Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River:

Since the cold front, the bite in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River has been pretty good for black drum, sheepshead, sea trout and redfish.

The freezing weather we experienced in East Central Florida a couple weeks ago lowered water temperatures in the lagoon system and cleared up the water for some great sight fishing, however, in many areas it was also responsible for killing a lot of snook and tarpon.  

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The redfish and black drum bite in the Mosquito Lagoon just before the front hit was a little bit slow but several nice schools of drum were found by anglers poling along the flats in the south and middle sections of the lagoon.  Live shrimp and cut baits were baits of choice on these fish.

The warming trend we have been experiencing for the past week or so is gradually raising the water temperatures into the 65 to 66 degree range which will greatly improve the bite for all our inshore species.  With the relatively consistent weather conditions forecast for the next couple of weeks, the bite along the Space Coast should significantly improve

As of this post, the black drum and redfish are still schooled up in the Mosquito Lagoon but they are very spooky.  Tolling motors are out definitely out of the question with poling as the best option to get up on a school. Using lighter tackle with long casts is suggested when targeting these fish.

Some of the schools we encountered are mixed drum and redfish.   Live baits are generally working better than artificial baits right now but plastic DOA Shrimp and Creme Paddletail baits have been producing well around the schools, especially when smeared up with some lasting scent like Pro-Cure Inshore formula gel.

Heavyweight oversize black drum will be staging around Brevard's causeways in the Indian and Banana River lagoons this month.    Look for them among the pilings and sunken structure in deeper areas of the lagoon particularly where there is an abundance of crabs, shrimp, or oysters.  

East Central Florida anglers can expect to catch drum in the 20 to 40 pound or more category in these areas especially at night or during low light conditions with whole, or half of a fresh blue crab as the bait of choice.
 

Although bank fishermen have access to oversize black drum around the bridge pilings and deep water docks in our area, the best way to ensure landing one of these brutes is fishing from a boat with stout tackle.     

One ounce sliding sinker rigs with 6/0 circle hooks on 50 pound fluorocarbon leaders tied to at least 50 pound Power Pro or other braid to minimize break offs is a good setup to use around bridge pilings.  It pays to have a couple of lighter rigs on board for mangrove snapper and smaller slot size drum.

Black drum in the 30 to 60 pound class normally spawn in the 3 to 6 foot deep flats of the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon this month.   Most Indian River drum caught in these deeper flats have been running in the 30 to 50 pound category.

Cut blue crab, select jumbo shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or any live crustacean will catch drum and redfish.  A large live shrimp on a jig head pulled slowly along the bottom works really well to locate them.

The mud flats along East Gator Creek (Click on pic below) generally hold small pods of black drum, often mixed with small "rat" redfish.   During the late afternoon hours you can occasionally see them pushing wakes tight along the bank within easy casting range.   Most of the drum caught in this area and around Catfish Creek are in the 16 to 24 inch category, with a few well over that size.

Although most bank fishermen use live shrimp on a sliding sinker rig, a freelined shrimp with a small split shot is deadly when you can sight cast them.

The snook bite along the Space Coast is usually quite productive in our area however this last cold front put the ones that survived the temperatures in a state of shock.  

The key to success is finding areas with a mix of deep water, shallow water, and structure that blocks the wind and provides choke points that predatory fish can use to ambush bait fish or shrimp.

The Thousand Islands Conservation Area in Cocoa Beach.has many areas that satisfy these conditions and has tons of smaller sea trout, redfish and snook.   Because of the shallower water in this area, shallow draft technical skiffs, kayaks, and canoes are the best way to access fish on the flats. 

The fish have been congregating around ambush points near schools of baitfish in shallow waters and close to the mangrove roots.   Freelined jumbo shrimp have been working best on these fish.  A frisky live shrimp tipped on a jig head will also produce good results on black drum as well as snook, slot redfish, and larger sea trout if they are in the area.

The deeper waters along the mangrove drop offs will normally hold snook, smaller to slot size sea trout, and sheepshead that feed on the  barnacles growing on the mangrove roots.    

Skip casting dark colored Tsunami 3.5″ paddle tail baits, D.O.A. jerkbaits,  3 1/2" paddle tail baits on 1/8th oz. jig heads, or 5" jerk shads on 1/8th oz. weedless hooks is a good way  to get hookups when the fish are tight under the mangroves.

Peeled shrimp and sand fleas will usually get you a hookup on the sheepshead if they're in the area.

When the baitfish start coming into the lagoon system later in the month, expect the topwater bite to start picking up for big female speckled sea trout.  

Tossing topwater baits like the Chug Bug, Badonk-A-Donk, Skitter Walk, Zara Spook, etc. during the morning hours, and plastic swim baits like Creme's Spoiler Shad, D.O.A. Cal Shad Tails, and saltwater Shad Assassin baits during the late morning hours into the afternoon has been the proven tactic for catching them.   

As far as lure size is concerned; 3″ and 5″ baits work well but the larger fish go for larger baits.

Lone gator sea trout can usually be found following the bait pods and are frequently found swimming among the schools of redfish and black drum that cruise the ledges adjacent to the shallower flats.

Live croakers, pinfish, fingerling mullet, and jumbo shrimp are all great baits for large gator trout, especially when fished under a noisy Cajun Thunder type float.   

Sheepshead are still plentiful around the bridge pilings, sea walls, coquina outcroppings, and rocky jetties in our area and you don't need fancy tackle to catch them.  

Most anglers fish for them with single hook dropper loop bottom rigs made of 20 pound fluorocarbon and a 1 or 2 oz bank sinker, with a loop knot above the weight and a sharp No. 1 or No. 2 hook.  Fishing the rig just off the bottom around structure keeps tension on the line and allows you to feel even the slightest bite.

 
Port Canaveral Nearshore and Offshore: