Search the Community

July 15th, 2013 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Charter Report With the arrival of summer time here in central Florida we have also received some very nice days and opportunities to get some great sight fishing in on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River backcountry flats. Whether you are fishing the northern sections up in New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill and Edgewater or fishing the south end of the lagoons in Titusville and Cocoa Beach, the flats fishing has been outstanding. Despite the recent algae bloom that the northern Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon had, along with the dramatic publicity it has received, it is by no means as bad as the media has portrayed it to be. My eyes see it differently each day I am on the water. Besides that I have been to the dock every day to look for myself. It is definitely not as bad as it was at this exact time last year and I honestly see day after day the waters here clearing up a little at a time. With the afternoon thunderstorms we are getting, steady weather and the nice patterns, it is my opinion it is helping. It actually looks a lot like it should look for this time of year, the hot days of summer time here in Florida. On top of this I have been able to find some areas inside both bodies of waters that contain some “winter†like clean water. The past few weeks I have been able to get my clients on some very high quality sight fishing. On most days we are getting shots not at just a few fish but several. Numerous casts and fish are being landed whether for the intermediate, advanced or the professional grade angler, throughout the day’s charters on the water. Even at times at day’s end they would have seen over a thousand fish that are within rods reach, and right at the boat. How you say? Stealth, patience, distance and accuracy, this is the key to sight fishing. As usual the days will start very early, with no room for movement there if you want a higher quality day on the water. This is for a few different reasons. The redfish, black drum and trout are feeding aggressively at first light and getting onto them as well into position requires one thing. Do not rush it. Take your time when approaching fish on the flats, they will spook very easily. Now do not get me wrong, they will feed almost all of the time and throughout the day, they are animals, but there are times better than others. Plus who does not like the sunrise and that time of the morning where you can just feel the bite. Red drum or redfish are feeding on bait fish like mullet and pinfish along with the usual meal of crabs and shrimp. Look for signs of life on the open flats, birds feeding, bait exploding on the surface, nervous water and so on. At this point in time figure a good game plan out, your approach to them, position you want to be in. Avoid making any excessive noises or movement that you have too. Watch your shadows as the sun comes up, remember they have one big thing on their (reds & trout) mind, death from above. These game fish will spook very easily, not just from sound but physically seeing you as well. We have been getting redfish and trout on several forms of lures and flies. If, at first light, and you want some really great excitement, try throwing a top-water lure. Of course I like to use the DOA Shallow Running Baitbuster along with the Airhead, un-weighted of course, for this scenario. For those of you wanting to cast to a tailing redfish and try your targeted casts, use DOA Shrimp or CAL rigged on a weed-less hook with a very small weight. The same with the fly fisherman, you cannot go wrong while flats fishing Florida’s waters for redfish and spotted seatrout using a shrimp patterned fly. If you choose you can throw bait at them but you still need to get that in front of their mouth in order for them to eat it. Speaking of seatrout, I am seeing and catching some extremely high quality fish. Most are being caught at the exact same time we are sight fishing the redfish or throwing the top-waters. However I do ask you that when you get them close to the boat, do try to release them without bringing them on board. At this time of year with the heat, water temperature and the stress that they receive on the hook up their survival rate tends to decline. This will help them and in return will help you for the future when you go back out to catch them again. Makes sense to me. Also please remember that you really should never hold any fish by the lips with any kind of “gripping†device or vertically, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Charters they really do not like that. Hold them horizontally. Try to also keep your hands wet and keep in mind the number one priority is the survival of that fish upon its release. I like to say hold them with respect as for what they have given you, a great fight and a fun day. If they are not there then the day would not exist. I have also been getting reports from fellow colleagues and friends who are seeing and catching good numbers of tarpon along the beaches and inlets. Also a few nice cobia and some nice sharks as well are being landed along our coastal beaches when weather permits the smaller flats boats to get out there in the Atlantic. Captain Drew Cavanaugh

