Although the catching this time of year can be challenging for the most part due the heat and weather, the fishing is always good on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Such was the case with my adventures this past week as on more than one occasion I experienced very memorable fishing escapades with good friends and clients.

On the north Indian River Lagoon in the Titusville area, we've been starting our charters early before first light when possible to avoid the heat and to see the true beauty of the Lagoon during my favorite part of the day. Currently first light is around 0530, so we have been trying to push away from the dock by 5 am. Even though most of my clients are experienced anglers, hardly any of them have ever experienced the natural bioluminescence only seen by the darkness of night during the summer on the north IRL. This year the light show has arrived early, and as we skip across the Lagoon's surface in the predawn darkness the water comes alive with the luminescent flashes of light below us created by our movements in the water and escaping fish.


As we reach our destination and I pole my skiff on to the shallow flats, the surface of the water erupts with thousands of mullet and feeding fish, and when skill and opportunity meet the angler is often rewarded by an explosive strike on his top-water plug and the fight is on.

During this past week we have experienced a good early morning bite on top-water on both the shallow flats of the Indian River Lagoon and for freshwater bass on the St Johns River, but once the sun breaks the horizon the bite slows.



The Wonderful River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach


Annually for the past seven years I've been blessed with an invite to the DOA Lures Outdoor Writers Conference at the River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach Florida, and once again I experienced the time of my life shared with many esteemed outdoor communicators, celebrities anglers, DOA pro staff guides, and tackle industry leaders I call my friends. The event is hosted by Captain Mark Nichols and his staff from DOA Lures, and in no other place in Florida will you see hundreds of years of pure fishing experience and talent gathered in one place. Oh, did I mention the event also includes two days of fishing with DOA Guides and Pro Staff, life doesn't get any better then this.

On the first day of fishing I was honored to once again fish with my good friend and pro redfish angler Richard Charles Martniuk. I was fishing with a soon to be released G. Loomis E6X inshore rod and new Stradic FK C3000 reel spooled with the new PowerPro Super Slick 8 line. Once this new Shimano tackle is released, you should make it a point to check it out. Although the catching was slow Richard managed to put me on my best ever snook of 38-inched. You know when I mentioned earlier that skill is when luck and opportunity meet, well they met at the end of my line when this magnificent fish could not resist my 3" DOA CAL Shad Tail on a 1/4 ounce DOA Jig Head.


Richard Charles Martniuk Releases My all Time Best Snook


The photo below is a young client of mine who shared a day on the IRL with me. His name is Brady Meer from Orlando and while on a charter with his Father and brother he expressed his profound passion for bass fishing. I could tell by watching him fish that he was an excellent angler, so on our ride back to the dock I gave him a prototype bass spoon given to me by Captain Mike Hakala, owner of Aqua Dreams Living. Our deal was for Brady to send me some nice photos if the spoon if he was successful. Well, this photo was waiting on me when I logged on to the computer the very same evening. Great job Brady, and it was a pleasure fishing with you and your family.

Brady Meer's 7.5 Pound Bass Caught on an Aqua Dreams Bass Spoon


As always, if you have questions on need more information, please contact me.