May is a time of year here on the Mosquito Lagoon when life comes to life and the action takes off like a rocket soaring to the sky! I mean things start to explode into action - big action. Bait fish are moving through the area by tens of thousands, birds are showing up by the hundreds, fish are moving over the grass flats feeding vigorously, manatees are in large numbers along with dolphins and so on and so on. It is the prelude to an awesome summer and fall of fishing here. No other place on the planet does this happen like it does here on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River.
After last weeks rains the area has changed, a metamorphosis to say. Spring has fully turned into summer and out of this has arisen a wealth of great fishing. Early morning the past several days has been on fire if you are able to get to the right spots before first light to see this happen before your eyes. By right spots I mean they are really almost every where. Fish, all reds, trout, tarpon and snook have reached out to explore their new feeding grounds. Like kids on christmas morning. Let me tell you, they are happy, they are excited and they are feeding. As the morning goes by the fish seem to be getting more aggressive as noon approaches.
Trout are hitting both top water and pig fish at early day light along grass flats with drop offs and ledges. Then as the day goes by plastics worked along the white holes will produce strikes with them. Redfish are tailing and feeding along banks and shorelines leading into new territory that for months was inaccessible due to the extreme low water conditions out here. Reds are hitting soft plastics and a well placed shrimp for those who want to sight fish them. Reds this week have also been taken by fly, crab and shrimp patterns work the best. Of course a live mullet or mud minnow will always grab the attention of a beautiful gator trout and a stout redfish. Look for those sand holes within grass flats. Smaller tarpon have been seen and caught around moving water with a good amount of bait fish near them. Snook have been moving into the area as the water temps begin to rise into their realm of enjoyment. Pinfish,live shrimp and soft plastics work well for snook. As the summer comes on the snook bite will turn into great action. Tarpon are going after smaller plastics worked slow. As always year around out here on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River remember ...Stealth, patience and distance will be the key to your success.
It is no wonder at all why Florida is the fishing capital of the world. Along with the Mosquito Lagoon being the Redfish Capital Of The World what a great combination. There is no other place on this planet that the fishing is so good and more people enjoy this fabulous activity by the thousands or even hundreds of thousands each and every year continuously. Or at least not without spending thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars to get there along with long and grueling travel conditions. Florida is a close and basically it is a fun destination to go to for family fun and enjoyment. There are so many things to do also along with Florida's great fishing and water resources - great beaches, excellent sites to see, culture events, fine dining, wildlife, and just so much more that I could go on for ever. Or for anything at all just to get outside for a while and take it all in. So for a world class fishing experience of a lifetime this is no doubt the place to be and to catch that memory of a lifetime. I hope to see each and every one of you on the water.
Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters - Oak Hill - Edgewater - New Smyrna beach
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.
Light tackle fishing guide specializing in fly or spin for redfish, trout, snook and tarpon.
The past several weeks have been very windy here along the east coast of Florida well in Florida in general. Winds have been shifting from one way to another without any warning from any one. On days when you are able to enjoy yourself and get away from protected waters fish are being picky. This is the time of year you must explore the waters you are fishing and use all of the patience you have stored inside you. The fish are always there and eat just like we do. You just need to locate them. Fish that one day that are in one certain spot the very next day may be 100 feet away totally hidden. A kinda transition phase right now.
Redfish(red drum) are moving into shallow bodies to feed and then are picking up at any given time and just moving. At times you think the mother ship has just taken them all. Patterns of these fish have been erratic but you are being able to land them by watching there habits closely. Most of the fish are being caught and seen near shallow water with some kind of deeper water near them. Escape routes to say for them. These fish do not like to be trapped some where they can not get out of. Best baits for them for sight fishing would be a live shrimp presented to them very softly. The other go to bait would be a beautiful blue crab freshly hand caught. As always do not rush this. All it takes is a pin to drop in your boat and these fish are gone. They can not only hear you from a distance but can feel you too. Live mullet can be very productive for distance fishing. Freeline them along shallow water with nice white holes. Remember ambush points. Gulps and topwaters have produced numerous hits and lands as well. Topwater is being most effective at daylight as the reds feed along banks at bait fish. Then fish will move onto flats.
