A Missile Launch And A Gator Trout In One Outing!

Went back to the north end of the Indian River Lagoon to try for some juvenile tarpon that I couldn't get to eat yesterday.

On the way in, I netted some large finger mullet, and a small ladyfish, for some insurance against fish that hate artificial lures.

As sure as the sun rises, I didn't see one blessed tarpon!

Instead I got an unplanned video of a satellite launch that was supposed to go yesterday, but was rescheduled due to weather conditions.

My wife and I tried everything to get something to bite and had absolutely no luck until we moved farther south.

We hit a stretch where some large snook were busting up on bait fish. My artificials were not doing me any good, so I tied on a lively 6" finger mullet. After about five minutes, something took my mullet in the small canal, and kept on going, only to spit it out.

That was the last bite I had all afternoon! I guess I just wasn't holding my mouth right.

On the last stop, my wife tied on a dead shrimp under a Cajun Thunder rig, and I kept on chucking my artificials. Well the results are below.

She caught a hefty 24" almost gator trout. I'm holding up the respectable fish because my wife suddenly got camera shy. To make a long story short; I still didn't get another bite all day.

Well I guess that's why they call it fishing and not catching!

I might try again tomorrow after I mow the lawn.

Tight lines to you all!

North Indian Lagoon River Fishing Report

This Friday afternoons fishing expedition proved to be pretty frustrating to say the least.
The water temperature was high and on the river side of the lagoon the water was up due to the rainfall this past week.

My wife and I fished primarily on the marsh side of Shiloh road, with little success. The water was like glass, the fish were spooky but they were feeding.

This is one trip that I tried literally every lure I had with me, with no success.

My primary target were the small tarpon and very large gator trout that I spotted in the northern part of the marsh.



There were 4 or 5 tarpon rolling, and smacking something on the surface, that I could not match with my lure selection. I tried jerk baits, top water skitter walks, jigs with gulp baits, feather jigs, creme swim baits and even my favorite D.O.A. shrimp in several colors.

All I got for my efforts was a severe case of mosquito bites and loss of blood to the little buggers.

My wife tried for several redfish that she spotted down the dirt road from where I was fishing, and had exactly the same luck that I did.

The fish were not eating what we were offering.

It looked like the tarpon were eating newly hatch fish fry of some unknown species, but even the small jigs I used to "match the hatch" didn't do any good.



With a sore arm from casting and blood loss to the mosquitoes, we left just at dusk and on the way out tried one last favorite spot.

My wife scored a trout on a dead shrimp under a popping cork and I still remained fish less.

Oh well, the scenery was great, the roseate spoonbills were in, and the sunset was awesome!

Here are some pics of the evening trip. We plan on trying again with some live bait if possible. I want one of those tarpon.


Until next time, tight lines!

North Indian River Trout Fishing Trip

With the temperature at 96 degrees today, fishing was anything but cool!

The space shuttle flight was delay again due to liquid hydrogen fuel leaks, so the dirt roads in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge were all open for fishing, photography, and fun.

The rosette spoonbills and other marsh birds were doing their thing in the shallows at the far north end of the Indian River Lagoon.

The photographers who could stand the heat were getting some great waterfowl shots, as well as photographs of the gators, that started moving abound at dusk.

After I took this little video, the little gator below started to become a pain when he began chasing my lures.

My wife and I got a late start on Sunday and didn't get out on the river until late in the afternoon. Just as well, because the temperature remained in the mid 90's until late in the day.
We fished the uppermost northern end of the Indian River Lagoon where the waters are extremely shallow.
I got my wife to try out some artificial lures and she immediately caught a trout that flipped off her Blue Creme swim bait.

I caught several legal sized trout in the shallows at the north end of the river at the beginning of Shiloh Road, and as the sun began to set, caught seven more trout over the slot limit on a white swim bait, and Shad colored Creme swim bait.


One extremely hungry under sized redfish also gobbled up a creme lure just at dusk.
If the temperature gets a bit cooler next weekend, we plan on taking out the Maverick and hitting the Mosquito Lagoon for some schooling redfish. I got a report that they were nailing them in the no motor zones.
Until then; tight lines!

North Indian River Fishing Report

The shuttle launch, that was scheduled for Saturday morning at the Cape, forced the closure of the dirt roads in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve that parallel the northeast shores of the northern Indian River.

These closures included the Peacock Pocket road, SR 406, Black Point Wildlife Preserve road, Playalinda Beach road, Bio Lab road and the road to the boat ramp at Haulover Canal. The latter was closed due to paving.

The closures remain in effect until the shuttle actually launches, which is expected to happen early Wednesday morning.

These closures put a damper on the fishing for a lot of wade and bank fishermen in the area, The areas that were available accessible were pretty crowded.

My wife and I fished a "secret" area we found on Saturday with the results already posted HERE.

We erroneously assumed that the Shiloh Marsh road, from A1A to Kennedy Parkway, would also be closed; but we were wrong.

The road had not been open since before the waterfowl hunting season last fall, but this Sunday, the cables were down.

