East Central Florida Fishing Report

Trout fishing this weekend is good to great on the Indian River, and Mosquito Lagoon North of the Haulover Canal, and east of the spoil islands.

Some very large gator trout have been caught early in the morning on the flats east of Beacon 42 boat ramp and around the spoil islands with top water plugs.

Chug Bugs and Skitter Walks are my top water lures of choice but just about any lure the size of an injured mullet, will take one of the bruisers when manipulated properly.

I picked up several small trout yesterday, missed a huge redfish and generally had a good late afternoon outing on the Indian River around the Catfish Creek to Peacock Pocket area.

My wife missed a good redfish and caught several catfish and stingrays using her usual dead shrimp for bait under a Cajun Thunder rig.

The weather has been brutal for this time of year. With the temperature in the mid 90s, the fish are doing their early morning late evening thing like clockwork.

The Merrit Island National Wildlife drive is closed Sunday for the Hubble shuttle launch on Monday, so I don't plan on a Sunday fishing trip unless the weather changes and I can sum up enough energy to take out my Maverick.

I received a fishing report from a friend down the street said the Snook were hitting with regularity in and around Port Canaveral at night. He uses 10" long medium diving plugs and gets as close to the anchored ships and docks that is allowable under current regulations.
He's been getting some bruisers from there and along the jettys.

The snook are also being caught farther south in the surf at Patrick AFB later in the day using large finger mullet on a sliding sinker rig, about 3 to 4 feet of 30# flourocarbon leader and a 5/0 hook.

Well, as long as the shuttle goes up on time, we should have another good weekend of fishing coming up.

Till then.
Tight lines!