saltwater fishing guide near Orlando,Disney Cocoa beach,Daytona beach

Orlando Saltwater Flats Fishing Report for the Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, and Banana River- New Smyrna Beach Cocoa Beach

This saltwater flats fishing report covers the Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, Banana River, and nearshore Atlantic coast beaches. This is the closest saltwater fishing to Orlando, Kissimmee and Walt Disney World. Between Cocoa Beach to the south and New Smyrna and Daytona Beach to the north, There is easy access to great fishing. Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters offers fly fishing and light tackle guided fishing charters year round for redfish, seatrout, drum, and tarpon as well as easy saltwater fishing for kids and adults with no experience necessary.

March 2, 2024Fishing in the Lagoon has been outstanding so far this year. huge black drum, school sof tailing redfish, and large seatrout have all been available. With the resurgence of grass, the numbers of reds have been steadily increasing. The tailing fish have been ultra shallow and will eat light soft plastic baits like the DOA shrimp or CAL or small flies mimicing shrim or crabs. Large back drum to 40 pounds can be found tailing in slightly deeper water. Crab flies or the DOA crab put directly on their nose will get bites. This pattern of excellent fishing should continue for the next few months.

mosquito lagoon redfish trips

mosquito lagoon fishing trips

orlando flats fishing guide

fly fishing guide near orlando

mosquito lagoon trout fishing

May 5, 2023 Sight fishing on the flats of Mosquito Lagoon has been excellent. Huge seatrout are in ultra-shallow clear water and can be individually targeted on clear days with light tackle or fly. Stalking these wary predators takes stealth and patience. Well placed casts can result in some very aggresive strikes. Soft plastics like the DOA Cal or DOA shrimp are my favorites. Flies that land softly like bendbacks or EP minnow style work well. Any week now, the tarpon should start showing up. The early season arivals are often some of the most cooperative. Calm conditions are a must for spotting these fish in the open water. The easy catching trips for kids or those with less experience are bringing lots of bent rods from a wide variety of fish. Last trip we caught 12 different species and over 40 total fish in 4 hours. These trips keep kids active catching and offer a great chance to see wildlife such as dolphin and manatee close to the boat. Below are photos of fish caught on recent saltwater inshore fishing trips.

mosquito lagoon fly fishing

new smyrna beach redfish charters

kids fishing trips near orlando

mosquito lagoon guide for redfish

saltwater fishing charters near orlando fl

saltwater fishing charters new smyrna beach

mosquito lagoon speckled trout

January 2, 2023 A strong and long lasting cold front brought some clean water and great sight fishing to Mosquito Lagoon. This can be the best time or year for sight fishing redfish, trout, and black drum on the shallow flats using fly or spinning tackle. Opportunities may also come up to target some drum in the 20 to 40 pound range on any day. Some recent trips have landed double digit numbers of redfish and trout.

mosquito lagoon redfish guide

mosquito lagoon fishing trips

fly fishing near orlando

saltwater fishing near orlando

August 10, 2022The best thing to happen this summer is the resurgence of the grass flats in Mosquito Lagoon. After years of decline, and several years of no grass, huge areas are now covered in thick green grass. Redfish and drum are once again tailing for crabs and shrimp. Snook are hanging on the edges of the grass or along deeper shorelines. Big tarpon are in the deeper channels and basins with smaller fish close to the shore. This is the time of year to catch a super slam on fly or spinning tackle. Easy catching kids trips yield a variety of fish on ultralight tackle while those wanting something large can battle huge snook and tarpon. Great variety and great weather will be around for at least 2 more months.

May 20, 2022 The winds have finally started to subside and the tarpon are showing up. In the next few weeks, the summer tarpon of all sizes should be hanging out. Small fish under 10 pounds can be caught on light spinning or fly tackle. The bigger tarpon take some heavier equipment and often lots of patience. Snook are blasting baits under and next to mangrove trees and other structure. Catching them with lures can require some good casting skills while others can be caught on live baits drifted in the current. Throughout the summer, there will be variety of fishing tips options from easy catching trips for kids and less experienced anglers to sight fishing charters for those wanting to challenge their casting skills. Early starts are the norm with generally light winds, happy fish and less chance of storms than later in the day. Fishing trips can be in Edgewater/New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Titusville, Merritt Island, Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River. All are around one hour from Orlando.

February 13, 2022 We have had had plenty of cold weather in the last few weeks that has made much of our water crystal clear. This has resulted in some excellent sight fishing opportunities for redfish, trout, and drum. This is the time of year when some monster trout can be caught in just inches of water. The black drum fishing has been especially good with groups of fish 20-40 pounds roaming in 2-3 feet of water. these fish can be hooked on both fly and light tackle spinning hear. Many clients on recent trips have landed their largest ever fish. This excellent sight fishing will continue for the foreseeable future so brush up on your casting skills and book your trip today.

flats fishing near orlando

saltwater fishing near orlando

fly fishing near orlando

inshore fishing near orlando

light tackle fishing near orlando

January 5, 2022 The winter, so far, has been mild enough so that our sensitive species do not freeze but it has moved some big trout up onto the shallow flats. The sight fishing enthusiasts will have redfish, black drum, and seatrout as their main targets for the next few months. With clear skies and light winds, you can cast to fish you can see in less than two feet of water using light tackle spinning outfits or flyrods. These trips are for those who want to challenge their casting skills.

For beginners, or those who just want to bend the rod, the northern tidal waters of Mosquito Lagoon will provide a great variety of fish. These waters are also protected from wind and waves which can plague the open flats during the winter. Pompano, permit, bluefish, sharks, drum, trout, flounder, whiting, and much more can be caught all in one day. We use ultralight tackle so even the smaller fish put up a good fight. This is easy fishing for all skill levels, kids and adults alike. We always catch fish on these trips and often land 20 or more per person.

fun fishing near orlando

shark fishing near orlando

new smyrna family fishing

seatrout fishing trips

sight fishing near orlando

August 11, 2021 Tarpon and snook have been the main two species over the last month. This year has brought some phenomenal snook fishing to central Florida. In addition to big snook, we have been catch, and losing, some big grouper, including gag, goliath, and red. They have been hanging out along side the snook. Kids as young as 8 have battled the biggest fish of their lives on recent trips. Snapper, flounder, redfish, trout, drum, jack crevalle, and more are regular participants. Tarpon can be found from 5lbs to over 100 pounds on a daily basis. Summer, and this awesome fishing, is going by fast. Book your trip soon.

snook charter fishing near orlando

snook charter fishing near new smyrna

kids fishing trips

snook charter fishing orlando

kids charter fishing near orlando

fishing near orlando

July 8, 2021 Tarpon fishing is still going strong. Lure and fly fishing anglers have had shots are fish from 5-100+ pounds. The snook fishing has also been excellent. These fish require much more precise casting skills as most are tight to docks, rocks, or trees. As with much of our lure fishing here, the better you cast, the more you can catch. There are still a few large trout on the flats as well as redfish and drum

