Your May 2010 Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing Report
Published: Sat, 05/01/10
| Newsletter Issue #9 Fishing Forecast |
May 1, 2010 | |||||||
Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing | ||||||||
he Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon "gator" sea trout fishing is beginning to get hot, as the waters continue to warm up in May.
It's time to start wading for these bruisers this month as the schools of finger mullet start showing up on the flats around the sunken islands.
If there is any place in the country where you can catch yourself a world class sea trout, wading the Indian River is it; especially during the months of May and June.
 If catching a big Gator Sea Trout is on your agenda, you should definitely consider fishing the grass flats North of the NASA railroad bridge around Mims, to Scotsmoor, Fl. during the early morning hours until about 10:00 am, and again right before darkness settles in.With the opening of Shiloh Road last month; the bank fishermen, kayakers, and canoers now have easy access to the very shallow mud flats of the northern Indian River area.
Although I have not yet heard of any outstanding redfish catches being reported in the area,
 this particular area a is noted for the over 36" redfish that you often see on the television shows. The best bet for catching these big bull redfish, is to fish a live finger mullet on a 5/0 circle hook with about 36" of at least 20# flourocarbon leader in front of a swivel, and an egg sinker. Many savvy old timers use a half or whole blue crab with the pincers removed for bait, or half of a ladyfish, to get the really big bull reds.
Smaller schools of slot redfish and a few of the larger reds can bee seen roaming the flats after small crustaceans and small bait fish that are now starting to appear in greater numbers.
These fish can be caught using soft plastic artificial baits, gold spoons, and topwater lures early in the mornings. Crab patterns and Clousers are effective with fly fishermen when they can find a windless day to fish. The horseshoe crabs were doing their thing the past few weeks, and were everywhere in the Indian River and the Mosquito Lagoon. You couldn't fish a lure decently without occasionally hooking one.
My wife and I have been catching more of the larger 18" and over sea trout lately. She uses a Cajun Thunder bobber rig with shrimp for bait, and I have been using a variety of artificial lures.
May is a prime month for
getting your top water plugs blasted out of the water by hungry sow gator
trout; and when the water isn't too choppy, I like using a Chug Bug, Skitter Walk, or Super Spook, Jr. top water lure.
However, when the water conditions are as windy as they have been throughout April, I find that Creme paddletail baits, DOA CAL jerk baits, and gold spoons are better choices
Fly fishermen using any type of minnow imitation will do well in the mornings, and later on in the evenings anywhere that the night lights bring in bait fish. As I reported last month, the shallow waters around the residential docks and restaurants in Titusville are hardly ever fished; and some of the largest sea trout have been caught in these areas by wade fishermen throwing topwater plugs, and fly fishermen flipping minnow imitations. The East shore of the Indian River at Titusville, for some unknown reason is considered "fishless", but gator sea trout and slot sized redfish can usually be found in this area, along with an occasional snook when the waters warm up a bit. Black Drum are still being caught under the bridges throughout the Indian River system.
 The big females have come off their spawning cycle, but can still be found in the deep waters around the bridges and in the Haulover Canal where they languish with big bull redfish throughout the summer. Mosquito Lagoon fishing is also picking up as the waters get warmer and the fish become more aggressive. The Redfish are easier to find, however they still require a stealthy approach.
The best places to fish the South Mosquito Lagoon right now, is just about everywhere! Drop offs next to grass flats and the sandy potholes around the Whale's Tail area are producing good fish right now, and should continue well into the next month.
Again, I prefer "walking the dog" with top water plugs for large gator trout, especially in the south part of the Lagoon. I guess it's the explosive hits that keep me chucking the lures at the potholes. The single-hook Flats Candy Minnow when worked along the bars where baitfish are present is deadly. This month Mirrorlures and other minnow imitations should also be good producers.
One of the largest gator trout I have ever seen from the Mosquito Lagoon, was taken from a dropoff with a red & silver Mirrorlure . This month, croaker, grunt, pinfish, and large shrimp will so the job on trophy sow gator trout and redfish. Nothing can beat a live grunt fished under a bobber near a dropoff, for big gator trout Shrimping on the Indian River has been steadily getting better but the locals are still coming up with reasons why the shrimp aren't running like they should.
The fishing pier construction at the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway Bridge has made incredible
 progress. The pier looks like it's finished except for the electrical hookups for the street lamp type lighting. I've been trying to get information on how the fishing pier will be used, but I haven't been able to get an answer from anyone in the know. The local shrimpers, seem to be doing better than they were doing last month, and the bridge has generally been filled with local shrimpers doing their thing.
I plan to catch a few slot sized sea trout for dinner tonight, that compete for the shrimp the shrimpers try to net. With any luck, I'll have a few fillets for dinner. Playalinda Beach fishing for Pompano, whiting and bluefish is getting better. When the bait pods start
 running a bit better this month, more Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel will also be caught in the surf. The whiting are reportedly hitting better as the waters warm. Near Offshore Fishing out of Port Canaveral should get better when water temperatures hit 68 to 70 degrees.
Cobia have been arriving scattered, and when the large Manta Rays start moving a little closer inshore, they should be here in better numbers. The Cobia generally shadow the large Mantas and can be sight cast when conditions are right but the colder temperatures might have delayed the run this year.
The Big Kingfish, Tarpon, and Tripletail have been coming in this month, and will continue in increasing numbers throughout May.
When the large smoker kings of over 35 pounds appear, they'll be around the shallow water reefs and later inshore along the beaches as the big females begin their spawn.
Boaters running out of Canaveral should check out Chris Benson and 8-A reefs on the north end of Pelican Flats. Big kingfish sometimes gather in these areas en masse. Cobia are also attracted to these bait holding areas as the waters warm up later in the spring.
Kingfish and Tarpon will be following the bait pod migrations of pogies, mullet, and herring that move up and down the coast just offshore.
Till Next Month, Good Fishing & Tight Lines To You All! | ||||||||
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