Trout are starting to move in at full force. Big trout(seatrout) are mostly secluding themselves in extremely shallow and protected waters. When you see them and they see you you will know. They will do that trout escape dance. As in - zig zag zig zag then left right then zig zag zig zag again then gone! You all have seen this. Early morning topwater works well. watch for crashing bait along banks and ares where mullet are being seen. Then switch to either live mullet along white holes or a well placed shrimp to a fish will produce strikes as well as the day progresses. As always try to release these fish as with all fish with caution and safe handling.
As summer time weather patterns approach and water levels rise fish will start to be normal residents in certain areas. More and more mullet will start to move in with this transition phase and bring the eaters with them. As always fish areas that have the signs...Bait fish, birds feeding, activity and just in general - action or movement. I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
The past few weeks we have had a change in weather patterns. Winds are shifting from their winter north directions to a south-southeast direction. Temps are coming up in the air as well with water temps rising too. Water levels have dramatically come up the past weeks. It always seems that this is an over night thing here on the Mosquito Lagoon. It happens so quickly. With the water coming up the fishing patterns have changed a bit. You can feel spring/summer in the air approaching. Very nice!
Water rising on the Mosquito Lagoon means more feeding grounds for fish. Not only more feeding grounds but new feeding grounds. Areas where there was just a little bit of water two weeks ago now has enough water for redfish, trout and bait fish to roam into and explore.
The water has also turned a bit stained too. This is from the winds shifting and the new grounds it is covering mixing the sand/dirt up some. With this being said the past week or two live mullet have been a great bait of choice. Fish areas that have nice white sand holes and grass beds along edges or banks that lead to safe waters for the fish to get to. Stay in the "red" zone of two feet or less with your mullet. Going into areas stealthy(poling) where you could not get to weeks ago will produce reds and trout feeding aggressively in these new grounds. A properly placed live shrimp for tailing fish will get a day started off on the right foot. Sight fishing at its very best.
The trout bite has turned up a bit. Several nice trout are being landed with top water and Gulps. Some very large trout are being caught with live mullet. Please try to handle these fish with extreme care. I try to release every trout I get over 20 inches or so to make sure there are trout to be caught for the future. Work the new areas with either a Skitter Walk or Chug Bugs or the live mullet free lined. Black drum are being seen, caught and landed within the entire Mosquito Lagoon. Most of the fish are in the 3-7lb class. Live or dead shrimp and even gulps will work for these fish. However these fish are getting a tremendous amount of pressure and a large dose of patience is required to get to them.
I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
Tight Lines!
Spring is poking its head at us here on the Mosquito Lagoon! Spring time weather here on the Mosquito Lagoon has made the past few weeks of fishing just awesome. Epic! Beautiful days outside along with some spectacular fishing trips makes for great memories and experiences to remember for a long time to come.
Warmer days and water levels rising along with shifts in the winds and weather patterns have caused a few changes in the fishing. With the shift in winds now coming from the south a bit it is causing the water levels to come up some. Not much but enough. This is opening up new feeding grounds to the fish. Along with the water coming up a bit the water temperature has climbed a good amount too. Fish are getting more active with this. Along with the fish getting spring fever bait fish are following the same path. Making this a symbiotic relationship between them. I see the fishing improving as the next few weeks approach.
Reds and trout have been landed in great numbers over the past couple of weeks using shrimp sight fished to either schooling fish or singles. Schools have been the most dominant ways of find redfish. Some schools I have seen have been in excess of a few hundred of reds in them. A sight to see! However the past several days we were able to seek out many single tailing reds throughout the entire Mosquito Lagoon. Up in extremely shallow water have been very nice trout. Trout in excess of 30 plus inches are becoming very aggressive. Live mullet or soft plastics seem to be working the best for them. A well worked top water plug can also be a choice selection for big trout too. Smaller trout can be caught in good numbers in a little deeper water lines along edges, drop offs and grass beds. Use free lined shrimp or gulps.