The easy fishing trips for kids and those with less casting experience have produced between 5 and 10 different species per trip. On my last kids trips, they stopped their competition when they had landed 19, 20, and 25 fish each. These fast paced trips offer lots of catching as well as some close up wildlife experiences with dolphins, rays, and manatee. Start early, beat the heat, catch tons of fish, and still have time to enjoy the rest of the day.

snook fishing charters new smyrna

tarpon fishing charters near orlando

trophy redfish charter fishing near orlando

fly fishing charters for drum

May 30, 2021 The tarpon have arrived! We have already had some excellent days of tarpon fishing for 20-50lb fish in 2-4 feet of water. While they are not as consistent as they will be later in the summer, there is definitely an opportunity to catch one on fly or artificial lures. In addition, the fishing for large seatrout has been outstanding the past month. On the same flats, we are encountering redfish, black drum, pompano,and flounder. Snook are tight to the mangrove shorelines and can be caught if you have the casting skills to reach them. Crystal clear water has made for excellent sight fishing. The easy catching trips for kids and families has been yielding plenty of large ladyfish, jack crevalle, catfish, snapper, and black drum. Now is a great time to fish and there are still some opening available in June.

trophy seatrout fishing near orlando

tarpon fishing charters near orlando

easy kids and family saltwater fishing

snook fishing near orlando

flats fishing charters near New Smyrna Beach

snook fishing trips new smyrna beach

spotted seatrout fishing charters

redfish charters mosquito lagoon

March 31, 2021 Spring fishing has been good here in central Florida. The easy catching and kids trips have been yielding up to 12 species per trip. These outings do not require any fishing skills or experience. They are inshore saltwater trips in the backcountry islands of the northern Mosquito Lagoon in well protected waters. Redfish, drum, ladyfish, jacks, permit, flounder, snook, sheephead, sharks, and more are biting. The technical sight fishing trips for fly and light tackle anglers have been producing redfish, drum, and some trout. These outings are for anglers with good casting skills where you can cast to fish you can see in shallow water.

redfish trips new smyrna beach

kids saltwater fishing trips new smyrna beach

easy catching fishing trips

fun family fishing orlando

new smyrna beach fishing trips

sight fishing trips near orlando

flyfishing trips orlando

February 10, 2021 Redfish, drum, trout. That is the focus of the shallow water sight fishing trips in Mosquito Lagoon this time of year. On days where the weather cooperates, we have been seeing plenty of all three species. This is stealth fishing requiring quick accurate casts with spinning or fly fishing tackle. It is great fun but can be challenging for less experienced anglers. For the easy catching trips, we head a bit further north to the backcountry areas closer to Ponce inlet. using live shrimp, you can catch a variety of fish including the three named above plus sheephead, pompano, flounder, snook, snapper, and more. This fishing is great for kids and families and requires no previous experience to catch lots of fish.

black drum fishing trips

mosquito bay fishing trips

black drum fishing trips

red drum fishing trips

May 25, 2020 It's tarpon time! With the consistently warm weather, the tarpon have made their appearance here in Central Florida. Fish from 25-75 pounds have been hooked and caught in 2-5ft of water. DOA TerrorEyz and sinking Baitbusters have gotten most of the bites along with the DOA Shrimp. The shallow water fish can also be targeted by fly anglers using 9 to 12wt rods. Successful tarpon fishing generally requires calm winds in the morning and clear skies if sight fishing them midday. In addition to the tarpon, redfish, trout, and black drum as still holding near the shorelines in less than 2ft of water. For the less experienced and younger anglers, steady action can be had on live shrimp for ladyfish, jack crevalle, snapper, pompano, whiting, drum, and more. Lot's of catching with no experience necessary.

new smyrna beach tarpon trips

new smyrna beach tarpon trips

April 24, 2020 Open for business and ready to fish!!! Few, if any, tourists are in Florida at the moment but the fishing is still very good. Tons of baitfish are flooding back into the inshore saltwater lagoons. This week, we caught redfish, seatrout, black drum, and had shots at tarpon and snook. Clear water still offers sight fishing opportunities on the shallow flats or just enjoy catching high numbers in the deeper cuts and creeks. With many of the guides not working due to the lack of tourism, there are usually less boats on the water than we usually encounter this time of year. Take advantage of the discounted virus pricing and book you charter today. Great kids fishing trips are available this time of year. Lots of action and no previous fishing experience needed.

March 24, 2020 Right in the middle of our busiest season and some of the best fishing, Corona virus closures, shutdowns, and travel bands have all but put myself and many of the other fishing guides out of business. As of today, there are still ramps open which offer access to great fishing. The boat and all equipment is fully cleaned after each charter so do not hesitate to book your non-virus fishing charter today
On the shallow flats, big seatrout have been the most dominant. Redfish, black drum, and even some flounder have also been in the mix. For the kids and those who just want to do lots of catching, the waters closer to Ponce Inlet have been producing a variety of fish from snapper and sheephead to jacks, pompano, drum, reds, whiting, bluefish, ladyfish and even some tarpon. With virtually none of the tourists here in central Florida, this is the perfect time for locals to enjoy the waters with far fewer than normal boats on the water.

daytona fishing charters

flats fishing drum daytona beach

daytona flats guide

daytona fishing guide trips

flats fishing drum new smyrna beach

flats fishing backcountry daytona beach

inshore fishing guide trips daytona beach

daytona guided fishing charters

mosquito lagoon guided fishing charters

February 10, 2020 The number one factor affecting the flats fishing so far this winter has been the wind. On calm days, there has been some excellent fishing for black drum and seatrout with a few redfish. Some schools of drum have had hundreds of fish over 30 pounds. When the wind blows at 20 for days on end, the only option is to fish the deeper cuts and islands of the northern end. Kids fishing trips have been steady action with 5-10 different species per trip and total catches over 40. Pompano, ladyfish, snapper, sheephead, and drum are just o few of the species we have been catching.

flats fishing drum near orlando

saltwater fly fishing orlando

saltwater fishing charters orlando

light tackle saltwater orlando

seatrout fishing orlando

November 23, 2019 Our summer fishing is over and leaving with the warm weather were the snook and tarpon. Cooler temperatures have brought cleaner water, however, and the sight fishing for redfish, black drum, and seatrout is excellent. The DOA CAL shad tail on a jighead has been catching all three species. Fly anglers are also landing them on shrimp and crab patterns. In the deeper waters, bait fishing with kids and adults alike offers non-stop action. pompan, bluefish, jack crevalle, drum, snapper, sheephead, and much more have all been biting. Whether you are looking for classic sight fishing on the flats or just and easy relaxed day of catching fish, there is a trip for you. Great fishing can be had all winter long here in sunny Florida.

