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

August 2, 2011

Half the year is already over and before you know it fall will be here. The heat really doesn’t affect the fishing much, it’s more uncomfortable to fisherman than anything else. We’ll still be catching fish during the mid-day hours, just like the early mornings. This is the time of year you can pick just about anything to fish for; opportunties are abundant for redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, flounder, sharks and more. The annual fall bait run will be kicking off later this month, signaling all gamefish to eat hardily now before things thin out next month in advance of the first cold fronts of the year. Also, check out the August issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. I was the featured guide in an article about fishing tarpon out of Ponce Inlet along our beaches. It’s on page 34.

The Redfish bite has been very good. We can target redfish of all sizes, all day long in the shallows and deeper water from Daytona to Titusville. If we spend the entire day fishing for redfish we will average 10-15 bites on a combination or live bait and lures. If we mix it up with a combination of trout and flounder, expect an average of 3-6 redfish bites during the day. The Mosquito Lagoon and North Indian River Lagoon have good numbers of fish on the grass flats perfect for those seeking sight fishing opportunities. In the tidal waters from Daytona to Edgewater we’re powerfishing oyster bars and mangrove edges on both incoming and outgoing tides. Pinfish, pigfish, croakers, and a variety of cut baits have been the live bait of choice. Topwater plugs, suspending plugs, Aqua Dream spoons, and a variety of swimbaits rigged on Slayer jigheads have been the top lures. This is also the peak time of year to target schools of trophy sized GIANT bull redfish over 20lbs in the North Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon. Calm weather will reveal massive schools on the surface in deeper water. Early in the morning these fish will eat a variety of lures or fly, but as the boat pressure picks up through the day you’ll have better luck with a live baitfish or crab.

The other main staple of our inshore fishery is Speckled Trout. We’re catching good numbers in deeper water from Daytona to Edgewater and on the edges of the flats in the Lagoons. Find active schools of mullet on top of oyster bars, creek mudflats, or on the grass flats and you’ll find speckled trout. Pigfish, croakers, and a live finger mullet are top trout producers in the summer. If you’re set on throwing lures, topwater plugs get the surface bite excitement but the big ones will be caught on suspending plugs and soft plastics rigged on 1/4oz jigs. Most days lately we’ve averaged 10-15 trout in the 16-25” range. We caught a few trophy fish last month in the 26-30” range.

Tarpon numbers are strong in the ICW and main channels with some scattered fish in both Lagoons. Continual cold water upwellings along the coast are keeping these fish inshore instead of out along the beach. This is the peak time of year to try your hand catching a tarpon. But you have to do it now as they will be mostly gone by the end of September. There are good numbers of fish of all sizes, from 20lb resident juveniles to 80-120lb migratory adults. Pinfish, live mullet and menhaden are preferred live baits of choice in Central Florida. Swimbaits, DOA baitbusters, and Hogy’s are the top lure producers. With a little luck we’ll get a couple bites each day. We only fished for them twice last month but we jumped a couple fish in the 60-80lb range. If you want some tips and strategies for fishing tarpon along our beaches, check out the August issue of Florida Sportsman. I was the featured guide in the article.

The Flounder bite continues to be strong in all areas of the Halifax, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. It’s been the best action I’ve ever seen. There are thousands of them anywhere there’s lots of sand and baitfish. We’re catching one or two nearly every trip. We’re primarily catching them on pigfish, croakers, and live mullet, but we’ve also gotten some on jigs and spoons lately too.

While the next two months can be hot, so is the fishing. I’ve only got limited dates remaining during the last half of August, and September is over 1/3 booked. Give me a call now to check my availability and reserve/book a date. Short notice trips are accepted if I have a date available. Read my fishing charter page to view the top reasons why you should book your trip with me today. I look forward to fishing with you soon…386-212-4931.