The key here is to find areas that over the past several weeks/months that have been untouchable to say by either boats or even fish due to low water levels. These areas where bait are now up in and moving around will attract all the great signs. Areas where just a few weeks ago were dry. Birds feeding, bait fish active, predators about looking for a meal and constant movement of life in the area. There will be reds and trout checking this out. It is in their nature. Search new areas as always with a little patience and stealth and this will lead you to a days worth of success.
I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
Capt. Drew - thanks for posting the Mosquito Lagoon fishing report. Please invite some of your fellow captains - and any boaters and fishermen you know (probably a few hundred!) to join up and help us promote Volusia County fishing - on the Lagoon, on the St. Johns, and on the Ocean. Keep those posts coming. They are important!
The start of the new year has turned out to be really great. The weather is working out well and tagging right along with it is some really awesome fishing. The past several weeks have actually been really, really good. Almost everyday I was on the water with a client and pretty much an overall success was accomplished. Even a few days fished for myself just to keep in touch with these beauties of the back waters. I am always following the feeding patterns and habits of these beautiful creatures of the flats we like to call game fish.
The past days and weeks have produced(and continue to produce) exceptionally great catches of redfish, trout, black drum and even a few mixed bag fish. Let's start of with the redfish bite. Reds have been roaming the flats early and throughout the morning/day. I have been getting most of them in the upper and a bit over the slot size by throwing a live shrimp at them or a Gulp in the white color. Nothing like sight fishing one of these bull dogs of the flats. Making your light tackle scream like the devil. A few reds were landed the other day with an imitation shrimp on fly with a client from South Dakota. Approach these fish slowly and you should be able to get close to them. As always with redfish...You know what I am going to say-Stealth and Distance and let's throw in a dash of Patience. This is the KEY to success for these troopers of the flats.
Now moving on to some trout. I do not mean just any trout, I mean TROUT. Very nice trout have been seen and caught using top water and live shrimp. Even a couple have been caught using the free-lined live mullet tactic. If you are able to get within sight of these smart fish with the right light conditions you can see and land a few of them by sight fishing them. Most the trout are between the 3-7 lb class with a few over 8lbs or so on the skinny water side of things. They are seen roaming grass flats and lurking among the sand holes in search of an ambushed bait. A good Skitter Walk in a mullet pattern will work well too.
Black drum have been thick throughout the entire Mosquito Lagoon. The fish are getting a lot of pressure and are becoming very skittish when approached. I find that a small shrimp will work on a 3/0 or so circle hook. Gulps work very well too for these fish and tend to stay on a good amount of time as well. Look for these fish roaming the flats VERY early then moving off to deeper edges for protection and food.
As long as things continue weather wise the fishing should continue to improve along with it. Call today to book your trip of a lifetime and get out there and see the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River like you have never seen before.
Happy New Year and Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
Specializing In Fly Or Spin
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
The Art Of Reds
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
December 19, 2008
Mosquito Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
This week has been just off the wall. Not just the fishing but the weather has been awesome! This is why we are here in Florida. Next week should be close to the same with just a few degrees cooler.
Big redfish are roaming the flats of the Mosquito Lagoon and can be caught with extreme patience. The key is stealth, as always. Live shrimp and small blue crabs are your best bet. Search shallow water flats early and just work them through out the morning/day. Approach the fish and try to figure out their game plan. Meaning, try to determine which way they are working and cast in that direction giving you enough room for your presentation not to scare them.
See you on the water!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
Specializing In Fly Or Spin
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
Tails, Tails and Even More Tails!
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
December 7, 2008
New Smyrna Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
No, Not Tales, Fish Tails! That's right redfish are tailing every where on the Mosquito Lagoon. The reds are starting to bunch up in their winter styles and getting out early you can see these wonders of nature tailing in the shallows of the Mosquito Lagoon at day break and beyond. The main key with these fish are as always to approach them with extreme caution and patience.