saltwater fishing orlando

saltwater fishing orlando

kids fishing orlando

inshore saltwater fishing orlando

flats fishing for redfish

saltwater fishing orlando

September 15, 2019 This time of year can offer some of the most variety of species and most aggressive fish of the year. The fall baitfish run has begin and all types of fish are feeding heavily before the cooler temperatures arrive. It is not unrealistic to catch snook redfish, tarpon and trout all in a single day. Tarpon tops my list of favorites. The 5-20 pound tarpon can be caught on our normal inshore tackle with a beefed up leader. The big tarpon require a heavier setup. Bull redfish begin to school up for the fall spawn. If you can find the schools of big fish without a dozen other boats on them, you can battle a few giants before leaving them to spawn. Snook are also a possibility, both at the inlets and around docks and mangrove shorelines. This is our low season for tourists so there are not as many boats on the water. Still plenty of days available through October. Book yours today.

tarpon fishing near orlando

bull redfish near orlando

tarpon fishing trips

June 12, 2019 My favorite time of year is here - the summer. Less boats on the water during the week and more types of fish to catch along with a much more consistent weather pattern. In the central and southern Mosquito Lagoon flats, the redfish can be found cruising and tailing throughout the day. For much of May and beginning of June, there was an incredible amount of 20-50 pound tarpon in the same spot every day. They have since spread out but tarpon of all sizes are a possibility throughout the summer. In the northern end of the Lagoon near New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater, fishing is red hot for all kinds of fish. Strong fighting jack crevalle, high jumping ladyfish, tarpon, snook, snapper, sharks, drum, whiting, and much more. With the threat of afternoon storms, it is best to start early and get your fishing in before they arrive.

March 19, 2019 Spring is starting and the winter cold fronts will soon stop making their way down to central Florida. Fishing has been steady in both the central Mosquito Lagoon for redfish and drum and farther north near New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach for a wide variety of fish. The shallow water redfish trips are best when the winds are calm and skies clear allowing anglers to spot the fish on the shallow flats. Both fly and spin anglers have had success with a variety of lures and flies. The 3" DOA CAL or the 2.5" shrimp are great for pitching to tailing redfish. The topwater bite has been picking up and the DOA PT7 lure is a weedless topwater soft bait that casts a mile and is catching both redfish and seatrout. Fly fishermen have been using both 5 and 7wt rods to target tailing redfish. As usual, this fishing is all dependent on casting and the better you cast, the more you will catch.

The bait fishing trips for kids, families, less experienced anglers, or those who just want fast paced catching action have been yielding redfish, drum, snook, jacks, pompano, snapper, ladyfish, bluefish, mackerel, whiting weakfish, silver trout, seatrout, seabass, and more. We use shrimp or mullet and kids as young as 5yrs old have been catching more fish than they can count. This fishing will just get better as the water continues to warm and more baitfish return to the region. Soon, I hope to see the tarpon returning to this area along with more jack crevalle and larger ladyfish.

kids fishing trips daytona beach

spring break fishing near new daytona

New Smyrna Beach Saltwater Fishing

new smyrna beach snook

new smyrna flats fishing trips

new smyrna beach inshore fishing

new smyrna beach redfish trips



January 16, 2019 The winter fishing season is upon us here in Central Florida. one day it may be calm and 80 degrees and the next it may be 50 degrees and blowing 20. Water levels are ultra low and water temperatures fluctuate rapidly. ON the shallow flats, redfish, drum and big seatrout can be found. The biggest challenge to catching is the weather. Clouds and wind can make sight fishing difficult to impossible. Sunny days can bring dozens of shots. My primary lure for this time of year is the 3" DOA CAL shad tail on a jighead. The head can be adjusted depending on the wind and depth of water. Color is really not that important. Some of the largest seatrout of the year can be found in very shallow water as well.

winter fishing trips near disney world

winter fishing trips near Daytona Beach

 fishing trips near daytona 500

For the fly fishing anglers, sun and light winds are critical. All of our saltwater fly casting is sight fishing and without the sun, only tailing fish can be seen. When the weather does not cooperate, not all is lost. Now through March, a backup or even primary option can be fishing for American shad on the St John's River. This herring like fish jump like tarpon and pull hard on 3 and 4wt flyrods or ultralight spinning tackle. This fishing can be done even when the winds make flats fishing difficult. In addition to the shad, the river also offers largemouth bass, striped bass, speckled perch, and a variety of panfish.

A third option is to fish the cuts and channels of the very northern Mosquito Lagoon with shrimp. Great for kids and adults alike, these trips are the only time I would guarantee clients will catch fish. No skills needed and lots of catching sums it up. It is not uncommon to catch 10 different species in a single trip and between 20 and 60 fish is average. These waters also offer protection from the winter winds and can be fished even on the worst of days.

 kids fishing trips near new smyrna

family fishing trips near daytona 500

saltwater fishing trips near new smyrna

November 10, 2018 One October cold front pushed most of the tarpon out of the Lagoons and into the inlets but a quick warmup had the redfish tailing like crazy. Despite some incorrect new reports, the is no Red Tide in this area and there have not bee any fish kills. The visibility is low in most of the Mosquito Lagoon but the fish are helping combat that disadvantage by sticking their fins out of the water. On sunny days, you can also spot fish who are not tailing in the shallow grassy areas. We have been using five weight flyrods and light action spinning rods. The grass has been loaded with shrimp . Those using lures and flies that imitate them have been producing great bites. As the water cools off in the coming weeks and months, it will clear up making it easier to spot fish.

Farther to the north in the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater sections of the Lagoon, the mixed bag bait fishing trips will produce lots of bites and a wide variety of fish. On the last few trips we caught redfish to 20 pounds, trout, whiting, pompano, jack crevalle, snapper, sea robin, sailfin catfish, and more. These are the perfect trips for kids or people with limited fishing or casting experience. they are also an option when the winds are blowing too hard to sight fish on the flats.

fly fishing trips near disney world

fly fishing near orland fl

Mosquito bay redfish guide

Mosquito Lagoon redfish guide

Mosquito Lagoon jack crevalle

Mosquito Lagoon jack pompano

Sept 14, 2018The first thing potential visitors to the east central Florida saltwater flats is we do not have red tide or green algae in our waters. The massive fish kills in south Florida and the toxic green algae coming from lake Okeechobee are nowhere near us. if you are planning a trip to Orlando, Disney, or vicinity, it is safe to go fishing here. Tarpon go to the top of the list for me this time of year. they will be going strong for another 4-8 weeks depending on the weather. The numbers have been very good this year but, as is typical with tarpon, they can often be very frustrating. many of the fish are in the 20-60 pound range, perfect for medium tackle inshore fishing. IN the same area as the tarpon, there have been plenty of jack crevalle, snapper, pompano, ladyfish, flounder, sharks, and various other species. These make great trips for kids, people with little to no fishing experience, or anyone who wants to catch tons of fish on light and ultralight tackle. on the shallow flats, redfish have been tailing but the drum and trout have not been as plentiful as they were last month. The light winds this time of year, however, making casting at fish in shallow water a bit easier. This is also one of the best times of year to catch redfish on surface lures. I like to use a shallow running DOA BaitBuster on the top or the weedless floating DOA PT7. There is lots of floating grass right now so treble hooked plugs will quickly become fouled. This is my personal favorite time of year to fish. Great weather and a variety of species.

