Redfish(However I can not wait for the Crappie bite down here!)

[Cavanaugh68]

December 7th, 2009 - Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing Report

Well first off I would like to say happy holiday season to every one out there. Hope it will be a safe one for all and next year will be fantastic for every body as well! Fish on!

With that said let's talk a little bit of fishing. By a little bit I mean just a bit. The weather the past several days just have been down right bad, so the fishing was from last week and beyond. Now do not get me wrong, we really did need the rain so it is a good thing in many ways.The dry season is here so let's take it while we can get it. Up until the rain moved in last week the fishing here on the Mosquito Lagoon had really started to turn towards its winter patterns in several different ways. A very welcome change that is embraced by many of us out here. The water levels however are still very high(in my opinion) but the clarity has improved tremendously, water temps are slowly dropping, winter birds from north have shown up and the redfish fish are starting their typically bunch up like kids on a playground tradition. More like the nature of the beast I say. That beast shall I say is the Redfish!

Redfish are starting to feed aggressively among the flats and shorelines as the day breaks and continuing throughout the day and into the warming afternoon. Most fish are being caught in the 15-28 inch range of water depth. As the water warms up the fish begin to become more active. Not just the reds but every cold blooded fish out there. Again it is their nature. Most fish are being landed using the D.O.A 3" Shrimp 1/4 oz. in two particular colors that I having been using. One is the D.O.A. Nite Glow and the other, which I have had extremely great success with not just getting reds but the trout seem to gravitate towards this thing as well. The D.O.A. #408 Red/Gold Glitter, Redfish Using the Sight Fishing Method.again in the 3" Shrimp 1/4 oz. weight. Now the Nite Glow Is great for the cloudy and dark water conditions, like the name states the fish just can see this thing much better in low light conditions. However I find it still works great in bright clear sunny skies and is an all around go to plastic.(Speaking of sun, remember, keep the sun at your back and in their face...). Also like several baits in the lagoon they(bait) are in some sort of way or have on them white some where or are light colored in some way. Like mullet, dark on the top, but white on the bottom. As always a very well placed throw to these fish will produce. Remember the tail does not eat. As always take your time and approach them with patience. Most the fish have been in the slot size with a few up and over the slot.

Now the other bait that has been really producing, especially with the overcast skies we had there off and on, is the top water plug. Chug Bug or Skiiter Walk are my two favorites at any given time. Both trout and reds have been hammering this thing. Just remember to treat and handle the trout with care(handle all fish with care)for they MUST be released at this time of the year. Big trout have been seen moving across their hidden domain as you pole through the flats as well. As I always say, giant trout are the special forces of the lagoon. Just work grass flats and shore lines/structure for good action. Deeper water in the 4 - 5 foot or so range will bring on the schooling trout by the dozens. Keep your eye out for bait pods and work this as well. No bait in the area... maybe no fish too. You would not shop at a grocery store with no groceries on the shelf would you. Bait fish in the area are always a great sign along with other feeding animals and birds.

Again I wish every one a safe and happy holiday season this year.

As always I look forward to seeing you on the water. Tight lines and bent rods!

Captain Drew Cavanaugh

Florida Inshore Fishing Charters

Cell/352-223-7897

Fish the World Famous Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River. Known as the Redfish Capital of the World. Home of the best light tackle backcountry inshore saltwater flats fishing Florida has to offer.

[Adam Bomb]

Thanks for the report Capt. Happy Holidays and good luck with the conditions and the fishing.

[Priority1]

Capt. Drew, Thanks for the report.

[Cavanaugh68]

I appreciate that! Get down here and get you some fish....Keep warm up there. Have a great holiday season and be safe!

[Adam Bomb]

Have you seen the forcast, we'll need the luck with the staying warm thats for certain!...lol...If i ever make it down that way ill be sure to look ya up. Keep poundin them fish Capt.!

[GLF]

We are just getting hit by our first winter storm of the year. Florida sounds pretty good right now.

Thanks for the report Drew!

[Cavanaugh68]

January 27th, 2010 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Reports

The weather for the beginning of this year had started off very poorly as we all know. Some of the coldest days and nights I have seen in my life here in Florida for a very long time. Not just cold but the length it lasted as well. I will not dwell too much over the extreme cold that we had or what it did and is doing to the fish populations because I am sure every one is aware of it at this point in time. However I would like to suggest some food for thought. I personally have witnessed, like many of you out here on the Mosquito Lagoon and the refuge, a very large number of dead big trout. Some of these trout looked massive. A heart breaker for sure for any sport fishing angler. Along with several other species including snook and tarpon but I think the trout on the lagoon has been hit the hardest due to their year round presence here. The trout kill from the cold snap at the beginning of this year really took its toll on them. I would like to advocate the release of as many of these trout as you can for a strong come back of them in the future. Hopefully the breeders will be able to sustain the population and it will not be long until we see more of them again among the grass flats as in the years past. As always handling them with extreme care to ensure a safe release is key to their survival. The redfish and black drum however seem to have taken the beating a little bit better than the trout, snook and tarpon did for sure. Possibly a good sign indeed for the future of them as well.

