estuary has endured and survived many days of freezing temperatures during the month of February. 

 

The loss of spotted sea trout, snook, and tons of puffers due to the freeze in waters too shallow for the fish to get into deeper, warmer water, was pretty severe in some areas. 

 

Shiloh Road finally opened up this month for vehicle traffic,  but the reports of bull redfish and gator trout that we normally get this time of year in this area, are few and far between.   I've been picking up some slot sized trout using a variety of soft baits and gold spoons, but the female gator trout that inhabit this area have not yet started the spawn.  

 

The Sea Trout should will become the predominant species as they begin their spawn when the warmer spring weather arrives, but for now, the redfish and black drum are the primary targets.

 

The local guides should start reporting catches of heavy weight Black Drum under the bridges along the Indian River.  These 60 to 80 pound female giants, during their spawning cycle, frequent the deep water around the bridges through the end of March.

 

Two of the best bridges in this area are the railroad bridge going to the Cape just south of Mims, Fl. and the Pineda Causeway bridges that cross the Indian and Banana rivers  (SR 404).

 

The largest drum haunt the deep water along these and other bridges, and will remain in the area well into early summer.  

 

The best way to catch and hold these bruisers is with heavy tackle, large hooks and fresh blue crabs on sliding sinker rigs that you use for offshore grouper fishing.  Use minimum 50# 
test mono or Power Pro braid, and about 30 to 50 feet of 80# to 100# leader attached to a heavy swivel.  Use a 1/2 to 1 oz. barrel sinker and a 6/0 circle hook to  finish off the rig.

 

You need the long leaders to keep fish from breaking off on the encrusted pilings which is where they immediately head when hooked.

 

You can pick up the live crabs at local seafood outlets if the bait houses don't carry them.

 

Break off all the claws and hook the crab through the corner of the body.  Send the bait as close to the piling as you can and hold on!  

 

The Florida record for Black Drum is a 96 pounder caught in Fernandina Beach in 2001 and the current Florida bag limit is 4 fish in the 14" to 24" slot, with 1 fish over 24" allowed per day.

 

The Mosquito Lagoon fishing will be picking up a bit as the waters warm up.  The redfish will be getting easier to find and will still require a stealth approach due to the crystal clear water.  The windy and cold conditions this February, made for tough fishing on the Mosquito Lagoon for just about everything. 

 

Some guides I know avoided the lousy weather by soaking blue crabs in deep water sheltered areas with their clients.  A couple of 40" redfish were picked up on at least a couple of occasions.

 

The Haulover Canal area is still the best bet for huge Bull Redfish almost any time of year and even grouper if you know where the ledges are.

 

Everyone I know is waiting for the weather to even out and the water to warm up. March should bring with it great fishing conditions that we normally experience in both the Lagoons this time of year.

Live baits, particularly grunt, will "call up" gator trout that survived the cold snaps, and live shrimp always produce on the flats when the fish aren't interested in artificials.

 

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