Mosquito Lagoon jack crevalle

orlando fishing tripsh

Mosquito Lagoon summer fishing

Mosquito Lagoon summer redfish

July 30, 2018 Summer fishing on the central and southern Mosquito Lagoon has been steady for redfish and black drum. Unfortunately, this year, the seatrout are few and far between. Big redfish, however, have been prowling the very shallow flats all day long. Black drum are up very shallow as well. Some days they are tailing in all directions offering great targets for the fly fishing and light tackle anglers wanting to sight fish. Other days, there are big schools of drum and none of them break the surface at all. In the northern end of Mosquito Lagoon closer to Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach, there are tarpon and snook in the channels and around the docks. This is primarily a lure style of fishing for 10-75 pound fish, sometimes even larger. The fish are big and numerous but often require good casting skills, especially while dock fishing. On the easier side, the mixed bag fishing trips produce a variety of fish from trout and snapper to jacks, ladyfish, sharks, and more. These trips are perfect for kids or less experienced anglers. Throughout the Mosquito Lagoon, the manatee and dolphins have been plentiful adding to the fishing experience. Expect this summer pattern to remain the same for the next couple months.

Mosquito Lagoon trips for redfish

fishing charters for redfish

Mosquito Lagoon redfish guide

Mosquito Lagoon fly fishing guide

May 16, 2018 The fishing in Mosquito Lagoon has been excellent for tailing redfish, tailing drum, and big seatrout. Redfish have been attacking the DOA Baitbuster on the surface, the DOA 3" CAL tails on a jighead, or the 5.5" CAL jerkbait. Blind casting with the Baitbuster has yielded lots of nice trout as well as some jacks and ladyfish. Drum up to 30 pounds have been cruising the flats as well. If not fly fishing, you will usually need some type of bait to get them to bite like live or dead shrimp, crab, or clams. The kids fishing trips in the very northern end of the Mosquito Lagoon have been phenomenal. Catches generally yield over 40 fish per day and 10-12 different species. Kids as young as 5 have been enjoying the steady action the past month. This great fishing will continue throughout the summer so book your trip today.

Mosquito Lagoon fishing guide for redfish

Mosquito Lagoon redfish fishing trips

Mosquito Lagoon redfish fishing trips

Mosquito Lagoon redfish fishing trips

March 27, 2018 The past few weeks have brought some excellent sight fishing in Mosquito Lagoon for redfish and large seatrout. Moderate winds, sun, and clear water allowed anglers to spot and cast to hundreds of redfish on the shallow saltwater flats. Good casts were often rewarded with bites and off target casts were ignored. The gator trout are hard to spot even in good weather and are easier caught by making long casts to likely areas. In addition to the nice weather days we had plenty of windy days as well but that did not stop the good fishing. Kids and adults alike enjoyed some ultralight action catching trout, big ladyfish, bluefish, snapper, whiting, sailfin catfish, pompano, and more. There is fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels here in Mosquito Lagoon. April will be another outstanding month for some shallow water fishing so book your trip today.

Mosquito Lagoon redfish fishing trips

fly fishing trips in Mosquito Lagoon

kids fishing near orlando florida

March 7, 2018 The weather finally warmed up for a few weeks with highs near 90. That was short lived, however, as tomorrow will have wind chills in the 30's. Hopefully, the ups and downs of a Florida winter will soon be over. Low temperatures usually mean high winds here and we have had plenty. Redfish, trout, and drum have remained consistent. A few full grown redfish in the over twenty pound category are showing themselves as well. Some days have been producing good tailing redfish action and there are good numbers of large trout in very shallow water. This is a great time of year to catch a huge seatrout on fly but you must be able to get the it well away from the boat. Those who can cast gurglers or poppers 60-80ft out will have good success. Spinning rod anglers do well with a weedless DOA CAL 5.5 inch. The average redfish will take a wide variety of lures and flies while the giant reds are difficult to catch on anything except bait.

fly fishing trips near new smyrna beach

new smyrna beach trout fishing

redfish charters near orlando

mosquito lagoon redfish guide

February 16, 2018 When the new year began, so did the high winds and cold temperatures. This was one of the coldest Januarys we have had in a long time. Combined with that was some ultra low water conditions which made fishing quite a challenge. This past week brought some much better weather and even some highs pushing 90. The water has returned to more normal levels and the fishing has improved. In the St. Johns River, the American Shad run is going strong. Light flyrods or ultralight spin rods make for some great fun. in addition to the shad, various panfish, bass, and stripers are being caught. This fishing should continue until the beginning of March. The shad fishing gives less experienced anglers the chance to catch lots of fish, especially those who want to fly fish. Like mini-tarpon, this fishing is fun for anglers of all skill levels

In the saltwater, redfish, trout, and drum are the 3 species you can catch. On calm days, there can be some good tailing action from both redfish and drum. All of them can be caught on spinning rods or fly fishing gear.

fly fishing trips near orlando

fly fishing trips near orlando

fly fishing trips near cocoa beach

December 19, 2017 This will probably be the last fishing report of 2017. During some days of high winds earlier this month, the remaining high water from the hurricane was blown out. Now, when the winds are calm, the water is shallow and clear. Redfish, seatrout, and black drum are the three fish that will stay in the Mosquito Lagoon and North Indian River throughout the winter and spring. People often ask what the "best" month is to fish Mosquito Lagoon. Since we have the same redfish year round, the best time is the day you can go when the weather is nice and the fish are happy. Could be any day of the year. In the past couple weeks, there have been some redfish tailing in the very shallow water, some large seatrout laid up in the sand holes, and big black drum roaming the dropoffs. Unless you live in Florida, it is probably warmer here than wherever you are so book your trip today.

winter fishing near orlando

inshore fishing orlando and disney

inshore fishing orlando and disney

inshore fishing close to orlando

inshore fishing close to disney

October 3, 2017 Just prior to the hurricane arriving, we had some great fishing for bull redfish. A strong hurricane at the beginning of September dumped a ton of rain on the Lagoon system raising the water level over a foot. Areas that had been almost dry all summer now have water deep enough for large fish to feed. This gives the fish a lot more room to spread out but they are feeding well if you can find them. The storm also pushed millions of finger mullet into the inlets and I am seeing more bait than I have in several years. With the first cold fronts of the season arriving in a few weeks, the fish are feeding on this bait before it heads south to escape the cold. Redfish, seatrout, drum, snook, and tarpon are all still in the Mosquito Lagoon and will be until the temperatures drop. October, however, brings a lot more wind than we typically have during the summer leaving fewer days for the best sight fishing conditions. I only have a few days available in October so book you flats fishing trip soon. If you are planning your trip for later this winter, the tarpon will be gone but we will have great fishing for redfish (red drum), seatrout, and black drum. These fish are plentiful all year round in Mosquito Lagoon.

