The Shuttle Has Left The Pad!

Well the shuttle finally left the pad, and the fish didn't even notice! They're still biting!

Went down to the Indian River Friday evening, near the Max Brewer Bridge construction area, to check out the shuttle launch and the fishing.

Both came off without a hitch. The shallows on the north side of the causeway were loaded with bait fish that were sometimes flipping right on the bank.

They were being chased unmercifully by large trout and some medium snook. There might have been a redfish in there, but I never got one.

A top water chug bug did the trick until the launch occurred near midnight.

I would have tried other lures, but I grabbed only one rod when I left the house, and the top water was the lure for the night.

Anyway, here is a somewhat out of focus video of the shuttle launch. I didn't bother taking any shots of the trout, but I will tomorrow if my wife and I get to go out. Unfortunately, once the shuttle's off the pad during a night launch, all you get to really see is the UFO like white light.

It's much better seeing one in person!

Till then, tight lines to all!

Temporary NASA Closure To Indian River Fishing

Well, I'm glad to report that the fishing is still great on the northern Indian River area around Titusville and Mims, Florida.

The redfish are still schooling all over the place in the shallow flats, and the trout are always eager to slurp up properly presented baits.

The Shiloh Road, in the uppermost portion of the Indian River, is still closed to motor traffic, with the exception of motorcycles, bicycles and obviously, foot traffic. It's too bad because this is a very hot area for the 30 lb. plus redfish that cruise the shallows and the large gator trout that inhabit both sides of the road.

Peacock Pocket road was open until about 7:30 this evening when a NASA chopper politely told my wife and I to get the hell out of there.

Perhaps this is too strong, but we were hustled out of the area just about the time the fishing really gets good.

Friday evening, I fished the same area and picked up about 25 trout in a matter of about two hours time. I missed about half that amount again. They ranged from about 14" to 20" and I missed two trout that were definately in the gator trout category.

All were caught on 4" Chug Bug topwater lures and a white DOA paddletail jig. I've put up a couple of sample pics, just for the hell of it. Nothing to brag about but lots of fun to catch and release.

Sunday, my wife Karen, my wonder dog Elmo and yours truly, hit the same area but were run out just as the fishing was getting hot.

My wife wanted me to teach her how to fish a Chug Bug, and I obliged her as best I could. She gets frustrated, but is coming along quite well. She usually fishes with dead bait, but this time of the year, it doesn't produce as well as artificials.

She got a couple of hits and I picked up about 6 trout and missed another very large one just as the friendly NASA boys paid us a visit.

I forgot the shuttle was scheduled for a Tuesday evening launch, which is probably the reason for the closure.

They generally close it 2 days before, and 1 day after a shuttle launch. In any event, I'll be waiting eagerly for next weeks opening.

Till then; Tight Lines and good fishing to all!

The Dog Days Of August Are Upon Us!

The temperatures are hovering in the low to mid 90s, and the water temperatures in both the Mosquito Lagoon, and Indian River, are warm enough to harbor the larger tarpon I've been trying to get for the past couple of weeks.

I've been getting reports of tarpon from 50 to 120 lbs in the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, but I've not personally hooked up with one of them yet.

I've seen mostly rolling fish in relatively shallow water, but schools of daisy chaining tarpon and laid up fish are all over the place.

I've missed several good sized tarpon on artificials, but still haven't put one in the boat!

It never ceases to amaze me how you can see a bunch of tarpon rolling all over the place, and every damn one of them with a case of lockjaw! I guess tarpon are acting like tarpon usually do!

Anything resembling a mullet seems to get their attention. My all time favorite lure has become a Chug Bug topwater lure. The big trout and redfish love it, and every now and then I'll get a hit from a tarpon.

The trout in the Indian River have been running in the slot to 24 inches with an occasional gator trout between 5 and 10 pounds being caught. They are everywhere and relatively easy to catch. The best time to get a big one, for me, is just before dusk.

Again, the best baits to use are top water lures, D.O.A. Baitbusters, jerkbaits and live pigfish under a Cajun Thunder bobber, or free lined.

My wife has still been using her tried and true shrimp under a bobber rig, with minimal success.