Due to the many pot holes in the drive and the primitive road conditions, this area is never overly populated. Wheel alignments aren't cheap these days.

My wife, Elmo the wonder dog, and I got a late start Sunday, and began randomly fishing the flowing culverts all the way through Shiloh road.

We spotted several large redfish in the river side, but they were beyond casting distance. The water running through the culverts produced lots of trout. Baitfish were all being jumped by the trout, and the trout were being jumped by me.

I was using green D.O.A. jig heads and jerk bait bodies in several sizes and colors. White produced the most strikes, which occurred on almost every other cast.

I caught and missed trout, and the fishing was fast and furious until we lost the light. Unfortunately, the one time I really wanted to capture the sunset and pictures of the fish, I forgot my Nikon Coolpix at home.

It should be noted, that this is the most northern part of the Indian River. It is very shallow water, and the area is noted for bull redfish, huge gator trout, and when the water gets a bit warmer; tarpon up to 100 lbs.

Most people overlook the area, but believe me, it's a sleeper for big fish.

I plan to have another go at the area next weekend, if the good lord willing.

Until then, tight lines!

Early June Culvert Fishing On The Indian River

Early spring is the time to load up on Gator trout, as well as slot sized dinner fare.
These were caught using D.O.A. watermelon jerk baits, and D.O.A. jig heads, with 4" Gulp "Nuclear Chicken" jerk baits.

This slot sized trout fell for a black and silver Rapala floating diver.
You can jump fish these trout around likely looking culverts, that are used to control the water levels in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge area.

The drives that boarder the Indian River, in the Wildlife Refuge, offer the opportunity for some fine wading ,or bank fishing when they are open for traffic.
High water levels, that cause flooding of the drives, and the launching of a space shuttle, cause closures of the drives for safety and security reasons.

There are times, when the powers that be, close the drives for no apparent reason except to piss off the local anglers.

I also enjoy taking pictures of the breathtaking scenery in and around the Wildlife Refuge. Some of the sunsets are here for your enjoyment.

The photograph below was taken north of Haulover Canal at a "secret" fishing spot my wife and I frequent.

The photo below was taken last week, around the Indian River, in an area where I occasionally pick up Snook or two.

Both pictures were taken using my Nikon Cool Pix 8700, 8X optical zoom that I picked up for a steal on an Ebay auction. The pics were taken without the need for a tripod at dusk.

There are times when life is just plain enjoyable; and being on the Indian River fishing, or taking pics. with my wife and wonder dog Elmo, makes all the rest of the BS that is going on in our country irrelevant.

The shuttle that was going up this morning didn't make it because of fueling problems, so I imagine that the Refuge area will be closed. When I get a report, it will be posted today or tomorrow at the latest.
Good Fishing And Tight Lines To You All!

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Closures

Due to the space shuttle launch and high water conditions on the northern Indian River, the roads in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge have been closed. Except for Black Point Wildlife Drive and the boat ramp at Haulover Canal, most of the drives are now open. This includes Peacock Pocket road, where kayakers and Ghenoe owners are now again able to launch their craft for their shallow water sight fishing excursions.

The Black Point Wildlife Drive will be closed for several months for paving of the dirt drives. SR 406 is also closed to vehicle traffic. Birdwatchers and other tourists should be pleased with the upgrade when it is gets completed, however I do question the timing.

Right now the beautiful pink and red spoonbills, as well as other migratory waterfowl, are beginning to arrive. The alligators are also out in force, much to the benefit of tourists and photographers, should they choose to navigate the dirt roads of the Wildlife Refuge.

It seems to me that winter would have been a more appropriate time to begin the construction.

Anyway, as long as I'm on the topic; the old shrimping and fishing pier next to Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, is being dismantled as I speak.

My wife made several calls to find out what is in the planning around the causeway bridge, and how long the construction will take. The answers have been less than specific, but a new bridge is being constructed to replace the turn style bridge that is now in place.

A new shrimping and fishing pier, probably part of the old bridge, will be in place underneath the new bridge.

There have been several occasions where detours were in effect so that the swing span bridge could be repaired. This problem has also caused the ICW to be closed at times, to higher boat traffic. No new information about replacing the damaged docks at the boat launch was available, other than "they will be repaired".

In any event, progress seems to be rolling right along, weather we approve of it or not.

As of this date, there are normal spring conditions on the north Indian River. Wading, and jump fishing along the drives is great. The mullet schools are all over the river and the fish are enjoying a smorgasbord.

Saturday afternoon, I went for a brief field trip with my wife Karen and our wonder dog Elmo, to check out the newly opened drives.

The fishermen were catching trout, redfish, and the usual catfish and rays. One angler I spoke with, was closely guarding an area I call "snook point", where he just caught a 30" gator trout with a pink and green bass assassin. I was going to tell him that they move around, but I don't think he would have cared much.

I picked up about 10 trout with the same bait he was using and later switched to my favorite creme swim bait with equally good results. My wife and I spooked several over sized redfish, with no hookups, and she also landed some nice sized catfish and rays.

I plan on sneaking out tomorrow to try another area and will update this weekend report after I return.

Tight lines to all!