The winter or cooler months of fishing with me are my favorite times to fish out here. The weather is PERFECT! Shallow water, well I love it too! I go light...VERY LIGHT! This alone for one will allow you to draft less and two can make polling a lot easier. The majority of the fish my clients and myself are catching are in 10-15 inches of water and I am able to pole up to within just a few feet of them. The best choices for baits are a nice live shrimp, blue crab or even if you have some lady fish from the summer time. Make your casts count. The fish in shallow waters like we have now can tend to be very spooky.
The other fish I have been seeing and catching in good numbers are BIG TROUT! I mean BIG! A few have been 30 plus inches. These fish need to be approach with stealth plus to get them. Top water and live mullet are your best choices. Please handle these beauties with extreme caution so they may be released with ease.
Call today to book the trip of a lifetime with me. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
The fishing over the past couple of weeks has turned out to be great. I am seeing quite a few fish all over the Mosquito Lagoon...No particular places, just shallow waters mostly. The fish are cruising banks as the sun comes up to warm themselves and I have been throwing shrimp and cut mullet at them. As always use stealth and a mixture of patience is required.
Trout, and I mean big trout are seen roaming the flats. I was able to have a client the other day sight fish a nice 30 plus inch trout 10 feet from the boat with a shrimp in an open sand hole. The trout are very spooky so use extreme stealth with these fish. Do not get upset if you sneak up on one and are not able to land it before they see you...Theu did not get that old by being caught.
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing, this is what central Florida is all about. The Redfish Capital of the World, The Mosquito Lagoon. The fishing on the Mosquito Lagoon has been tremendous, not just this past week but all year so far. Within the past several days I have seen so many fish on the flats moving and feeding it is like being a kid in a candy store. Redfish are moving along the flats in extremely shallow waters and hugging banks and corners. While big trout are lurking just behind them in the ambush spots such as sand holes and deep pockets within the grass.
Fish the reds with stealth and caution and you should have no problem landing a few. If sight fishing use shrimp or Gulps! or even some smaller mullet pieces. The big trout on the other hand are a whole other ball game. Try top water or free line a live mullet. Please do remember here on the east coast of Florida trout are closed and are to be released.
The past few days have proven to be exceptionally great days for getting out on the water to catch some fish. The weather patterns have been holding steady and the fish are beginning to show signs of winter patterns.
Slowly I am seeing more and more schools of redfish. Some of theses schools on the Mosquito Lagoon are between 1-25 fish and I have seen others up to 40-50 fish. Most of them are the smaller reds but with seeing this this tells me more are to arrive soon and this is to become the normal thing for the next several months.
Approaching redfish and (ALWAYS BIG TROUT ALL YEAR) this time of year requires a certain combo of key ingredients. These would be patience, stealth and distance. Be patient when stalking fish in shallow water. They are much better at hearing/seeing you then you might think. Stealth is the biggest one...Think of it as you sneaking up on a turkey or deer...Takes some slow movement and time to do it. The distance thing on the Mosquito Lagoon is a given to those of you who have been out here and who have fished it...It is very shallow and fish will be away from the boat. A goo thing to do is to practice in your yard or on the water with a target to cast to.
Sight fishing redfish this time of year I like to use either nice size live shrimp or Gulps!. Sometimes a smaller piece of mullet but it does make some more noise however is productive if placed correctly.
I look forward to seeing you out on the water applying these tactics.
Thank You For Letting Us Be Of Service To You.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
The fishing on the Mosquito Lagoon has been great the past several days despite the winds and bad weather conditions. With the NE winds the best option is to get behind protected waters and fish them to you advantage. Free-line mullet or cut bait will work fishing sand holes and banks. Sight fishing should begin to improve greatly as long as the water stays clear and the clouds are gone. Redfish are slowly gathering for their grouping of schools for winter like fishing.
Trout are on the move and are every where...However, please remember the season for the Mosquito Lagoon closed November 1st, 2008 and does not re-open until January 1st, 2009. Trout are active hitting all kinds of bait...My favorite has been top-water or the Berkley Gulp! shrimp pattern in white.
