Scouting Bio Lab Road

Went out today scouting Bio Lab Road and a few other spots to see if the sea trout and juvenile tarpon were hitting.

Karen and I loaded Elmo and Odie and a few rods, just in case, and headed out to north Shiloh Road.

There was a lot of vehicle traffic at almost every area we visited but only a few bank fishermen.

As we drove into Shiloh Road, we were greeted with a group of pink Roseatte Spoonbills that were feeding in the shallows at the first culvert.

The water was colored a dingy brown and although we spotted a couple fish cruising the shallow creek busting on baitfish along the bank, nobody was fishing the creek area.

At the Shiloh Road barrier, a couple of people were crabbing but nothing was happening so we turned around and headed for Bio Lab road.

On the way out of the area we spotted tons of waterfowl.  Mud hens, coots, canvasbacks, snowy egrets, spoonbills, and the usual birds we see every day were out in numbers.

As we drove over Haulover Canal we saw the usual array of bank fishermen dunking baits for reds and black drum.

We entered Bio Lab road and were greeted by the large alligator who makes the first culvert his home.  

The water in the southern part of the Mosquito Lagoon was brown from the algae bloom and had a light chop from the wind.   The conditions killed any ideas I had of tossing a topwater bait around for a big sea trout.

Travelling down Bio Lab Road, I was surprised at how few bank fishermen were taking advantage of the beautiful day.  We spotted five groups of people fishing and that was it.

When we got to the two way portion of the road where I normally drive into the southernmost portion of the lagoon to fish;  the road was blocked by a concrete barrier.  Apparently the powers that be had enough of people littering around the area.

About this time, Karen suggested we head for home so I pulled onto Playalinda Beach road and headed towards Titusville.

When we got to East Gator Creek Road, I pulled in to see if there was any topwater activity on the shallow flats.

The water here was a clear and tannin stained so I parked the truck and let the "boys" out to do their duty.

While they were out I pulled out a topwater rod with a Zara Spook and started blind casting around the deeper areas surrounding the shallow flats.

After about a half dozen casts, I had a hit from either a ladyfish or a sea trout.  The fish swirled on the plug but didn't get hooked up.   Several casts later without a hit or a swirl, I packed it and the dogs up and headed for the house and dinner.

Hope to get out a few times this week to wet a line and do some serious fishing.

Till then, Tight Lines.