddle tail rigged with a 1/16 ounce jig head, and when that won't trigger a bite throw a good old nosie makeing popping cork with a DOA shrimp.

Doublersguidedfishing.com

I can't access any inshore places to really do any good artificial lure fishing, I mainly have to sit on the bank and throw out a shrimp or mullet on bottom. Is the late fall/winter good for that, or will I have to try to get a kayak?

Further south the more solid wade areas you find.

Fall is the best
Top water and softs are good
The reds will get up in the shallows and trout will be on the shell reefs
El Toro Rojo