Mosquito Lagoon (Biolab 5/21/11)

Went back out to Biolab ramp this weekend, to try the spot I had good luck at last time. Weather was nice but it turned out to be a slow day. I caught probably 4-5 lady fish. I landed a real nice flounder. I would say it is the largest flounder I have ever caught. I almost took it home but it was early on in the trip. I went at least 2 hours before I caught anything. I was on my way back to the ramp and stopped off at this little island that I usually have success at. Beached the yak, and fished around the island. I landed one decent red then called it a day.

Great Day at Biolab

I went out to the mosquito lagoon this morning at about 8:30-9:00 am. The wind was coming in from the North at about 8-10 mph. I picked up some fresh dead shrimp at the bait shop on my way. I wanted to try to free line shrimp on a circle hook on one rod and use a top water plug (chug bug) on the other. I put in at Biolab boat ramp, and went north into the wind. I got one hit on the top water then nothing. It was too windy to free line the shrimp, so I put them on a jig head. Still nothing but bait fish stealing my shrimp. It was time to go to my standard 4" Gulp Shrimp. First cast BAM nice red. Then a few more cast another red. This went on for about 45 minutes. Then I hooked up to a Bull Red. This guy wanted nothing to do with me. As soon as he saw the kayak he took off for about a 30-40 yard run. I put some tension on the reel got him close to the yak, and then he took off again. This fish put up a great fight! After I released that fish I caught a few more then I caught one that was hooked in a bad spot and was bleeding badly. Now, I'm not a fish eater, but I have heard reds are good eating. So in the yak it went. I cooked it with some Cajun seasoning and lemon juice. It was pretty good. It was a great day on the water!

The mornig just before I put in.

Biggest Fish of the Day!

Lady Fish, small but very acrobatic.

Secret Snook Spot round 2... No Bueno.

Tried the Secret snook spot again today where I met up with B-Mills. Nothing was happening so we went exploring back into the marshes of Merritt Island. We saw nothing but mullet and super muddy water. So we decided to go back where we knew fish were. At the beginning of our first pass of the mangroves Mills hooks up. Its a Snook! And  a good one at that. The fish pulled Mills right into the mangroves, but he pulled it out before it could cut him off. We fished on but no more luck, I ended the day with a big fat skunk. Oh, well it was still better than sittin at home doin laundry and watchin TV.

The Highlight of the day was defiantly when B was kneeling in his yak, while we were exploring the muddy waters, thought he had a bite and did his signature super hook set and flew right out of his boat! It was hysterical! Flip flops floating around reel went for a swim. Classic!



New Spot in Merritt Island

I got a tip on a new spot from a couple locals that I work with (B-mills & Bonnar). They said that this spot is loaded with Snook. Turns out it was loaded with Lady fish,Trout, and Manatees. I got a late start, didn't get out on the water until about 11ish (strike one). The wind was coming out of the west (strike two, I never do good when its a west wind). Plus it was pretty windy (strike 3). I caught most of the fish with a white and brownish paddle tail on a jig head that I launched into the mangroves when my line cut through my leader. B-Mills said he caught 5 Snook the day before....figures. Here are some pics.

Mosquito Lagoon 3/20/2011

Last night was the closest the moon has been to earth in like 18 years. So I was curious how that would effect fishing. Answer: I still don't know. I saw some fish but only caught 2. I cruised the flats and nothing but some pinfish nibbles. I decided to go back near the canal I came out of and saw some fish jumping. I felt a bite and  then nothing, I reeled in and there was a flounder at the end of my line. I would have gotten a pic but as soon as I went to grab hold of it the flounder came off. Then I saw a large fish hit something, I dropped anchor. Made a few cast then out of the corner of my eye I saw fish upon further inspection it was a good sized school of Redfish coming right for me. I threw my Gulp shrimp in their direction and pulled one out.

I only land 1 so I put a few pics of the same fish on this post.

Last weekend I went to BioLab boat ramp on the Mosquito Lagoon. According to the weather channel web page the wind was 5-7 knots out of the SSE. Wrong! More like 10-15 knots out of the East. The chop on the water was not too bad so I went for it. It was a slow day but I managed a few fish. Got a nice trout.

Next I landed a nice red who hit my bait the second it hit the water. This one must hang out in the sand he was really lightly colored, but its tail was nice and blue. 

 It was a beautiful day out.

 On my way back to the ramp I hooked up with a real nice flounder. These are some of the weirdest looking fish I have ever seen. They blend in perfectly with the sandy bottom. Underneath they are completely white and of course the two eyes on one side of their head always amazes me. They also have some teeth as you can see.



I went beach fishing after work a couple weeks ago at south 8th street in Cocoa Beach. I was using frozen mullet on a circle hook and a unique weight that you can see in the top of the picture. I got the weight from a local bait shop where they make them (at least that's what they told me).  I had no bites and was about to leave when I gave the line some slack and then felt a bite. After a nice fight I reeled in a nice Bluefish. Its was pretty hard to unhook this dude in the dark I was just waiting for him to chomp down on my thumb. These things have some serious teeth, and are very aggressive

From Wiki: "Bluefish are found off Florida in the winter months. By April, they have disappeared, heading north. By June, they may be found off Massachusetts; in years of high abundance, stragglers may be found as far north as Nova Scotia. By October, they leave New England waters, heading south. They are also present in the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year."

Saturday 1/15/11 Indian River Lagoon

Drove out to the MINWR (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge) and put in down a tiny dirt road near Haulover Canal.

I spent most of the day having only landed one small trout. I was fine with that, it was just nice to be outside. It was a nice day, about 65 degrees. The wind was about 10mph NNE for most of the day. I saw an opening in the trees and went over to investigate. Turns out it was a little campsite with a picnic table, a nice view, and a stuffed animal in the tree that nearly scared the crap out of me.

 I saw some fish jumping north of where I originally had put in so I paddled up to throw a line at them. Then Wham! Fish on, finally. I could tell this was no dink trout. I got it to the boat and then I immediatley paddled over to the shore, so I wouldn't drift past the spot. Took a picture, released it and cast again. Wham another fish. This went on for about 45 mins I think I must have caught 7-8 trout in that one spot. I was right in front of two guys that were too busy talking to realize that was right around the bushes catching all their fish. I then went a little farther up the shore line, 2 more. Another 20yds another trout. Then the canal ended. It was time to pack it in I had to get home to go watch the playoffs over at a friends house. I was already goning to be late.