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New Smyrna Beach Area, Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

March 5, 2013

March is here, spring is here, but winter conditions have definitely returned during the past few days. Fish had moved into spring time patterns and baitfish were flooding the area...but we just had 3 days of highs in the 50’s and low’s around freezing and the rest of the week is forecasting about the same. Luckily it doesn’t really impact the fishing. Cold weather just schools the fish up tighter and dramatically improves sight fishing. Lately fishing has been fantastic. We’ve been catching numerous redfish and giant speckled trout. Black drum have been schooling up to spawn this month and next, and small snook have been biting well in a couple different areas. Giant bull redfish are schooling up on deeper flats and edges and it won’t be long till the bigger juvenile tarpon get more active. While cold weather is here now, normal warm spring time conditions will quickly return. It’s poised to be another great spring.

The recent cold weather has hundreds of giant gator Speckled Trout laid up in the super shallows sunning themselves in sand holes in Mosquito Lagoon and the North Indian River Lagoon. Today I found an area that literally had 200+ big trout in the 8-14lb range crammed into shallow sand spots. When it’s warmer these fish have been scattering and shadowing bait pods. Big trout are notoriously lazy when it’s cold, but eat with vigor once the water temps hit 70 degrees. Topwater lures, suspending plugs, and a variety of soft plastics have done well for clients throwing lures. Mullet have been a ticket for scoring on a few big trout over 6lbs each day for those willing to use live bait. Fly fisherman have had a tougher time with the clear water, but we’ve caught some using seaducers and deceivers. Numerous smaller trout are stacked up on deeper edges and can yield constant catching.

Redfish action has been steady and consistent and that won’t change anytime soon. The recent cold front and resulting winds dropped water levels and pushed all the fish back into big schools on deep edges, creeks, and sloughs in the Lagoons and creeks around Ponce Inlet. We’ve seen schools lately with 400-500 fish. When water temps rise, these redfish scatter into smaller schools across shallow flats and oyster flats. Sight fishing has been excellent with clear water and tailing fish. In the deeper portions of the Lagoons, we’ve found schools of GIANT bull redfish in the 20-40lb range. Spoons, crankbaits, plugs, and a variety of soft plastics have worked well for those throwing lures. Shrimp, mullet and mud minnows are working for those willing to use live bait. Sliders and crab patterns have been good for fly fisherman. When it’s warm we’ve been getting 5-10 redfish a day, sometimes more. When the cold fronts move throw catching has been epic with 30-50 fish not uncommon.

Black Drum are schooling up to spawn in the south end of Mosquito Lagoon and the North Indian River Lagoon around Titusville. They are often in deeper water in the wide open so we need light winds to find them. Many of these fish will be 5-10lbs, however, we’ll occasionally catch some upwards of 20-25lbs. Live shrimp and cut crabs will get bites fast and work extremely well, 10+ fish can be the norm. Dark lures that look like those will catch a few. Fly anglers also connect with dark clousers and shrimp patterns. Snook are biting in a couple of locations, but they still remain on the small side (all 10-20 inches.) We’ve fished them more as a change of pace or when passing by, rather than strictly targeting them for the day. There have been decent numbers of snook in the Tomoka River and Spruce Creek area. I can do speciality trips to each if that’s your main catching preference.

March, April and May are typically 3 of the best fishing months of the year...they are also the 3 busiest months of the year. I only have 4 days open in March, only 6 days left open in April, and only 15 left open for May. Snooze, you lose, so call or email quick to get one of my last open spots. Short notice trips are available if I have the date open. Call or email to secure a reservation. Read my fishing charter page to view the top reasons why you should book your trip with me today. Read my fishing report archive to review write-ups from the past several years. I look forward to fishing with you soon…386-212-4931.

Some client catches from the past month...







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