Central Florida Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report – August 31st, 2012 The past few weeks have been improving fairly well as far as to the fishing here in central Florida. Prior to the storm Isaac that came thru Florida, we had numerous shots at tarpon in the Indian River. Along with this there are several stray reds and trout among the flats. Jacks, lady fish and of course catfish are all by catch. The fish (tarpon) were happy and feeding as the sun breaks and as long as it remained fairly calm waters they continued this pattern throughout the morning. Fish in the 50 plus pound class are the average. Throwing DOA's (Terror Eyez or Baitbusters)at them as they roll is your best bet. I have not been back down there after this rain so I too am curious on if they are still present. Just before the storm came however I fished the Mosquito Lagoon here in east central Florida a few times. The water has started to clear slightly and the fishing was better than it had been. Several redfish and a few trout were amongst the catch. Watching for tails at weed-lines and bait activity is the key to success. Throwing soft plastics at feeding fish with a soft presentation is the way to go. There is a sign of it getting better every day. With the rain coming thru over the weekend it has done a few good things. First of all the water is up, so with the busy holiday weekend be sure to be safe. This also opens up new feeding grounds to fish that were not reachable before. Watch the areas you are running to and from, this is now a navigational hazard. Second, it looks as if the rain has cleared the waters a lot. The waters in Cocoa and Port St. John area are clear, very clear. The waters in Titusville are fairly clear. The waters up by the Edgewater and New Smyrna areas, this seems to be clearing as well. So it looks like it is putting the squeeze on the Mosquito Lagoon and North Indian River. Just like the human body water is good for you, well it is good for the waterways as well. This will flush things out. Fresh and normal rain patterns are keys to sustaining the estuaries and lagoons. Please be sure to handle all of your catch with extreme care, get your picture then release them fast for a high survival rate. Everyone have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend. Captain Drew Cavanaugh Florida Inshore Fishing Charters Cell/352-223-7897 Fish the Indian River Lagoon YouTube Videos

December 1st, 2011 New Smyrna Beach & Oak Hill Fishing Report Well the days of summer time are gone for now but will return in no time at all. The cooler days of winter are approaching and are here to stay for a few months. With this it brings clean, clear water and the water levels will begin to drop in depth taking feeding ground away from the fish. What does this mean? Excellent sight fishing days are amongst us. The redfish will begin to gather in large schools, the trout will show up on sand and grass flats and the bite will turn into magic. As long as we do not get a harsh winter again this year it should turn out to be a great winter fishery here on the Mosquito Lagoon and north Indian River. The fishing here in east central Florida is prime on a year round basis. The past several weeks have brought several days of great fishing and some really nice weather. Redfish and trout have been the main staple here along with a few by catches of drum and flounder. Sight fishing for redfish early and throughout the day has been extremely productive using a few different tactics and techniques. As always the main key here is to take your time and do not crowd your fellow angler on the water. Spin fishing methods using the D.O.A. Nite Glow Shrimp on light tackle have been the most successful of the artificial to make hits and strikes. Sight fishing red fish as they are feeding on the flats is the most successful tactic. Look for bait fish and a sign of activity. Approach fish with a stealth like method and be sure to cast past these fish with a soft presentation. Do not land on the fish as it will scare them and then in return it will scare all of them. Along with the soft plastics a well-placed live shrimp or small blue crab will work as well using a small 2/0 or so circle hook. Live mullet as always will bring in strikes as well. Several trout can be landed with this method too on the flats, however please be aware that these fish need to be released until the first of the year. Please be sure to handle all of the fish you land with extreme care for a higher survival rate upon their release. Fly fishing for redfish and trout has begun to improve tremendously as the waters start to clear up making visibility much better. Using an 8 or 7 weight fly rod the past few weeks with a Green Seaducer fly has been very productive on the flats. Just as with using soft plastics or live baits, a stealthy approach along with a soft presentation is a major key to a successful hook up out here. Other flies that have been working well would be a shrimp pattern or a black crab fly pattern. Captain Drew Cavanaugh Florida Inshore Fishing Charters Cell/352-223-7897 Email us at: [email protected] Visit us at: http:www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/