Thank You and go and catch some fish.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
FLORIDA INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Well the past week has had some great improvements in not only the fishing but the weather as well. ever since TS Fay moved in and out the fishing had changed a bit. However now that the water levels have subsided a bit it is beginning to return to normal conditions.
Redfish have been on the flats pretty much everywhere there is bait. Look for schools and singles roaming the shallow waters of the northern end of the Mosquito Lagoon. They will hit anything from live mullet to shrimp to throwing a Gulp at them. Just remember to approach this fish with ease. They do scare very easy.
Trout are moving along the bars and drop offs. Pig fish still work but are getting rather large to use. Try using a popping cork tipped with a shrimp. I like to use a top water plug and fish the edge of the bars.
This weekend the winds laid down enough to be able to get into open waters and be able to do a bit of sight fishing. The area known as Georges Bar on the north end of the Mosquito Lagoon seemed to be the place to be. From the area of Middle Island towards the east and west banks are loaded with nice trout and several redfish. The trout are hitting a wide selection of baits; from top water early to popping corks with live shrimp. If you can find decent size pig fish these a re the real tickets. However piggies are starting to get rather big this time of year. Fish the outside bar drop off towards the flats. The redfish are roaming the extreme shallows in search of mullet and bait fish. I use either cut bait or live shrimp and sight fish them. Also on another note, please remember that the area known as Tiger Shoals is a "Pole and Troll" zone only. During the recent High winds the Orange Balls that mark the west line boundary must have blown away or have just been submerged. I witnessed multiple boats running these flats over the weekend and this is just not good. This area has come back so much we do not want it to be destroyed again. Please visit my site at www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com and then go to the links section and click on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge link and visit the "fishing Regulations" link of their sight to read the rules of fishing the Mosquito Lagoon/Refuge. It explains clearly the pole and troll rules along with all the regulations to fish this area. Remember this does us all good for our future of this National Park.
Thank You
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
FLORIDA INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
Captain Drew - welcome aboard Castawaydays.com and Castaway Place. Great to get started in developing this network with an avid Florida fishing charter dude.
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May is a time of year here on the Mosquito Lagoon when life comes to life and the action takes off like a rocket soaring to the sky! I mean things start to explode into action - big action. Bait fish are moving through the area by tens of thousands, birds are showing up by the hundreds, fish are moving over the grass flats feeding vigorously, manatees are in large numbers along with dolphins and so on and so on. It is the prelude to an awesome summer and fall of fishing here. No other place on the planet does this happen like it does here on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River.
After last weeks rains the area has changed, a metamorphosis to say. Spring has fully turned into summer and out of this has arisen a wealth of great fishing. Early morning the past several days has been on fire if you are able to get to the right spots before first light to see this happen before your eyes. By right spots I mean they are really almost every where. Fish, all reds, trout, tarpon and snook have reached out to explore their new feeding grounds. Like kids on christmas morning. Let me tell you, they are happy, they are excited and they are feeding. As the morning goes by the fish seem to be getting more aggressive as noon approaches.
Trout are hitting both top water and pig fish at early day light along grass flats with drop offs and ledges. Then as the day goes by plastics worked along the white holes will produce strikes with them. Redfish are tailing and feeding along banks and shorelines leading into new territory that for months was inaccessible due to the extreme low water conditions out here. Reds are hitting soft plastics and a well placed shrimp for those who want to sight fish them. Reds this week have also been taken by fly, crab and shrimp patterns work the best. Of course a live mullet or mud minnow will always grab the attention of a beautiful gator trout and a stout redfish. Look for those sand holes within grass flats. Smaller tarpon have been seen and caught around moving water with a good amount of bait fish near them. Snook have been moving into the area as the water temps begin to rise into their realm of enjoyment. Pinfish,live shrimp and soft plastics work well for snook. As the summer comes on the snook bite will turn into great action. Tarpon are going after smaller plastics worked slow. As always year around out here on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River remember ...Stealth, patience and distance will be the key to your success.