inshore fishing near orlando

inshore fishing orlando

mosquito lagoon drum guide

cocoa beach fishing guide

mosquito lagoon tarpon guide

September 1, 2017We have had some fantastic fishing for a variety of species here in Central Florida. September is one of my favorite months of the year and it is the last one before changes start to take place in the weather, water levels, and types of fish available. We will have generally calm winds and excellent flats fishing all month. The tarpon tops my list of favorites with fish from 2 to 100+ pounds both inshore and along the beaches. The 5-15 pound fish are great fun on the same light tackle rods we use for redfish and trout. Bump up the leader to 30 pounds and get ready for some aerial acrobatics. Good numbers of 20-80 pound fish can be found in the northern Mosquito Lagoon as well. Full grown poons will be following the baitfish migration south along the beaches. Inshore tarpon are generally best early in the day. When they slow down, we turn to redfish, trout, and drum. This is the time of year to catch a Lagoon super slam.

cocoa beach drum fishing

mosquito lagoon redfish guide

mosquito lagoon red drum guide

mosquito lagoon tarpon guide

July 22, 2017 Both inshore and nearshore trips have been producing fish this summer. The variety that can be found during these months is much greater than in the winter. Tarpon top the list of my favorite fish. They can be caught in the lagoons and along the beaches. Redfish, drum, trout, snook, sharks, barracuda, kingfish, jacks, false albacore and more. Fishing in Mosquito Lagoon has been consistent and the water is still clear enough for sight fishing in most places. Some of the best and easiest fishing takes place at the beginning of the day. It is a good idea to select your most desired species and pursue them at first light. Along the beaches, there is no need to start in the dark as the fish will bite throughout the day. Snook are a possibility both inshore and nearshore but have not been consistent enough to make them the sole target of a trip.

cocoa beach snook

mosquito lagoon redfish guide

mosquito lagoon fly fishing guide

mosquito lagoon fly fishing charters

cocoa beach saltwater fishing

cocoa beach saltwater charters

cocoa beach ocean fishing

mosquito lagoon tarpon

mosquito lagoon black drum

June 6, 2017 Now that summer has arrived, the baitfish schools are plentiful and are the main source of food for the redfish and trout. Fishing with surface lures can attract some explosive strikes from a both species. In addition to the redfish, some nice schools of black drum are roaming the flats and a few tarpon have been showing up as well. Unlike the past few years, our water has remained relatively clear allowing for excellent sight fishing when the sun is out. Clients have been catching some quality fish lately. Book your trip today for a shot at some trophy reds.

mosquito lagoon redfish  tours

fishing guide near orlando

fishing near disney world

May 2, 2017Fishing for redfish and seatrout has been outstanding. Black drum have been steady as well and anglers have been able to catch all three species in one day completing the Mosquito Lagoon Slam. The topwater bite is excellent, especially in the morning. Both redfish and large trout have been hammering the DOA Baitbuster on the surface as well as the new floating soft plastic PT-7 lure from DOA. Great weather and awesome fishing and lots of wildlife. The manatee are everywhere, dolphins, gators, sea turtles, and more. Book your Mosquito Lagoon fishing trip now by calling 321-229-2848.

cocoa beach saltwater redfish guide

mosquito lagoon guided fishing tours

daytoan beach guided fishing tours

new smyrna beach guided fishing tours

best saltwater fishing near orlando

light tackle fishing charters near disney

cocoa beach guided fishing tours

March 17, 2017 Mosquito Lagoon is on fire. The fishing the past few days has been as good as it gets. Schools of redfish and black drum along with big seatrout have been our targets. It just does not get any better. I still have some days available next month if you are going to be here on spring break or vacation. Call soon to get one reserved before they are gone. For those that may not have the casting skills needed to sight fish for redfish and trout on the flats, the cuts and channels closer to Ponce Inlet have been on fire as well. This is a great option for kids or those who want steady catching action.


cocoa beach redfish guide

cocoa beach redfish guide

cocoa beach redfish guide

cocoa beach redfish guide

cocoa beach redfish guide

March 17, 2017 Despite some typical March winds, the fishing has remained excellent for redfish, seatrout, and drum. Clear water has allowed anglers to experience some excellent sight fishing on the flats of the Mosquito Lagoon. This means the anglers can see fish in the shallow water and cast to them. This fishing style of fishing will get your adrenaline pumping.

cocoa beach redfish guide

cocoa beach light tackle guide

cocoa beachsaltwater trips

The 3" DOA Cal shad tail lure has been working best, especially when the wind is blowing. Great action should continue throughout the month and into April as well. A saltwater flats fishing charter is a great addition to your Floria spring break plans. Whether you are staying in Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach or even Orlando & Walt Disney World, you have easy access to a Mosquito Lagoon flats fishing trip. Call and book your charter today.

February 1, 2017Even though the water and weather have changed, the fishing is still going strong here in Mosquito Lagoon. Recent cold fronts and strong north winds have brought the water levels down to their typical low winter levels. Cooler nights have dropped the water temperature into the upper 50's the last few days. When the winds are calm, there is plenty of clean water available for sight fishing redfish, drum, and trout. Anglers using both fly fishing and spinning tackle have been landing redfish. Some days there are schools of tailing fish, other times the fish are singles or schooled up in slightly deeper depressions and drop-offs. If you will be visiting the Orlando, Disney, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, or New Smyrna Beach area, be sure to book your flats fishing charter today.

shallow water redfish guide

fishing trips for redfish daytona beach

new smyrna redfish charters

redfish fly fishing trips

cocoa beach fly fishing guide

December 24, 2016 The great sight fishing continues this month and it is not too late to get in one more trip in 2016. Tailing redfish and black drum have been the primary targets with a few nice seatrout as well. On his first ever fishing trip, Wayne caught his first redfish on his second cast with a DOA shrimp.

shallow water redfish trips

Susan landed several nice black drum on a recent trip to Mosquito Lagoon

drum fishing

Julie caught several redfish and seatrout using DOA shrimp and CAL lures

redfish trips by orlando

Tom had an incredible day on his Mosquito Lagoon fly fishing charter. He caught double digit redfish, a big trout, and a few tarpon.

fly fishing charters orlando

This pattern should continue for a while. Only one hour from Orlando and Disney. Book your trip today!!

