|
0 registered (),
2
Guests and
2
Spiders online. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The weather here in central Florida has been mostly cold and unpredictable but the flats fishing has been consistently good. Redfish and black drum have been abundant with most of the fish being found in schools of 25-200 fish. They have been willing to eat a variety of well placed small soft plastics and flies. Both the reds and drum have been feeding in very shallow water and have been extremely spooky. The fish must be approached slowly and quietly with your casts landing at least ten feet away from them.
On trips during the latter part of February, clients had shots at hundreds of redfish and drum per day. The catching usually depended on the number of accurate casts that were made.
Minnesota residents Jamie and Mike fished Mosquito Lagoon on a cold but sunny day last week. They had shots at schools of redfish throughout the day from 5-30 pounds. A three inch DOA CAL in golden bream color on a 1/8 ounce jighead was the most effective bait and was responsible for at least one double hookup.
The following day, the weather took a turn for the worse due to an approaching cold front. Tim and his son Alex decided to give it a try anyway, hoping to beat the worst of the weather. With solid cloud cover, spotting the fish was the biggest challenge and we ran over many of them before we saw them. Eleven year old Alex did catch his first redfish before we elected to get out of the cold and rain.
Monday was the only day of good weather this week. The redfish were still plentiful and the three inch CAL was eaten on the first cast of the day. I got to try several new crab flies I had tied and found the reds happy to eat them as well.
If the forecast holds true, next week will bring temperatures above 70 every day. If the winds cooperate as well, it should be an excellent week of sight fishing the flats. Small baits like the DOA shrimp and CAL along with crab and shrimp flies will continue to work well.
Capt. Chris Myers
Orlando Fishing Guide
|
|
|
Flats Fishing On The Mosquito Lagoon
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
March 4, 2010
Mosquito Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well here we are almost to the end of the month and we are starting to warm things up some. There was a few days there where it was cold. Just not right for central Florida to say the least. Just not right at all. Now with air temperatures climbing back into the 60's and hopefully reaching a prime of the upper 70's not too far out this will continue to bring the water temperature up along with it. At least here in Florida more than the rest of the upper states it is really turning out to be just drop dead beautiful outside. A day here or there with winds and a few clouds, but that sun, that beautiful sun and the bright light it brings with it for sight fishing is just awesome. It will not be much longer until we are in the warm summer months and the great fishing that Florida brings during those times. The good things of cobia running the beaches, tarpon showing up at the inlets, back to shorts and flip flops and the feel of summer time in the air. Bring it. Next thing you know the A/C will be back on for a change of pace.
Now the fishing the past several weeks here on the Mosquito Lagoon and along the Indian River from the Central Florida Fishing Charters New Smyrna Beach shallow flats area down to the Titusville back country waters has been great on days the weather and the winds allow you to get out and do some sight fishing the flats. A couple of days there it started out cold in the morning but with the sun rising high in the sky allowed for great days to be out on the water fishing and just soaking it in. Dealing with a bad day or two here and there is just part of the package. It is like living any where else, you just come to expect it, get used to it and prepare for it.
Redfish, black drum and a few trout have been the catch of the day the past several weeks. The red fish are being caught on the flats using a few different methods. As always during this time of the year one method for targeting them is fly fishing. It is at a prime for this. Using shrimp or crab patterns as the waters on the Mosquito Lagoon are gin clear and the fish are feeding on the baits buried down in the bottom. With the clear waters sight fishing is just by far the best way to target these shallow water creatures. Other methods and baits that have produced good numbers here lately are a live shrimp thrown to a feeding fish on a 3/0 hook, the D.O.A. 1/4 oz. shrimps in several different colors, and the D.O.A. C.A.L.s with a small weighted weed less hook. The fish are caught and seen tailing the early hours and through out most of the day feeding in shallow warming waters. Grass flats and white sand holes seem to be areas where they are hanging out the most. Schools of them are cruising the waters in great numbers as well. As always a good stealthy approach to them is your best tactical game plan. Remember to handle them gently for a clean release.