It is no wonder at all why Florida is the fishing capital of the world. Along with the Mosquito Lagoon being the Redfish Capital Of The World what a great combination. There is no other place on this planet that the fishing is so good and more people enjoy this fabulous activity by the thousands or even hundreds of thousands each and every year continuously. Or at least not without spending thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars to get there along with long and grueling travel conditions. Florida is a close and basically it is a fun destination to go to for family fun and enjoyment. There are so many things to do also along with Florida's great fishing and water resources - great beaches, excellent sites to see, culture events, fine dining, wildlife, and just so much more that I could go on for ever. Or for anything at all just to get outside for a while and take it all in. So for a world class fishing experience of a lifetime this is no doubt the place to be and to catch that memory of a lifetime. I hope to see each and every one of you on the water.
Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters - Oak Hill - Edgewater - New Smyrna beach
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.
Light tackle fishing guide specializing in fly or spin for redfish, trout, snook and tarpon.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh: 352- 223-7897
Redfish(red drum) are moving into shallow bodies to feed and then are picking up at any given time and just moving. At times you think the mother ship has just taken them all. Patterns of these fish have been erratic but you are being able to land them by watching there habits closely. Most of the fish are being caught and seen near shallow water with some kind of deeper water near them. Escape routes to say for them. These fish do not like to be trapped some where they can not get out of. Best baits for them for sight fishing would be a live shrimp presented to them very softly. The other go to bait would be a beautiful blue crab freshly hand caught. As always do not rush this. All it takes is a pin to drop in your boat and these fish are gone. They can not only hear you from a distance but can feel you too. Live mullet can be very productive for distance fishing. Freeline them along shallow water with nice white holes. Remember ambush points. Gulps and topwaters have produced numerous hits and lands as well. Topwater is being most effective at daylight as the reds feed along banks at bait fish. Then fish will move onto flats.
Trout are starting to move in at full force. Big trout(seatrout) are mostly secluding themselves in extremely shallow and protected waters. When you see them and they see you you will know. They will do that trout escape dance. As in - zig zag zig zag then left right then zig zag zig zag again then gone! You all have seen this. Early morning topwater works well. watch for crashing bait along banks and ares where mullet are being seen. Then switch to either live mullet along white holes or a well placed shrimp to a fish will produce strikes as well as the day progresses. As always try to release these fish as with all fish with caution and safe handling.
As summer time weather patterns approach and water levels rise fish will start to be normal residents in certain areas. More and more mullet will start to move in with this transition phase and bring the eaters with them. As always fish areas that have the signs...Bait fish, birds feeding, activity and just in general - action or movement. I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
Water rising on the Mosquito Lagoon means more feeding grounds for fish. Not only more feeding grounds but new feeding grounds. Areas where there was just a little bit of water two weeks ago now has enough water for redfish, trout and bait fish to roam into and explore.
The water has also turned a bit stained too. This is from the winds shifting and the new grounds it is covering mixing the sand/dirt up some. With this being said the past week or two live mullet have been a great bait of choice. Fish areas that have nice white sand holes and grass beds along edges or banks that lead to safe waters for the fish to get to. Stay in the "red" zone of two feet or less with your mullet. Going into areas stealthy(poling) where you could not get to weeks ago will produce reds and trout feeding aggressively in these new grounds. A properly placed live shrimp for tailing fish will get a day started off on the right foot. Sight fishing at its very best.
The trout bite has turned up a bit. Several nice trout are being landed with top water and Gulps. Some very large trout are being caught with live mullet. Please try to handle these fish with extreme care. I try to release every trout I get over 20 inches or so to make sure there are trout to be caught for the future. Work the new areas with either a Skitter Walk or Chug Bugs or the live mullet free lined. Black drum are being seen, caught and landed within the entire Mosquito Lagoon. Most of the fish are in the 3-7lb class. Live or dead shrimp and even gulps will work for these fish. However these fish are getting a tremendous amount of pressure and a large dose of patience is required to get to them.
I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide
Oak Hill/Edgewater
352-223-7897
http://www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
March 18, 2009
Mosquito Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spring is poking its head at us here on the Mosquito Lagoon! Spring time weather here on the Mosquito Lagoon has made the past few weeks of fishing just awesome. Epic! Beautiful days outside along with some spectacular fishing trips makes for great memories and experiences to remember for a long time to come.
