Mosquito Lagoon Report
March 25, 2004
We’ve had a few beautiful days in a row this March. Cold fronts lash us for just a day or two, and temperatures drop into the 50’s but soon climb back into the 70’s and 80’s. The westerly winds from the fronts and cooler temperatures have kept the water shallow and clear which no doubt has kept the redfish schooled up. We’ve had some awesome days mixed in with some great days and a few slow days when the reds were recovering from a late winter blast. Strong onshore winds have slowed the fishing lately but the Lagoon water levels remain low.
Capt. Mike’s spoons and plastics, Capt. Mark Nichol’s DOA Shrimp green/red flecked, live shrimp and flies, mostly the Borski Shrimp and Dupree Spoonfly will all pretty much cover your bases right now when fishing these "shoals" of redfish. Regardless, it’s spring, that time of year when the schools are on the move and showing signs that they will soon be breaking up. Smaller groups of reds and singles will be the main target in the near future. It won’t be long before the water starts to rise and clouds up a bit. Folks who like to sight-fish their reds will find the fish working along the shorelines and tailing out on the flats. This is a great time of year when boats will soon be spreading out and fishing in relative solitude.
Besides the 4 to 10 pounders that we’ve been fishing in the schools, redfish 25-30 pounds, our average size bull reds in the Lagoon, have been showing up. These bruisers just shy of 4 foot are fighters and light tackle is not going to stop them short on their first and second runs. Although we haven’t been targeting sea trout, last month we hit them good while it was windy and unfishable for reds. We were throwing jigs and getting fish in the 15 to 20 inch keeper range, plus some 5 pounders.
This time of year and as we get into April, the flats will continue to warm up, big trout, "gators", will be in super skinny water. Weedless soft plastic DOA’s and Capt. Mike’s Guide Proven lures twitched across mullet laden grass flats will get you hooked up. Also if you’re a top-water lure fan, we’re coming into that season. Working jigs and lures in 2 to 4 feet of water will get you action with smaller but more numerous trout.
Steve Preston and Jim Karl got in to the hot redfishing action recently. As Coastal Conservation Association members, they bid on my donated charter at the fall Orlando Banquet. They picked a great day. We got on a school of reds that kept us hooked up all morning. Three other experienced guides in the area, all CCA guides, showed how it’s done when you have a good school of reds in a small area. Everybody caught fish casually without pushing the school, breaking it up or blowing it out when leaving. It was a fine time working in close with folks who usually you just see in passing as we go about our business in the lagoon.
Jim Pampinella and Joe Venezia came over from Bonita Springs for the two days of fly fishing. The first day they struggled to catch four reds in gusty north-west winds while seeing and casting to spooky reds in ultra clear water. "Bones, are easier" was a comment heard frequently, relating to their last trip to the Bahamas. Well, their next day was a bit easier, the two boated over fifteen reds between five and ten pounds. The fish were biting, so much so they had two double hook-ups on fly. The Borski Slider and a larger, heavier variation of it when we left the shallows and got into 2’ water and also the gold Dupree Spoonfly did all the damage.
In late February Rip Rymarck of New Smyrna Beach and son Jimmy of Cleveland, Ohio watched a large school of oversize reds finning over their lightly twitched baits and it wasn’t long before Rip’s reel was screaming with a 30lb. red going on his first big run.
Ormond Beach residents, Butch McAlister and Tom Haynes, did some very good sightfishing on some slot-sized reds, then Butch hung a bruiser going 30 lbs., before we called it a day.
Rick Stroyan and 8 year old son Carson of Washington, D.C. fished with their uncle L.C. Barher of Rifle, Colorado on one of the best day’s weatherwise here in March and just tore up the reds. Carson said that catching reds was "better than playing video games". Great kid!
On one of our windy north westerly days Tom Woodward, Andy Anson and John Grilli blind casted with spoons and jerk baits as we drifted over the flats. Tom and Andy had a nice double on the artificials while John used live shrimp. It was a tough morning only made fishable by determined anglers. On our last stop all three hooked up again with reds as we eased over one of the nicest looking flats still clear of murky water despite the gusty winds.
Local Cardiologist Glenn Rayos, nephew Brian and brother in law Bill got out on another perfect March day. Glenn fishes when he can regardless of the weather and this was his best day yet as well as Brian’s. We used live shrimp throughout the day, working 4 to 10 lb. finning redfish in shallow water and then ended the day with four solid reds, the largest going 23 lbs.
Hey friends, it’s booking up fast again for the rest of the spring and summer, but there’s still few open days left in April. Also this year, and I apologize for the inconvenience, I won’t be doing weekends from April through July. And as always, for no fee, you’ll be referred to an experienced guide, if we can’t get together on a booking date.
Enjoy the outdoors, get out and fish!
Capt. Brian Clancy/Eldora charters
www.eldoracharters.com for archived fishing reports
email: bclancy1@cfl.rr.com
1877-409-7380 Toll Free
368-409-7380 local
New Smyrna Beach, florida