Trout and black drum are also being caught along with a few flounder as well. The trout seem to be fine tuned as to the approaching boats and are as always more challenging to get on the flats sight fishing them. Apex predator for sure of the shallow waters. However they are eager to eat the same baits the red fish want, so use the same approach methods for them as well. Just take your time. Black drum are being pressured very heavily the past several weeks and seem to be evolving to the intense fishing for them. Using small hooks and bits of shrimp or smaller plastics will be your best bet. You must approach them with ease and stealth. A soft presentation will be required for all of the above. Remember to handle all of them with extreme care for the release. Also please be sure to keep in mind your fellow anglers around you at all times and try to anticipate their moves as well. Give every one wide open spaces and keep a good distances at all times if you can. This goes a long way for a better overall experience for everyone.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
Light tackle fishing guide on the Mosquito Lagoon
|
|
|
We have been catching Redfish, Seatrout, and Sheepshead on many charters the last few weeks. Water and air temperatures have remained colder than normal for February. On the flats of Mosquito Lagoon the Redfish are in their winter schools and have gotten used to the cold water temps of upper 40’s to low 50’s F’. We are catching Reds and Seatrout on select size shrimp, live mud minnows and finger mullet. Backcountry trips are targeting Sheepshead in the deeper holes and drop-offs, our mixed bag fishing with many more species of saltwater game fish will return soon as the water will be warming with the arrival of spring in East Central Florida. Pictured are clients Fernando with his Redfish and Gene with a Seatrout.
I offer Mosquito Lagoon Flats Fishing trips for Redfish and Seatrout, for the novice or experienced angler alike. I also offer Indian River Backcountry Fishing trips, that is mixed bag fishing for Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, and more. On the average Backcountry trip we catch between 10 and 15 (or more) different species of saltwater fish. This type of trip can be extremely entertaining for beginners or experienced anglers. My boat accommodates from 1 to 4 anglers. Located close to DAYTONA BEACH, NEW SMYRNA BEACH and ORLANDO. Feel free to contact me at any time with questions you may have about my fishing charters.
CHILDREN ALWAYS WELCOME – FAIR PRICES
Capt. Michael Savedow
Edgewater River Guide, Inc.
386-689-3781
email> EdgewaterRiverGuide@cfl.rr.com
website> http://www.EdgewaterRiverGuide.com
|
|
|
Got on the water around mid-morning Tuesday to enjoy the 70 degree weather after what felt like a long, cold winter. Started out slow with the slack tide but as the tide began moving in the bite picked up. Caught half a dozen rat reds and half a dozen 12-13" black drum and finished up with a 19" Black drum and a 24" Red, both of which joined the wife and I for dinner  Saw a few Kayakers out, and a few stinkpots.
|
|
|
There is still much speculation going around about the effects of the big freeze we experienced at the beginning of the year. While the full extent of the damage may not be known for quite some time, I can say with confidence that the populations of adult redfish and black drum are alive and well. We have been seeing hundreds of fish each trip roaming the shallow flats. From big schools of redfish and drum to singles and small groups, the fish have been active, feeding, and generally happy. The weather has been the biggest foe with temperatures on many days 15-20 degrees below average. Water temperatures during the past week have been staying around 50 and the fish do not seem to mind at all.
On a trip last week, Canadians Emile and Serge joined me on a blustery day. The wind were topping 20 and the flats were dirty. With only one other boat in sight the entire day we had the water to ourselves. Both guys caught several nice redfish including an 11 and 22 pounder.
This past Sunday, I went out on a windy 33 degree morning with my Friend Capt. Drew. We started spotting tailing redfish almost immediately and they were willing to eat a three inch DOA CAL in Arkansas Glow. We visited four spots and found three of them full of redfish catching multiple fish along the way.
Monday brought some of the nicest weather we have had in quite some time. Sunny skies and light winds made for some excellent sight fishing. Wilson and Tyler had spent the previous day at the Daytona 500 and wanted to experience the Mosquito Lagoon before returning to Pennsylvania. As soon as we started fishing, we found ourselves surrounded by schools of fish. Tyler hooked up with a redfish on his first cast. Wilson landed his first red a while later. They had steady shots at redfish throughout the day including some schools of 20-30 pound fish.
Yesterday, 16 year old Cameron joined me on his first trip to Mosquito Lagoon. An experienced offshore angler, he wanted to try some inshore sight fishing. The skies were clear but the wind blew hard the whole day. Despite having to battle the wind, Cam made some great casts to tailing fish and landed four redfish from 27-41 inches.
Water levels in Mosquito Lagoon remain much higher than normal for this time of year. Most of the redfish we have been finding have been in 12-18 inches of water with plenty of grass. High winds have made casting light baits difficult but a 3 inch CAL tail on a 1/4 ounce jig works well. The key when using a setup like this with an exposed hook is to not let the bait settle down in the grass until it is near the fish. On days with lighter winds, the DOA shrimp will be hard to beat.
Capt. Chris Myers
Orlando Fishing Guide
|
|
|
88 Members
5 Forums
181 Topics
546 Posts
Max Online: 30 @ 01/13/09 09:52 AM
|
|
|