Warmer days and water levels rising along with shifts in the winds and weather patterns have caused a few changes in the fishing. With the shift in winds now coming from the south a bit it is causing the water levels to come up some. Not much but enough. This is opening up new feeding grounds to the fish. Along with the water coming up a bit the water temperature has climbed a good amount too. Fish are getting more active with this. Along with the fish getting spring fever bait fish are following the same path. Making this a symbiotic relationship between them. I see the fishing improving as the next few weeks approach.
Reds and trout have been landed in great numbers over the past couple of weeks using shrimp sight fished to either schooling fish or singles. Schools have been the most dominant ways of find redfish. Some schools I have seen have been in excess of a few hundred of reds in them. A sight to see! However the past several days we were able to seek out many single tailing reds throughout the entire Mosquito Lagoon. Up in extremely shallow water have been very nice trout. Trout in excess of 30 plus inches are becoming very aggressive. Live mullet or soft plastics seem to be working the best for them. A well worked top water plug can also be a choice selection for big trout too. Smaller trout can be caught in good numbers in a little deeper water lines along edges, drop offs and grass beds. Use free lined shrimp or gulps.
The key here is to find areas that over the past several weeks/months that have been untouchable to say by either boats or even fish due to low water levels. These areas where bait are now up in and moving around will attract all the great signs. Areas where just a few weeks ago were dry. Birds feeding, bait fish active, predators about looking for a meal and constant movement of life in the area. There will be reds and trout checking this out. It is in their nature. Search new areas as always with a little patience and stealth and this will lead you to a days worth of success.
I look forward to seeing you out there on the water.
Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
The past days and weeks have produced(and continue to produce) exceptionally great catches of redfish, trout, black drum and even a few mixed bag fish. Let's start of with the redfish bite. Reds have been roaming the flats early and throughout the morning/day. I have been getting most of them in the upper and a bit over the slot size by throwing a live shrimp at them or a Gulp in the white color. Nothing like sight fishing one of these bull dogs of the flats. Making your light tackle scream like the devil. A few reds were landed the other day with an imitation shrimp on fly with a client from South Dakota. Approach these fish slowly and you should be able to get close to them. As always with redfish...You know what I am going to say-Stealth and Distance and let's throw in a dash of Patience. This is the KEY to success for these troopers of the flats.
Now moving on to some trout. I do not mean just any trout, I mean TROUT. Very nice trout have been seen and caught using top water and live shrimp. Even a couple have been caught using the free-lined live mullet tactic. If you are able to get within sight of these smart fish with the right light conditions you can see and land a few of them by sight fishing them. Most the trout are between the 3-7 lb class with a few over 8lbs or so on the skinny water side of things. They are seen roaming grass flats and lurking among the sand holes in search of an ambushed bait. A good Skitter Walk in a mullet pattern will work well too.
Black drum have been thick throughout the entire Mosquito Lagoon. The fish are getting a lot of pressure and are becoming very skittish when approached. I find that a small shrimp will work on a 3/0 or so circle hook. Gulps work very well too for these fish and tend to stay on a good amount of time as well. Look for these fish roaming the flats VERY early then moving off to deeper edges for protection and food.
As long as things continue weather wise the fishing should continue to improve along with it. Call today to book your trip of a lifetime and get out there and see the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River like you have never seen before.
Happy New Year and Tight Lines!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
Specializing In Fly Or Spin
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
December 19, 2008
Mosquito Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
This week has been just off the wall. Not just the fishing but the weather has been awesome! This is why we are here in Florida. Next week should be close to the same with just a few degrees cooler.
Big redfish are roaming the flats of the Mosquito Lagoon and can be caught with extreme patience. The key is stealth, as always. Live shrimp and small blue crabs are your best bet. Search shallow water flats early and just work them through out the morning/day. Approach the fish and try to figure out their game plan. Meaning, try to determine which way they are working and cast in that direction giving you enough room for your presentation not to scare them.
