Fishing Report 6/12/11 - Mosquito Lagoon

. 

Mosquito Lagoon Sun.  June 12, 2011
Moon - 3 days past first quarter
M.F.=  7:40 am
Temp.: Low 69 at daylight,  86 at 2:30
wind: NNW @ <5  mph early, laid flat at 10:00am then switched to E at 8-10 mph
pressure: 29.98 (Steady to slightly rising)

humidity: 88% at 6:00am, 51% at noon   

rain: 0

Mostly Sunny

This morning I decided to go back to one of my favorite spots on the east side of Mosquito Lagoon. I haven't been there in about 3 weeks and the conditions have really changed. I was the first Person through the gate this morning and was launched just after 6:00am.  I had noticed a lot of bait near the launch last time I was there so I did a little plugging with the 17mr and picked off a real nice 17" flounder the first crack out of the box. I flipped him in the boat and he shook off the hook and landed in my lap....Man that was close!

I paddled on looking for tailing redfish but all the flats I had seen fish on last time were so shallow the grass was exposed. To make things worse, the grass was shedding and the dead grass had floated up in to a thick mat way out and fish, particularly trout, couldn't get to the sand holes I intended to fish if they wanted to. I found some lady fish here and there but if was slim pickin's.

I decided to go on the hunt and paddle south looking for signs of life.

After about a mile and a half I came into a little deeper water with a mixed bottom but more grass than sand. Shortly after, a swirl up ahead caught my attention and I grabbed my plug rod and made a cast. As fish closed on the quartering plug , all of a sudden they exploded, I felt a solid thump and the reel started singing. After a short tour of the flat I finally got the big red boat side and got my hand on him......29 1/4"! A heck of a nice fish.

By the time all this was over and the picture taking was done I realized I was in the middle of a big school of fish. At first I thought they were small reds pushing but I believe it was just catfish with big mullet. I did hook another large redfish in a flats jig tipped with a tiny bit of ladyfish but he straightened the hook and tore off. I hate it when a fish gets off like that.

I pushed on south and ended up about 2 1/2 miles below the launch before I turned around and started heading back.

As I was paddling back I caught a glimpse of something dark, above the water and about 4ft. long. "I sure hope that was a manatee" I thought ! I decided to check it out. Being that I was in a 12' plastic boat I approached the spot cautiously. There was a big muddy spot and I was paying close attention. Unfortunately, I did not see the one on my right and paddled up a little to close. About the time I noticed it...it noticed me! Lucky for me he did not try to go under the boat and went around but I still got rocked pretty good....man that was close.

Well, about a quarter mile from the launch I noticed a manatee nose poke up out of the water. You guessed it.....I paddled over for a closer look! I readied my camera for a picture. I came alongside, parallel and dropped my paddle to the bottom to keep the wind from pushing me on top of them. About then the pair noticed I was there and did not like it. They both beat their tail violently in the shallow and headed for deeper water. The amount of water they displaced was incredible and I was able to get a little bit of a picture. I don't think I have ever seen such spooky manatees. They wouldn't try to hurt you but you could get flipped pretty easy.

I guess the total catch for the day was (35) ladyfish, (1) 29 1/4" redfish ((1) big one lost), (1) 17" flounder and (3) ambitious pin fish, zero trout.

I 'm still not excited about the fish I have found for the up coming tournament but this red would have been a contender!

A rod for every occasion!

Larry

Fishing Report, Indian River Lagoon, Scottsmoor Ramp, 6/11/11

. 

Indian River Lagoon Sat.  June 11, 2011
Moon - 2 days past first quarter
M.F.=  7:40 am
Temp.: Low 70's at daylight, forecast for low 90's wind: ENE @ <5  mph early, built to 10-12 mid morning (slick flat early)
pressure: 29.94 (falling slightly)

humidity: 80% at 6:00am, 57% at noon   

rain: 0

Partly cloudy

 

I got a good sounding tip from a friend of my brother that put me launching at the Scottsmoor ramp this morning, into the west side of the Indian River Lagoon. This is my first time fishing out of there. It has some pretty nice grass flats that parallel the long straight bank with a little bit of sand bottom interspersed.

