fishing for spotted sea trout has been great throughout the month of July for anglers using top water plugs in early morning and late afternoon hours, and at night 

 

The trick for catching the biggest sea trout is to be on the water before daybreak and to cast around the pods of finger mullet.

 

Unfortunately water quality issues exist in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River lagoon systems that may slow down the trout fishing considerably.  Currently, a moderate alga bloom has moved into the Mosquito and North Indian River Lagoons creating a low dissolved oxygen condition that has caused moderate fish kills in some locations.

 

The sea trout fishing during August will probably be slow regardless of what type bait you use. Your best bet will be to fish a live bait for sea trout and a freshly chunked up  ladyfish,  finger mullet or pinfish for redfish.

 

For me, live bait fishing is boring but if you drop a fresh cut chunk of bait in or around a pothole, you will eventually hook up with a fish.

 

Scented soft baits will also work if you use a super slow retrieve and have the patience to keep casting to likely looking spots. 

 

Avoid casting into the middle of the potholes if you're using artificial baits.  You will hook more fish if you cast slightly past the potholes and bring your baits into the open areas with a lifelike swimming action. 

 

Shiloh Road is still not open for vehicle traffic, and the reports of bull redfish and large gator trout that we usually get this time of year for this area are few and far between. 

 

This could be due to the algae bloom or just because of the road closure.

 

The people we contacted at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge said that the road closure was due to repairs they plan on making, however they would not commit to any opening date.

 

For now if you plan on fishing this area from land and don't feel like hiking to your spot or riding a bike, you will need a shallow draft boat. 

 

Mosquito Lagoon fishing in August will slow down a bit because of the algae bloom but mainly because of the increase in fishing pressure that normally occurs during the summer months.

On the flats in the early morning hours, late afternoon and at night, concentrate your efforts in areas of mullet schools with top water plugs.  

 

Once the sun gets hot and the top water bite slows down, switch to fishing jigs like the 3"DOA CAL Shad or a Berkley paddle tail bait on the deeper edges of the flats.

 

July and August is the time of the year when large schools of ladyfish and smaller "schoolie" sea trout shadow schools of glass minnows. 

 

Large schools of ladyfish, sea trout and tarpon will be pushing the schools of glass minnows near the surface in deeper water.

 

I like catching them with small  Chug Bugs, small gold or silver spoons and streamers on a fly rod when conditions are right.  Ladyfish like a fast retrieve so if they're not hitting your baits, try cranking up the speed. Also look for tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface in the deeper channels.

 

August is also when you can start looking for the pompano schools to start moving into the shadows around the causeway bridges.  A well placed small jig sweetened with either a sand flea or bit of fresh shrimp will provide a tasty meal.

The Haulover Canal area remains one of the best bets for hooking up with a huge Bull Redfish this time of year and even gag grouper if you fish the ledges inside the canal.

 

 

Big reds move into the cooler depths and will take live pinfish, croaker, pigfish or finger mullet as well as cut baits.

 

If you fish from the banks of the canal,  be careful of the coquina when landing your fish. 

 

I have lost more than one bull redfish after a sustained battle as it broke off on the sharp outcroppings that are out from the bank.

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