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

March 31, 2016

Let’s clear up a few topics of discussion. Yes, there was a fish kill in the Banana River. No, it hasn’t impacted me, my fishing or charter business. I run charters over an area 50+ miles long. I’m never locked in to one area, nor am I ever short of finding a good bite elsewhere. If the water quality or fishing isn’t good one one place, I’ll easily move to another and keep putting people on fish. The task of a professional anger is to crack patterns and find fish!

The big topic as of late is the algae bloom. Ever since I’ve fished here we get a normal spring/summer microscopic algae that will green up the water a bit. Ever since 2011, we’ve dealt with an additional strain of brown algae that makes the water look dirty. It was really bad 5 years ago, but the catching didn’t really suffer, just the actual sight casting part. The brown algae was almost completely gone last year. But it returned after a big flood tide in the fall and the water looks dirty again. But just like a few years ago, fishing isn’t really suffering. I’ve had no problems finding a bunch of fish over the past month, and the catching has been pretty good too.

Wish I could tell you I have a lot of availability. But I’m just about full for April with 5 days left open. May is already half full with about 14 days still left open. And then we move right into peak June-September summer travel season. Moral of story, don’t wait till last minute if you want a day on my calendar!!!

The best fishing over the past month is Redfish. Our catching has been solid, with a daily average over the past month of 9-10 redfish. Mosquito Lagoon has been really good, with the North Indian River Lagoon picking up steam. While not crystal clear, the grass flats in the Lagoons have fair to good visibility. Redfish in the 4-10 pound range have been schooled up in good numbers during the morning with groups of 30-75 fish. After a few hours, they break up and are tailing in singles, small pods, and cruising shorelines. With water levels up a bit this spring, bigger 10-15 pound redfish have also been scattered among bait schools up on the flats too. Live shrimp, cut mullet, soft plastic jerkbaits, spoons, and topwater plugs have all been working. Seeing more and more bigger bull reds over 20 pounds scattered in their usual spots. They won’t ball up tight since the water isn’t super clear. So to catch them it’s posting up and waiting with live baits like mullet, pinfish and shrimp.

It’s about peak time for big Speckled Trout over 4 pounds on the shallow flats throughout the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon. We caught a few in the 4-5 pound range lately when targeting redfish. While revisiting an area I like to fish during the spring I found a bunch of 8-10 pound trout working the shallows. The warmer weather and spring bait run is about to set it off. Spring is spawning time so it’s the best shot during the year for a 10+ pound speckled trout before they lean out. Free lining mullet and mud minnows is the best bet. Plugs and soft plastics will also connect when throwing lures.

Still haven’t done much in terms of fishing for Snook. But warmer weather during the past few weeks has definitely pushed them out of the winter holes and likely out onto the flats. Already starting to see more Tarpon in the 5-10lb range rolling in the channels and deeper creeks.  By the later part of April we should see a little more activity out of the bigger resident juvenile tarpon in the 10-30 pound range in the channels and deep creeks.

April is almost full booked ahead of time. Only 5 days left open. May dates have been going really quick. Only have about 14 days left open for May. So hopefully you aren’t waiting till the last minute to get in on the spring time fishing. I take last second scheduling if I have open days. Call me at 386-212-4931 or email to secure a date. 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…