Now on with some fishing. During the days of very cold weather I found that some days the bite was extremely tough as that is the nature of cold blooded animals. The fish were very lethargic indeed. Later start times are essential in that case. Use the heat of the day to your advantage. Slow presentations of bait is the key element to days like this. Even then it will not entice a hit. As we are now towards the end of the month and water temperatures have been climbing back up into optimal range for fishing here on the Mosquito Lagoon the flats fishing has been improving tremendously. Redfish have been feeding here the past several days very aggressively all over the place. D.O.A. plastics seem to be the go to bait for schools and cruising fish. As well with tailing fish if you are able to apply a targeted and soft presentation without scaring the fish off. Shrimp in the 1/4 oz. size and C.A.L. used with a small weighted hook in several different choices of colors will work. Fly fishing as always at this time of year is superb. Sight fishing the clear water allows you to get precise casts to your fish along with a good tactical approach. Using shrimp and mullet patterns in natural colors is a great choice for fly.

With water levels low this time of year it is always in your best interest to pole towards any fish you can. Along with the clear water and shallow depths the fish are much more aware of their surroundings. So try to approach them as stealthy as possible taking your time to get into position. Also be very cautious of your navigation during this time of year as well not only with grounding your boat out but also give a very wide distance between you and other anglers.

Captain Drew Cavanaugh

Florida Inshore Fishing Charters

Visit us at: www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/

[Cavanaugh68]

January 27th, 2010 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Reports

The weather for the beginning of this year had started off very poorly as we all know. Some of the coldest days and nights I have seen in my life here in Florida for a very long time. Not just cold but the length it lasted as well. I will not dwell too much over the extreme cold that we had or what it did and is doing to the fish populations because I am sure every one is aware of it at this point in time. However I would like to suggest some food for thought. I personally have witnessed, like many of you out here on the Mosquito Lagoon and the refuge, a very large number of dead big trout. Some of these trout looked massive. A heart breaker for sure for any sport fishing angler. Along with several other species including snook and tarpon but I think the trout on the lagoon has been hit the hardest due to their year round presence here. The trout kill from the cold snap at the beginning of this year really took its toll on them. I would like to advocate the release of as many of these trout as you can for a strong come back of them in the future. Hopefully the breeders will be able to sustain the population and it will not be long until we see more of them again among the grass flats as in the years past. As always handling them with extreme care to ensure a safe release is key to their survival. The redfish and black drum however seem to have taken the beating a little bit better than the trout, snook and tarpon did for sure. Possibly a good sign indeed for the future of them as well.

Now on with some fishing. During the days of very cold weather I found that some days the bite was extremely tough as that is the nature of cold blooded animals. The fish were very lethargic indeed. Later start times are essential in that case. Use the heat of the day to your advantage. Slow presentations of bait is the key element to days like this. Even then it will not entice a hit. As we are now towards the end of the month and water temperatures have been climbing back up into optimal range for fishing here on the Mosquito Lagoon the flats fishing has been improving tremendously. Redfish have been feeding here the past several days very aggressively all over the place. D.O.A. plastics seem to be the go to bait for schools and cruising fish. As well with tailing fish if you are able to apply a targeted and soft presentation without scaring the fish off. Shrimp in the 1/4 oz. size and C.A.L. used with a small weighted hook in several different choices of colors will work. Fly fishing as always at this time of year is superb. Sight fishing the clear water allows you to get precise casts to your fish along with a good tactical approach. Using shrimp and mullet patterns in natural colors is a great choice for fly.

With water levels low this time of year it is always in your best interest to pole towards any fish you can. Along with the clear water and shallow depths the fish are much more aware of their surroundings. So try to approach them as stealthy as possible taking your time to get into position. Also be very cautious of your navigation during this time of year as well not only with grounding your boat out but also give a very wide distance between you and other anglers.

Captain Drew Cavanaugh

Florida Inshore Fishing Charters

[Priority1]

Capt. Drew, Thanks for the FL report.

[Nailer]

Captain Drew Cavanaugh

Florida Inshore Fishing Charters

Great image Captain Drew.

And thanks for the report.