If you're going fishing during the month of August, better go very early, or late in the afternoon. This is and continues to be the most productive times to be on the water.

Didn't get any good fish pics this weekend except for some trout that didn't come out right so I'll pass on the photos.

Till next week, tight lines!

Indian River Trout Fishing

The Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River fishing is still going gangbusters in East Central Florida's Space Coast.

With all the construction work that's going on, some fishermen who normally opt for an early morning boat launch, are turning to bank and wade fishing.

The new bridge construction on the Max Brewer Causeway, along with refurbishing of the boat ramps at Parrish Park and the Titusville Marina, are causing some minor irritations to public boaters and fishermen.

Additionally, the closures of Shiloh road to vehicle traffic, and some other prime fishing pathways to the public, in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, have caused irritation with the management bureaucracy.

When I called about the closures, the reasons given for the closures varied from, the "shuttle launch", to insufficient funding to repair the "potholes" in Shiloh road, to flooding, to whatever else they can think of as an excuse. It seems like they are intentionally trying to keep the public away from the area, at least by land traffic.

In any event, late Saturday afternoon, after trying to get into the north part of the Indian River at Shiloh road, my wife and I resigned ourselves to the fact that we were relegated to fishing Peacock Pocket road.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great area to fish if you know how! My wife and I do.

Sticking to the golden rule of Central Florida fishing, "fish early and fish late", we struck out at aobut 6:30 for an evening of "jump fishig" in the marsh areas.

The weather was hot but not blistering, there was a nice breeze and a slight ripple on the water, that helped the fishing.

My wife was using a weighted jerkbait hook baited with a large dead shrimp with the tail removed. When you hook the shrimp through the tail and pull it slowly along the bottom, it usually produces nice redfish and trout.

I used my usual variety of baits that included; D.O.A. paddle tail jerk baits in green/white body, Creme swimbait, Johnson gold spoon, and my trusty Chug Bug.

We stopped by several areas and decided to finish at our "secret spot" where my wife had previously caught nice redfish and black drum. Today however, she only caught a catfish that acted like a sea trout!

I caught about a dozen smaller trout. which were all released. And just at dusk, my favorite time to fish, I switched to my Chug Bug.

After about two dozen casts to the far bank in the narrow canal, I got an explosive hit right on the bank in about 4 inches of water.

After about a 10 minute battle up and down the canal, I pulled in a "sub gator" trout that measured 26 inches. The pics of the scenery and the fish are here for your viewing.

We plan on doing the whole thing again tomorrow, after my household chores are finished with, so until then.... tight lines!

Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing Report

This past week the water levels in the Mosquito Lagoon have dropped somewhat, and the larger fish are stalking mullet and glass minnows in the shallow waters, very close to shore.

Large fish in 6" deep water is not an uncommon sight!

The floating grass mats are good spots to zero in on large gator trout, redfish, and an occasional snook.

The fish are holding very close to the shorelines, chasing baitfish early in the morning, and the best bet is to be in your fishing area, well before daylight.

With the temperatures in the high 80's, the topwater fishing has continued to be nothing but great for slot redfish, and trout up to 9 pounds.

Early morning is a special time on the Mosquito Lagoon. Nothing beats the peacefulness and calm of watching the day break on the water.

The golden rule for the Lagoon area is, "fish early and fish late"

The Indian River Lagoon this has been producing trout of all sizes, nice slot sized redfish that are cruising the shallow shorelines, schools of ladyfish, and smaller tarpon.

Again the best fishing is early mornings, and at dusk, till about an hour after the light is gone.

Topwater lures, gold spoons, D.O.A. jerkbaits, and live or fresh dead baits all work well.

My particular preference is a Chug Bug fished moderately fast late in the evenings.

Friday evening, my wife Karen, my wonder dog Elmo, and I fished the Peacock Pocket area, and
picked up several small trout, and a couple of "hoozers" in the salt marsh area.

"Dinner"

On our last stop, my wife was chased from the bank by an aggressive 8' gator that seemed to like her lime green Cajun Thunder rig, better than the redfish. The gator literally, tried to get up the bank after her.

Needless to say, we left the area to the "water lizard".

Hope you all enjoy the pics, and until next time; tight lines!