 

I launched into the slick calm lagoon at 6:00am and paddler out the channel before heading north. It is pretty skinny for a long way out from the bank since the water is so low. There is visible grass showing for 300+ yds out from the bank.

 

Bait was a little scarce until I got 3/4 of a mile north and there was good bait activity from there on. I could hear bait spook and shower so far away I couldn't even see it this morning. Up wind of course.

 

This morning I fished a Johnson gold spoon and the MirrOdine 17mr for the most part. I did use a gulp shrimp here and there and picked up my first trout of the morning on it, using it as a jerk bait over some deeper sand. (The links are hot if you need some more info. on these)

 

About 30 minutes into the hunt I spotted a fish strike some bait towards the bank a little ways out of casting distance. I made a 90 and closed on the spot. There was no more sign of the fish but I made a cast with my gold spoon and started a slow retrieve. All of the sudden some mullet exploded and I felt a solid thump on the line. I set the hook, felt the fish strain on the line and P O P! By By spoon. I have no idea why it broke off. I checked the leader when I rigged all the rods this morning. Oh well. That was probably the only keeper I had on all day. I'll have to replenish my spoon stock now.

 

I caught a few lady fish on both the spoon and the MirrOdine but I was not seeing any tailing so I headed back south to try to strike on some action.

 

Just before I got back even with the ramp I found a little sand hole and caught a short redfish out of it on the spoon.

 

I found a little bit of trout action on the outside edge of the grass south of the ramp but all were under slot. I probably caught 6 trout total, there just wasn't any size to them. I think I picked up a couple more lady fish down there as well.

 

I'm thinking the falling barometer may have had something to do with the slow action? I probably only jumped 8-10 reds all morning and none loooked of any size. Never saw a fish tail. They just did not seem to be there.

 

I guess to sum it up I'd say there was a lot of angling for big fish today but precious little catching!

 

Larry S.

 

 

Fishing Report 6/5/11 - Mosquito Lagoon-Whales Tail

.
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report - Whales Tail
Sun.  June 5, 2011
Moon - 4 days past new moon
M.F.=  1:55 pm
Temp.: 69 low to 84 in afternoon
wind: NNE @ 0  mph early, built to 10 mph noon (slick flat early)
pressure: steady (high)

humidity:  61 avg. (45-88)  

rain: 0

sunny

I'm still scouting for some big fish at the " goon" so I went to the "Whales Tail" this morning. I put in off the Biolab road and paddled for the flat. The water was like glass this morning and it was a great morning to be on the water. There was already a flats boat on the Tail which gave me a good bearing. By the time I made the 3/4 mile paddle 4 more boats had joined him. I picked off 3 ladyfish in short order on the paddle out.

When I finally got over there I could see no bait to speak of so I made a loop around the flat searching for bait or tailing fish. I found a little school of mullet that were feeding on the southwest end but there was no redfish action in it. One of the flats boats that was anchored off the west side of the flat looked like he was hooked to a fish. As I got closer I could see his rod was doubled over. I don't know how long he had been fighting the fish when I saw him but it took another 30 minutes to get him alongside the boat. I was off a ways from him but I could see he was a horse when he hefted him onto the boat. I'd say he was over 20lb.! Great redfish. I expect he was fishing bait as he was in 3-4' of water.

I tried to pick up a trout in the deeper water with the MirrOdine and fished a gulp shrimp and a piece of cut ladyfish but nothing! I probably should have hung out to see what developed but after 2 hours I decided to hit another spot.

I headed for the small launch south of Haulover at the old guard shack. As it was getting later I paddled out for some deeper water to look for some sand. The bait was scarce but after a pretty good paddle I finally found a mix of mullet and menhaden on top. The first cast produced a Ladyfish as did the second and third. I made another cast with the mirrOdine and it was fish on. This one however, was pulling harder and staying deep.....turned out to be a 16" trout! I was finally on a few fish. Well, by the time I got the trout off, took his picture and put him on my stringer a bunch of dolphins showed up and ruined the whole deal. They busted into the bait and in a few minuted everything was gone!