December 2, 2016We have had excellent tailing redfish action in the Mosquito Lagoon over the past couple weeks. Fish were caught using both light tackle and spinning tackle. Most of the fish have been in pods of 5-50 fish. Sometimes this tails are breaking the surface, other times the fish are deep enough that they are not. Either way, tailing redfish are happy fish that are willing to eat almost anything they see. A warm-up over the holiday week pushed the big seatrout off the flats but cooler weather is arriving in the next few days and they will return to their shallow hangouts. Whether you are an experienced sight fishing angler or this is your first time trying saltwater flats fishing, you will find this type of fishing both exciting and challenging. This is the best fishing near Orlando in December. Book your fishing charter today.

redfish trips near disney world

redfish guide near disney world

orlando fly fishing guide

redfish trips near orlando

saltwater fly fishing for redfish

November 18, 2016 The fishing for redfish and seatrout has remained consistent in the Mosquito Lagoon. With the cool mornings, we have not even had any mosquitoes as the ramp. On days with clear skies, schools of redfish can be seen tailing and huge seatrout can be seen lying in shallow sand spots, We have been using primarily the DOA 3 inch CAL shad on a jighead and the DOA 5.5 inch jerkbait rigged weedless. Blaine used the latter to fool this 44 inch monster redfish in less than two feet of water.

redfish trips near orlando

The smaller lure is also effective on both redfish and gator trout as Jon discovered on a great day of sight fishing. He landed 11 redfish, 3 big trout, and had shots and many more.
redfish charters mosquito lagoon

seatrout charters near orlando

As the water continues to cool off and clear up, the sight fishing will get better and better. Sight fishing with light spinning tackle and fly fishing gear will be excellent throughout the winter. Book your Orlando Fishing Charter today

November 1, 2016 The hurricane that passed by the Space Coast and Cocoa Beach at the beginning of October brought some changes to Mosquito Lagoon. A combination of rain and water pushing in Ponce Inlet caused water levels to rise two feet. It has since receded some but is still much higher than it was before the storm. We now have some areas that are much cleaner than they have been in a long time. This allows for better sight fishing for the redfish and seatrout. On yesterday's trip, we encountered numerous large schools of redfish tailing happily. Every cast that made it to the school was rewarded with an instant hookup.

redfish charters by orlando

With cooler weather coming the next few month, the fish will be feeding aggressively and hopefully more of the water will continue to clear up. Throughout the winter, we will be targeting redfish, seatrout, and black drum. Some of the biggest trout of the year can be found on the shallow flats during the winter. They can be caught on both spinning and fly fishing tackle. Plan your vacation away from the freezing temps and book a trip in Sunny Florida this winter.

August 22, 2016 The sight fishing for redfish and big seatrout has been incredible. The tailing redfish action the past month is as good as I have seen it. Tightly packed schools of redfish are foraging in less than 18 inches of water and will bite nearly anything you show them. Big trout have been shadowing the redfish schools and will often bite your lure the second it hits the water. We have also bee seeing giant trout cruising and finning on the shallow flats. The trout will eat the same flies and lures as the redfish. This 28 inch plus fish ate a redfish worm fly.

seatrout fly fishing charters

Eleven year old Victoria caught this nice redfish on her first fishing trip.
redfish charters close to orlando

Tanner and his father had an outstanding Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Charter catching a bunch of redfish, including several double hookups.
mosquito lagoon redfish charter guide

mosquito lagoon redfish double

In addition to the tailing redfish, there are also plenty of cruising fish you can see on sunny days with polarized glasses. Since our water is stained, many of these fish are hooked less than fifteen feet from the boat. Short quick casts with DOA shrimp or CAL lures have been resulting in lots of fish over ten pounds being hooked.

August 6, 2016 The excellent sight fishing for tailing redfish has continued in the Mosquito Lagoon. Redfish ranging from 4 pounds to over 40 pounds have been showing us their tails when the winds have been calm. This allows anglers to see exactly where the fish are and know they are casting to a fish that is eating at that exact moment. For those using spinning tackle. a small lure like the DOA shrimp or the 3 inch DOA shad tail on a light jighead will work every time. For the fly fishing anglers, I have been using a rattle bendback fly or a redfish worm fly. 5 and 7wt rods will work for the average fish and an 8 or 9wt if you are targeting the big boys.

Big seatrout have been on the same flats as the redfish. Occasionally, they can be seen tailing in the shallow grass as well. They will eat the same lures and flies that the redfish do or you can blind cast for them using a larger lure like a 5.5 inch CAL or Baitbuster. Black drum in the 5 to 15 pound range have been showing up some days as well. The are caught most consistently using pieces of shrimp, crab, or clam. Get the bait on the bottom in front of the school and do not move it.


redfish fishing charters

light tackle fishing mosquito lagoon

big redfish near orlando

>inshore saltwater fishing charters

>fishing near disney world

My fishing charters including everything you need except food and drink. Don't wait! Book you trip today.

July 15, 2016 The sight fishing has been outstanding on the Mosquito Lagoon recently. Redfish, black drum, and big trout have all been caught on the shallow flats. Calm weather has made it easy to spot redfish tailing and cruising from long distances. The DOA Baitbuster, the DOA Shrimp, and the 5.5" CAL jerkbaits have been producing well. This pattern should continue for the foreseeable future so book your fishing charter today!! I offer light tackle and fly fishing charters only one hour from Orlando and Disney targeting saltwater fish on the flats on Mosquito Lagoon all year round.

drum fishing charters

bull redfish fishing charters

mosquito lagoon snook

black drum double

mosquito lagoon bull redfish charters

mosquito lagoon bull redfish guide

drum fishing guide florida

seatrout fishing charters

florida fishing charters

July 6, 2016 The weather is heating up but so is the fishing. The toxic green/blue algae bloom widely discussed on national news is over 100 miles south of us and has no effect on the fishing in the Mosquito Lagoon, the northern Indian River Lagoon, and the Atlantic beaches in Central Florida. Seatrout have been active at first light around schools of mullet. Big redfish have been both on the flats and along the sandbars. The outside edge of George's Bar has been holding giant redfish. Use big chunks of baitfish on the bottom. On the shallow flats, the redfish and drum have been tailing and cruising. Short accurate casts have been needed to get the bite. The DOA shrimp, and the CAL jerkbait are good lures for presenting to these wary fish. I use a 20lb fluorocarbon leader and tie my lures on with the best fishing loop knot, the canoeman loop. This pattern should continue for the next 4-8 weeks.

