Orlando and Daytona Beach - Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

[CaptMikeBales]

Excellent fishing continues on the Mosquito Lagoon this past month as schools of Black Drum and Redfish continue to roam the shallow water flats and backcountry bays of the Indian River system and surrounding area. The mullet have started to flood in as the water temperatures continue to rise and the sunny spring time days have made for some excellent sight fishing conditions for wary trout and redfish!

Live shrimp and live mullet have been the light tackle bait of choice for redfish. Sight fishing schools of redfish with a shrimp on a circle hook or circle jig head has been the ticket. Also setting up within reach of cruising schools and letting a live mullet do the job has been very effective. Either technique makes for some exciting and explosive takes. The DOA baitbuster and GULP jerk shad have also been producing equally well for those who prefer targeting these fish soft plastics, try using gold or gold glitter and black. Fishing deeper edges with a circle jig and shrimp or small blue crabs have been producing a strong black drum bite as well, with most of the fish in the 3-5 pound range and the occasional 10-12 pound fish.

Onto trout fishing for the light tackle angler, the topwater bite has really turned on along the deeper edges or shallow flats where bait is congregated. A fresh Live shrimp or a live mullet will also work very well. Look for areas of 3-5 feet of water. The topwater chug bug or rapala skitter walk in the early morning should produce strikes when worked around these bait pods. Its like the old saying goes, “when you locate bait, you locate fish” - Especially this time of year.

Fly fishing patterns still consist of kwans, toads, and small black or olive crabs. These sunnier days have made for some excellent flyfishing! A client the other day from Indiana landed 6 on fly with several other follows, takes, and more than a few
break-offs! A great day on Mosquito Lagoon with the fly-rod. The winds were light and the fish were tailing happily.

Too many great trips this past month to list them all. It seemed to be the month of double hook-ups with many of this months photos reflecting that. Several days this month were spent fishing hungry schools of trout, tailing redfish and deeper water Black Drum. I love this time of year and look forward to fishing with all my clients from this month again real soon!

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