I paddled back to the bank to have a look at the canals and trough along the shore but the water is so low there was no fish there.

When I got back to the launch there was a small 5' gator hanging out there. Strange to see them in the salt water like that.

Anyhow, that was it. It's off to look at some new water next trip, probably Eddy's creek area.

Here's a few pictures from this morning.

Larry.

Fishing Report 6/4/11 - Indian River Lagoon-Patillo Creek

.
Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report Patillo Creek
Sat.  June 4, 2011
Moon - 3 days past new moon
M.F.=  1:30 pm
Temp.: mid 70's to low 80's in afternoon
wind: ENE @ <5  mph early, built to 10-20 in afternoon (slick flat early)
pressure: steady (high)

humidity:    

rain: 0

sunny

I headed for Patillo Creek on the Indian River Lagoon this morning. It is quite a stroll to get down there. I think I put over 175 miles on the Chevy today.

I have never fished out of Patillo Creek and I'm trying to scout some new water that might hold some larger fish. If I can find what I'm looking for I might enter the kayak tournament coming up on the 19th.

After 8 hours in the yak my butt is killing me! As near as I could count I caught 87 fish today. Unfortunately, 85 of them were Ladyfish. I put (1) 24" red and (1) 15" trout on the stringer but could not manage any more. I think I have ruled this spot out for now. I just did not see many redfish. Probably less than 10 all day. I did see (4) other trout including one 20"er. As I was drifting along pitching to the sand holes my string of fish floated over a nice flounder and spooked him off.

I caught the trout , red and most of the ladyfish on the 17mr mirrOdine. That thing was was on fire. Sometimes I would make 4 or five casts and hook up on every cast! I have caught so many fish on the thing that they ate the galvanizing off the rear hook.

The water was really low and bait was spotty. I did find some deep (3' or so) water to the north that was muddy from large mullet. I feel like there were probably some reds mixed up in that but I had already realized I was not sure where the truck was and I was paddling into a 20mph head wind trying to find my truck! An hour later I finally spotted the blue truck and I was one happer camper! I promiss you I'll be more carefull in the future.

Well, here's some pictures. I guess one ladyfish looks much like another but here's some of them.

Big gater tracks headed off into Mosquito Lagoon!

Look at that water....Just like glass!

I sure had this one hobbled!

Tight lines,

Larry

Fishing Report 5/21/11 - Mosquito Lagoon

.
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report
Sat.  May 21, 2011
Moon - 4days past Full
M.F.=  2:15 am +/- (moon at 2:00 position+/- at daylight)
Temp.: mid 60's to low 80's in afternoon
wind: SW @ 5-7  mph early, built to 10+ and died about noon then switched out of E at 10 mph
pressure: 29.75

humidity: 55%avg.(41-83)   

rain: 0

sunny

I know what everybody's thinking........Larry, where's all the fish, you lost your touch or what? I've been thinking the same thing. I have just recently started fishing for this year since Spring Gobbler season has ended and have not really been able to get on any fish to speak of.

I 've mostly been trying new places but today I decided to go back to a spot I fished a few times last year that seemed to always have a good number of fish on the east side of Mosquito Lagoon. I dubbed the spot the "Sink Hole" after my friend Lou flipped his yak there on its maiden voyage last summer. He would have got a kick out of seeing me go over today. I was polling with the paddle standing when I thought I saw fish lying in a sand hole. I grabbed a rod and made a cast but the wind pushed me on. I twisted around and next thing I know I'm in the water. Good thing it was real shallow or I would have got real wet. As it was I was only half wet and was back in the boat before anyone saw it!

As far as the report, I should have just taken a picture of my shirt at the end of the day.  I was covered in fish blood and poop. That would have told the whole story and I could have forgone all the rest. I thought my professional fishing shirt was ruined! A wash in cold water followed by a liberal amount of hydrogen peroxide with a follow up wash, pretty much got all the stains out. It's a good thing half the lady fish get off before you have to handle them. Man those things get nasty. I had them hooked every way possible, even had one hooked in the mouth and tail at the same time! That was was wantin' some relief!