redfish near orlando

black drum central florida

mosquito lagoon snook

spotted seatrout in mosquito lagoon

June 17, 2016 After enjoying a couple weeks of vacation for myself, it is back to fishing the flats and beaches here in central Florida. Despite the high temperatures, the fish are still happy and feeding. On the inshore side, redfish have been tailing in Mosquito Lagoon providing good targets for both spin and fly fishermen. Mosquito Lagoon Fly Fishing has been outstanding. Nearly any fly you can get in front of them will get eaten when they are tailing. Quick accurate casts are much more important than fly or lure selection. In the other lagoons, small tarpon can be found rolling in shallow water offering great light tackle and fly fishing action. When seas allow, the fishing has been hot along the Atlantic Coast beaches, especially out of Port Canaveral near Cocoa Beach. Tarpon, jack crevalle, little tunny, king mackerel, sharks, and more are shadowing the bait pods. This time of year offers the biggest variety of fishing options here. Book your fishing trip today!

redfish on fly

cocoa beach tunny

May 13, 2016 Fishing was good both inshore in the Mosquito Lagoon and nearshore along the beaches out of Port Canaveral. Both of the locations are excellent for fishing near Cocoa Beach. Now that we are entering a more stable weather pattern, the seas are generally more calm allowing for some nearshore fishing in the flats boat. Cruising just a couple hundred yards or less off the beach, you can encounter tarpon, sharks, jack crevalle, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and more. This week we had nonstop action with bluefish on both fly and light spinning tackle. Check out my video on fly fishing for bluefish. We saw a few cobia and got into a huge school of hard fighting jack crevalle. Kingfish were a mile or two out in 40-60 feet around the bait schools.

cocoa beach jack crevalle

port canaveral kingfish

On the Mosquito Lagoon, both redfish and black drum were tailing on the flats. Seatrout could be found hanging around the spoil islands and under schools of finger mullet. Calm conditions made for some excellent sight fishing for the reds and drum. Trout were caught blind casting jerkbaits on the flats and using the DOA Deadly Combo around the spoil islands.

mosquito lagoon giant red drum

mosquito lagoon black drum

Both the inshore and nearshore fishing will remain productive during the next few months. As you can see there is something for everyone, not to mention all the great wildlife we encounter while on fishing trips. Anglers wanting to fish multiple days can add some variety to their trip by doing a day of each type of fishing.

April 25, 2016 Mosquito Lagoon has been excellent for tailing redfish and giant seatrout over the past couple weeks. Despite the improper media reports of a fish kill, there have been no dead fish here. There was a fish kill in an area of the Banana River which is nowhere near the fishing in Mosquito Lagoon. While the water clarity levels have been less than desirable. the fish are here, healthy, and eating. The fish are feeding aggressively now that we are in the more stable weather pattern of spring. Our main targets have been redfish and seatrout. Baitfish are returning to the lagoon system and the fish are eating nearly everything that moves. This is a great time for anglers wanting to target the classic tailing Mosquito Lagoon redfish with flyrods or light spinning gear. The trophy sized seatrout have been coming while blind casting DOA CAL lures or the DOA shallow running Baitbuster lure in likely areas. Book your saltwater flats fishing trip in Mosquito Lagoon today. The weather is great and the fishing is too!

mosquito lagoon giant trout

april mosquito lagoon redfish

mosquito lagoon april tailing redfish

March 14, 2016 Lighter winds this past week helped create some of the cleanest water conditions we have seen in a while. While more sun would have made the sight fishing better, tailing and waking fish on the shallow flats could be spotted each day. Redfish and trout have been the primary species. The first few waves of finger mullet have began making their way back into the area. As more baitfish return, the topwater bite will begin to improve. Soon it will be time to break out the DOA Baitbuster lure. Right now, we have been using the 5.5" CAL for most of the casting.
The widely reported mysterious fish kill has fortunately not affected the Mosquito Lagoon or northern end of the Indian River Lagoon where I have been fishing. I was out every day this week and did not see a single dead fish in any of the places I traveled. That issue has been further south and much of it in the Banana River near Cocoa Beach.

mosquito lagoon double header

mosquito lagoon seatrout

mosquito lagoon red drum fishing

March 14, 2016 The breezy conditions common in March have certainly been prevalent the past couple weeks. The redfish, however, have not seemed to mind and have been tailing aggressively on the shallow flats. These pods of tailing fish have made for some of the easiest fishing the Lagoon has to offer especially for the fly fishing anglers. The smaller pods, however, require accurate casts as the fish are all looking down in the grass and mud digging for shrimp. Casts that miss the mark my a foot or two may go unseen. Casts that hit the mark will get a bite every time. Double hookups are a cinch when targeting these pods of fish. Some days the black drum make an appearance. On others, they remain in the deep water hidden from view. A few seatrout have been in the mix as well along the edges of the flats. The DOA 2.75 and 3" shrimp have been working well for the tailing redfish. The DOA 5.5 CAL with a rattle inserted in the tail has been an excellent bait this month as well. While these fish will eat live and frozen shrimp, there is no need for them as they will readily eat plastic and flies which can be cast more effectively and stay on the hook better.
mosquito lagoon tailing redfish

redfish guide near disney world

redfish guide near new smyrna beach

redfish guide near daytona beach

black drum mosquito lagoon

February 7, 2016 This month often brings the coldest weather of the year which will help to clear up the water allowing for some good sight fishing. The redfish and seatrout action in the Mosquito Lagoon the past few weeks has been very good. When the water temperature remains cool, the large seatrout have been lying in shallow sand spots. We have been catching them on both bendback flies and DOA CAL lures. Redfish have been in the same places. In addition, there have been some excellent pods of tailing redfish making for some easy fly fishing opportunities. These fish are so busy digging in the grass for shrimp they allow us to get within 30 feet without even noticing. Nearly anything brought into their zone is instantly eaten. Black drum have also been tailing on calm days. These fish are much less aggressive than redfish but will take flies drug along the bottom as well as crabs and shrimp. If you are going to be visiting for the Daytona 500, give me a call. This is the best fishing near Daytona Beach.
mosquito lagoon trout on fly

redfish on bendback fly in mosquito lagoon

redfish - red drum

January 5, 2016 A strong winter cold front has finally pushed through the region, the first one of the winter season. The accompanying high winds and cool temperatures should have a positive effect on the lagoons. The cooler water temps should kill off some of the algae that has been clouding the water. The strong north winds have already pushed out a lot of water bringing the water levels closer to normal. Winter in Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River is know for clear low water with excellent sight fishing for redfish, trout, and drum. The past couple weeks have brought some phenomenal tailing redfish action. Anglers casting both flyrods and soft plastics have been catching multiple redfish on the flats. When the winds calm down, the fish should be feeding aggressively. Book your winter/spring flats fishing trip now.
two red drum in msquito lagoon

bull redfish

December 12, 2015 We have still not experienced a significant cold front yet this year but there has been plenty of wind and clouds. The waters temperatures in Mosquito Lagoon are hovering around 68-70 degrees. This has not been cold enough to kill off all the summer algae but there are some pockets of clear water to be found. The redfish and trout have been aggressive this week and have been rushing to eat a well placed DOA shrimp or CAL lure. Along th spoil islands, a DOA Deadly Combo has been catching large numbers of seatrout in 2-4 feet of water. Tailing redfish have been seen on some flats but in many of the places the water is too deep to see the tail all the way out of the water. Look for this great bite to continue throughout the month.
Indian River Lagoon Redfish

