• Mosquito Coast Fishing Report - FL

    Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Charters
    (407) 416-1187 http://www.irl-fishing.com/ mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com
  • I’m a Central Florida native with lifetime of experience fishing the in-shore flats of the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon systems. I also charter in the near-shore coastal waters and inlets, and the inland fresh water lakes and rivers of Central Florida.

  • Mosquito Coast Fishing Report - FL

    The Fall Mullet Run Arrive


    As hurricane seasons wanes off Florida’s east central coast, passing summer squalls and higher water levels have impacted our seasonal fishing. Combined with a prevailing northeasterly fetch, these high water levels have arrived Indian River Lagoon and St Johns River.




    The love bugs hatching, acorns dropping and my fall flora in full bloom are all signs of our seasonal changes and indications my favorite time of year to fish has arrived. Fall has arrived as masses of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) have begun their southerly migration in search of warmer waters. This migration creates a buffet of yummy baitfish heading south, shadowed by a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter.

    Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2019
    POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 IN FISHING REPORTS















    The Fall Mullet Run Arrive


    As hurricane seasons wanes off Florida’s east central coast, passing summer squalls and higher water levels have impacted our seasonal fishing. Combined with a prevailing northeasterly fetch, these high water levels have arrived Indian River Lagoon and St Johns River.


    The love bugs hatching, acorns dropping and my fall flora in full bloom are all signs of our seasonal changes and indications my favorite time of year to fish has arrived. Fall has arrived as masses of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) have begun their southerly migration in search of warmer waters. This migration creates a buffet of yummy baitfish heading south, shadowed by a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter.





    If ocean conditions permit, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf has improved as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up bringing Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and large tarpon with them. For the past several weeks our sea state has been angry with elevated wave heights, so keep a close eye on the weather and watch for calmer seas.


    One of my favorite techniques for catching snook and redfish in the surf is to match the hatch using live finger mullet in the surf. To do this, you first need the ability to keep your bait alive. For me, I simply use a cast net to catch bait and keep it alive in an aerated bait bucket. You can also purchase live finger mullet in most bait shops Like Captain Hooks in Titusville or Chum-it-up Bait and Tackle in Port Canaveral. Lively bait is the key to success in this situation.


    When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, matching the run. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait drift along in the direction of tidal flow. My rig consists of a #3 Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook, a one-ounce barrel sinker, and a 24″ section of 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader. I also prefer to use 20-pound test braided high-vis Courtland line to improve sensitivity and avoid line twist. First, slide the barrel sinker onto the terminal end of your braided line, and then splice in the leader, the knot will allow the sinker to slide freely up the braided line, keeping it off of the leader and the hook. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Make sure your reel has the strength and line capacity to handle a large fish, so you don’t get spooled.


    The inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian are good locations to target flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish all feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. Easterly swells, elevated and falling tides and aggressive anglers can make for challenging angling conditions, so please pay attention, be patient, and enjoy the rewards. Remember when fishing in these challenging conditions to keep your engine running and someone positioned at the helm ready to react if needed, wear your kill switch and be careful anchoring in swift currents.



    Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2019
    POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 IN FISHING REPORTS















    The Fall Mullet Run Arrive


    As hurricane seasons wanes off Florida’s east central coast, passing summer squalls and higher water levels have impacted our seasonal fishing. Combined with a prevailing northeasterly fetch, these high water levels have arrived Indian River Lagoon and St Johns River.


    The love bugs hatching, acorns dropping and my fall flora in full bloom are all signs of our seasonal changes and indications my favorite time of year to fish has arrived. Fall has arrived as masses of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) have begun their southerly migration in search of warmer waters. This migration creates a buffet of yummy baitfish heading south, shadowed by a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter.






    If ocean conditions permit, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf has improved as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up bringing Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and large tarpon with them. For the past several weeks our sea state has been angry with elevated wave heights, so keep a close eye on the weather and watch for calmer seas.


    One of my favorite techniques for catching snook and redfish in the surf is to match the hatch using live finger mullet in the surf. To do this, you first need the ability to keep your bait alive. For me, I simply use a cast net to catch bait and keep it alive in an aerated bait bucket. You can also purchase live finger mullet in most bait shops Like Captain Hooks in Titusville or Chum-it-up Bait and Tackle in Port Canaveral. Lively bait is the key to success in this situation.


    When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, matching the run. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait drift along in the direction of tidal flow. My rig consists of a #3 Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook, a one-ounce barrel sinker, and a 24″ section of 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader. I also prefer to use 20-pound test braided high-vis Courtland line to improve sensitivity and avoid line twist. First, slide the barrel sinker onto the terminal end of your braided line, and then splice in the leader, the knot will allow the sinker to slide freely up the braided line, keeping it off of the leader and the hook. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Make sure your reel has the strength and line capacity to handle a large fish, so you don’t get spooled.


    The inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian are good locations to target flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish all feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. Easterly swells, elevated and falling tides and aggressive anglers can make for challenging angling conditions, so please pay attention, be patient, and enjoy the rewards. Remember when fishing in these challenging conditions to keep your engine running and someone positioned at the helm ready to react if needed, wear your kill switch and be careful anchoring in swift currents.
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