There were some Redfish there but not in the numbers I expected. What was there in numbers were Ladyfish!! I fished some sand pot holes where every cast brought a strike. I know I caught over 45 of them before the day was over. As for the redfish I caught 4 or 5 fish in the low end of the slot, 18-19" range.

I had four rods on the boat, (2) plug rods and to spinning outfits. I had a Mirrolure "Top Pup" on one and a "MirrOdine twitch bait on the other. On the spinners had an Assassin Jerk Shad in pearl and the other had a "Tsunami bucktail flats jig."  Nothing would touch the top water plug. The MirrOdine however, killed the ladyfish, they loved that thing. Watch the hooks on these things, they are the sharpest treble hooks I have ever seen.  I
had ladyfish hooked every way possible, even had one hooked in the mouth and tail at the same time! That was was wantin' some relief! I caught one of the reds on the soft jerk bait and the others on the jig. The ladyfish loved the jerk bait but had trouble getting it in their mouth so I couldn't hardly hook one on it but I could see them knocking the crap out of it. I have had no luck at all in this clear water with a top water plug.

Well, I pushed off from the hill before sun up but I wanted to have actually made the mile plus paddle to the flat I wanted to fish, in the dark. I couldn't get into the park before 6 AM however.

I stopped on the way at a little point that looked fishy. It had a few dead mangrove stumps and some slick water next to some 2-3 feet deep stuff. The first cast with the jerk bait drew a strike from a ladyfish. Just after that I noticed a redfish tail pop up between me and the bank. I pitched to him but nothing. That one and another fish were moving down the bank and disappeared. I moved around the point and saw them again. I made a cast at the one I could see. As the bait got to him he spooked off but instantly I felt a hard thump and my Okuma started giving up line. Apparently, the second fish saw the bait and rushed it, spooking the first fish as it was right beside him. He was a nice 19" fish.

Since I was only a few casts into the trip and I was fixin' to really spank'um I decided to turn that red back and hold out for a bigger fish that was sure to come. A couple hours later with no big redfish on the stringer I was question that decision.

I finally caught a replacement for him on a little bucktail flats jig tipped with a piece of ladyfish in one of my favorite sand holes. I had paddled over a mile to get to this spot and there was a boat anchored, fishing the very hole I wanted to fish, out of all the others around! I never saw him catch a fish out of it but I felt there had to be something there. A while after they poled off, I paddled over and caught that red on the first cast! That was some pretty good justice!

The wind was a little troublesome. It was around 10 mph on up in the morning but died around noon and the water slicked off. In about a half hour it changed directions and started coming off the ocean. I mostly used the stake pole  to hold my position but that made for a few poor pictures with the sun at my back. It was just to much trouble to  re-position the boat so I just did the best I could.

I had my camera remote quit on me when I caught that first red and ended up paddling back to the truck for a spare since I was not that far away. There were 3 other yaks putting in as I paddled away. They headed south behind me but stayed further out. I kept to shallower water looking for a tailing fish. I got into a decent group of reds tailing past that same point I had caught the first at. They were filtering by a few at a time so I staked down and casted to them as they came by. I could not get one of them to eat anything I offered though they were actively feeding.

I did see one more small school of reds at mid day that were moving south and I could see some tails but They were not really feeding they had just pushed up into some shallow grass. They were moving along pretty good actually. I couldn't do anything with them either.

Later, when I got back to the launch, two of the trio of yak fishermen showed up and one of the guys came over and said "what were you catchin', ladyfish? Every time I looked over at you, you were fight another one!"

They had not caught no where the numbers I had but each had caught a red or two that were 24-26" and one had caught about 5 or 6 trout that were all short except one 15"er. I had not seen a trout all morning myself. They had caught the trout in deeper water.

There's probably more ladyfish pictures here than necessary but you get the idea a pile of fish!

Larry S.