Indian River Lagoon Redfish

November 5, 2015 The high water has persisted as there has not been enough northwest winds to blow it out of the Lagoons. In Mosquito Lagoon, all of the water south of Oak Hill is dirty and sight fishing is nearly impossible. Blind casting a DLOA CAL with a Woodies rattle has been effective for redfish. Shorelines, points, and sandbars have been holding fish. Some clean water can be found in parts of the Indian River. Redfish, seatrout, snook, tarpon, and jack crevalle have been cruising the shorelines. This week, both the 3" CAL lure on a jighead as well as a small shrimp fly was working well. Water temperatures are still in the 80's and the finger mullet are plentiful. Until we get a significant cold front, this same patter should continue.
Indian River Lagoon Redfish

indian river jack crevalle

red drum indian river

October 23, 2015 Jack's Grandfather wanted him to experience catching some redfish. Before this trip, his biggest fish was a 13" catfish. While we didn't catch and monsters, jack's first few redfish have him hooked on saltwater fishing.
red drum mosquito lagoon

red drum mosquito fishing guide

October 10, 2015I thought the water was high last month but now it is even a foot higher. Our water is higher than it has been in over five years. The influx of new water has cleared out some of the algae, however, making the water much cleaner than it has been most of the summer. Lots of clouds have been plaguing us lately making sight fishing difficult. Blind casting or fishing with baits has been the best bet. Redfish are the main target with trout and black drum in the mix as well.
mosquito lagoon redfish

mosquito lagoon redfish

mosquito lagoon redfish

September 18, 2015. Almost a week of rain has cause the Mosquito Lagoon to rise at least ten inches. Water temperatures, which had been in the mid 80's at daybreak and 90 by afternoon, were down in the upper 70's. Heavy clouds and high water combined with the algae made for some tough sight fishing conditions today. The redfish were few and far between after the passing of the front. Fortunately, the seatrout were feeding aggressively. The DOA Deadly Combo was working the best. My clients caught numerous trout along the outside edge of the sandbars in 2-4 feet of water. The key to getting the bite was not to work the setup too fast. This is a noisemaker cork with a plastic shrimp below it. If the cork is not allowed to rest, the shrimp does not sink down and you do not get as many bites. Quick short pops with a couple second pause was most effective. For next week, I will be returning to the Indian River and Banana River where the water is much cleaner. It will most likely take a sustained period of water temperatures below 65 to clean up Mosquito Lagoon.

September 10, 2015. Redfish, seatrout, and tarpon are the main targets this month. The tarpon in the lagoons have been from 5-25 pounds and have been happy to eat a variety of flies as well as soft plastics. In the morning, we have been using topwater flies such as gurglers and poppers on #2 hooks with a weed guard. Midday, the fish can be found laid up in shallow water and will eat unweighted bunny strips, shrimp patterns, or small minnow imitations. For the spinning tackle anglers, a 3" DOA CAL tail with a chughead in the morning has been getting blasted. later one we remove the chughead and reel the lure steadily just below the surface.

Redfish have been tailing throughout the day in all three lagoons. The Mosquito Lagoon has extremely poor visibility due to an algae bloom. In order to sight fish there, you will need to have tailing fish or see them pushing water. Much of the fishing I have been doing this month has been in the Indian River and Banana River Lagoon where this is still plenty of clean water for great sight fishing. Redfish and tarpon have been the main targets on the flats. For those that want some fast action on light tackle, huge schools of ladyfish can often be found in the deeper waters in a feeding frenzy. These hard fighting fish will bite anything that moves and put on a great aerial display. With the fall bait run getting started, mullet imitations such as a shallow running DOA Baitbuster reeled along the surface will draw some spectacular bites. This is the time of year when even the commonly finicky giant bull redfish will fight over a lure.

July 2015 This is one of the hottest months of the year but the fish do not mind. Our fish are accustomed to high water temperatures and still need to eat. This month brings an increase in the tarpon, both juvenile and full grown. They can bee seen rolling on calm mornings. I prefer to throw DOA Baitbuster lures are the big fish and 1/4 ounce shrimp or 3" CAL tails at the smaller ones. If you have never fished for them, they can sometimes be extremely frustrating but once you hook one you will quickly know why many people are obsessed with catching them. Many of the redfish we have been encountering are single fish, often tailing during calm conditions. Soft accurate presentations with a DOA shrimp is an excellent way to target these fish. Mosquito Lagoon has poor visibility but there are many areas of the Indian and Banana River which are crystal clear. On sunny days, tarpon and redfish can be sight fished on the same flats. Fly fishing anglers have been using rabbit strip flies or small shrimp patterns for both. If you expect to encounter tarpon, use at least a 30lb bite tippet.

June 26, 2015Big redfish have been cruising in very shallow water in the Mosquito Lagoon. On calm days, you can spot the backs and tails of these fish breaking the surface. many of these fish are from 20-40 pounds and are in less than two feet of water. Extreme stealth is required when trying to get close enough to them to make a cast. The DOA shrimp or the 3" DOA CAL lure have been the preferred lure. This redfish was caught at 1pm in 90 degree water.
mosquito lagoon bull redfish

June 1, 2015 Black drum have continued to dominate in Mosquito Lagoon. Nearly every morning, big schools of black drum can be found tailing on the shallow flats. As most mornings are slick calm, these fish are easily spooked by noises on the deck of the boat. Whatever you are using as bait must land well beyond the schools to avoid blowing them up. Shrimp have been the most reliable bait but these fish make excellent targets for fly anglers as well.


black drum in mosquito lagoon

April 24, 2015 Black drum and redfish have been keeping anglers occupied lately in the Mosquito Lagoon. Schools of drum with over 500 fish are a common sight each morning. As long as too many boats do not move in and scare them off, it is easy to get double hookups from these massive schools. Shrimp has been working best for the spinning tackle anglers but black weighted flies will catch fish as well. In addition to the drum, schools of redfish as well as single redfish, can be found in the same area. These fish will eat both soft plastic baits and flies. Sight fishing is most effective, i.e., casting to fish you can see close to the boat. This redfish grabbed a Capt. Mike's mullet spoon.

saltwater redfish guide
April 3, 2015 Great fishing continues in Mosquito Lagoon. The spring schools of redfish and black drum have not disappointed. Some days, there is a school of fish in every direction. The fish below were caught on the same flat with the same tackle. The darker fish is a black drum and the other is its cousin, the redfish, or red drum. To find these fish, one must be able to access shallow water as most of them are being caught in less than two feet of water. We are using light tackle spinning rods with 10 pound braided line.
fishing near disney world

fishing trips cocoa beach