See you on the water!
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
Specializing In Fly Or Spin
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
December 7, 2008
New Smyrna Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
No, Not Tales, Fish Tails! That's right redfish are tailing every where on the Mosquito Lagoon. The reds are starting to bunch up in their winter styles and getting out early you can see these wonders of nature tailing in the shallows of the Mosquito Lagoon at day break and beyond. The main key with these fish are as always to approach them with extreme caution and patience.
The winter or cooler months of fishing with me are my favorite times to fish out here. The weather is PERFECT! Shallow water, well I love it too! I go light...VERY LIGHT! This alone for one will allow you to draft less and two can make polling a lot easier. The majority of the fish my clients and myself are catching are in 10-15 inches of water and I am able to pole up to within just a few feet of them. The best choices for baits are a nice live shrimp, blue crab or even if you have some lady fish from the summer time. Make your casts count. The fish in shallow waters like we have now can tend to be very spooky.
The other fish I have been seeing and catching in good numbers are BIG TROUT! I mean BIG! A few have been 30 plus inches. These fish need to be approach with stealth plus to get them. Top water and live mullet are your best choices. Please handle these beauties with extreme caution so they may be released with ease.
Call today to book the trip of a lifetime with me. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide On The Mosquito Lagoon
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
Trout, and I mean big trout are seen roaming the flats. I was able to have a client the other day sight fish a nice 30 plus inch trout 10 feet from the boat with a shrimp in an open sand hole. The trout are very spooky so use extreme stealth with these fish. Do not get upset if you sneak up on one and are not able to land it before they see you...Theu did not get that old by being caught.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
Fish the reds with stealth and caution and you should have no problem landing a few. If sight fishing use shrimp or Gulps! or even some smaller mullet pieces. The big trout on the other hand are a whole other ball game. Try top water or free line a live mullet. Please do remember here on the east coast of Florida trout are closed and are to be released.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
Slowly I am seeing more and more schools of redfish. Some of theses schools on the Mosquito Lagoon are between 1-25 fish and I have seen others up to 40-50 fish. Most of them are the smaller reds but with seeing this this tells me more are to arrive soon and this is to become the normal thing for the next several months.
Approaching redfish and (ALWAYS BIG TROUT ALL YEAR) this time of year requires a certain combo of key ingredients. These would be patience, stealth and distance. Be patient when stalking fish in shallow water. They are much better at hearing/seeing you then you might think. Stealth is the biggest one...Think of it as you sneaking up on a turkey or deer...Takes some slow movement and time to do it. The distance thing on the Mosquito Lagoon is a given to those of you who have been out here and who have fished it...It is very shallow and fish will be away from the boat. A goo thing to do is to practice in your yard or on the water with a target to cast to.
Sight fishing redfish this time of year I like to use either nice size live shrimp or Gulps!. Sometimes a smaller piece of mullet but it does make some more noise however is productive if placed correctly.
I look forward to seeing you out on the water applying these tactics.
Thank You For Letting Us Be Of Service To You.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Florida Inshore Fishing Charters
PO BOX 881
Edgewater, FL 32132
Cell/352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Light Tackle Fishing Guide
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
Trout are on the move and are every where...However, please remember the season for the Mosquito Lagoon closed November 1st, 2008 and does not re-open until January 1st, 2009. Trout are active hitting all kinds of bait...My favorite has been top-water or the Berkley Gulp! shrimp pattern in white.
Thank You and go and catch some fish.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh
FLORIDA INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com
352-223-7897
drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com
Redfish have been on the flats pretty much everywhere there is bait. Look for schools and singles roaming the shallow waters of the northern end of the Mosquito Lagoon. They will hit anything from live mullet to shrimp to throwing a Gulp at them. Just remember to approach this fish with ease. They do scare very easy.
Trout are moving along the bars and drop offs. Pig fish still work but are getting rather large to use. Try using a popping cork tipped with a shrimp. I like to use a top water plug and fish the edge of the bars.
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
FLORIDA INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
352-223-7897
Thank You
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
FLORIDA INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
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