September Spawning Reds

September is when large "Bull Redfish", in the 20 to 40 lb. range, can be more easily caught as they congregate for the spawn in both the Mosquito Lagoon and northern Indian River estuaries.

There are several prime areas in the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, where these monsters congregate to spawn; however, my all time favorite is the Haulover Canal area, north of Titusville, Fl.

This time of year, a half or whole ladyfish, blue crab, mullet, croaker, or pinfish can pick you up one of those huge redfish that you read about in the sportsman's magazines.

Slot sized reds up to 11 lbs. are also scattered in the shallow flats, busting baits throughout the day.

The trout are still hitting like crazy on the flats on topwater lures, jerkbaits, and live bait if you care to fool with it.

I like my artificial lures.. No muss, no fuss, and sometimes no fish, but it's not boring.

My wife picked up a couple of slot redfish this evening, and I hit a few trout, ladyfish, and a gar that just couldn't resist my chug bug.



Somefish pics and the beautiful sunset are here for your viewing.



I'll be out of town next week but hope to be furnishing something new when I return.

Till then, Tight Lines To All!

Evening Redfish

Friday evening proved to be productive on the redfish front.

The evenings fishing excursion in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve was something I was looking forward to.

After putting in a good bit of windshield time at work this past week, it was nice to chill out and get some quality fishing time in with my wife and wonder dog, Elmo.

I picked up a couple pounds of small, heads on, Canaveral shrimp from our local fishmonger and proceeded to some of our proven fishing spots.

As usual, I used my trusted top water plugs and jerk baits, but this evening I obviously wasn't holding my mouth right because the only fish I could dredge up was a medium sized ladyfish and one small trout that looked like he was starving to death.

My wife, on the other hand did quite well with a nice slot redfish that ate her shrimp and headed up river. The fish was gut hooked and even though we tried to release her unharmed, it wound up on the dinner table.

I didn't mind too much. I love blackened redfish.

Enjoy the pics, and here's hoping for a better Saturday evening trip.

Tight Lines!

September Evening Redfish

The weather looked like rain, and Fall was in the air. A perfect day to wet a line!

As promised in yesterday's post, my wife and I tried to repeat the success she had with redfish in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

She even got me to try some cut bait, which I seldom use, to snag a redfish like the one she picked up yesterday.

Anyway, I was using my usual Chug Bug, with absolutely NO success. The fish were not interested in top water lures today.



I switched to a Gulp 4" shrimp, on a 1/8 oz. jig head, and picked up a couple of medium sized trout.

I also picked up a few small trout on a white D.O.A. paddle tail swimbait, before I decided to join my wife, sitting on the bank of the Indian River, waiting for a redfish to hit.

Karen picked up a ladyfish, within ten minutes of plopping her shrimp bait, into the far side of the canal.

I decided to stay close to Karen, in case she decided to take another swim, like she did yesterday trying to land another redfish.

For me, it was somewhat boring. I am not very patient at bank fishing for anything. I much prefer using artificial lures.



Anyway, after what seemed like eons, my wife hooked into something big. The fish made several strong runs up and down the bank; and at one point got into some brush along the bank. I thought she would lose the fish, but she kept up the pressure, and finally got it close to shore.

I brought the net this trip, and eventually netted the big redfish. The pictures are here for your viewing pleasure.



This fish was very heavy, and measured in at almost 35 inches. She inhaled the dead shrimp, my wife was using for bait; so I had to cut the hook off, before I released her to fight another day.



I'm pleased to report that the fishing action on the Northern Indian River estuary is still going strong, possibly even better than in previous years.

I hope you all enjoy the pictures, and with any luck, I may have another post for you if we don't get rained out tomorrow.

Till next time; Tight Lines To All!

Diving For Redfish

This evening proved to be one of the most interesting fishing excursions I've had the pleasure of experiencing in quite some time.

Even though my wife had a colonoscopy procedure early this morning, she wanted to take our wonder dog Elmo, to the "swamp" and get some late afternoon redfish fishing in.

She seemed to be fit enough, so we took off for one of our favorite spots at around 4:30.

The wind was settling down, and the water in the marsh canals had enough of a ripple to suggest the fish should be biting.

We stopped at several spots and caught some trout and catfish. I picked up some barely legal trout on D.O.A. white paddle tailed jigs, missed several on my chug bug topwater lure, and missed two over slot sized trout before moving on to our favorite spot.

Karen, used her tried and true dead shrimp, on a 5/0 Owner hook with 20 pound florocarbon leader.

I fished until I was about about 40 yards from where Karen was fishing, and just as the sun was setting, I heard my wife yelling. I thought she had a fish for me to dehook and soon noticed her predicament.

As she came down the road, it soon became obvious that she took a swim. She was wet from hair to toe, and looked like something the cat dragged in.

She caught a nice, heavy, over sized redfish that had put up quite a fight.

When she climbed down the bank to pull the fish out, the fish took off, and Karen took a head first dive into the canal, trying not to lose the fish.

Diving for redfish is something I do not recommend, especially in these waters. She was extremely lucky there were no gators in the area.

The redfish is pictured here, and was released after I cut the line and revived her. It measured 33 inches, and according to Karen, was worth the swim.

Needless to say, we packed up our rods and headed home before she got sick.

I wanted to take her picture for the blog, but she threatened my life if I took the picture. I decided that discretion is the better part of valor, and gave up on the picture.

Anyway, tomorrow we hope to duplicate the fishing, without the diving incident.

Till next time, tight lines!

Labor Day North Indian River Redfish

Well folks, it was another great fishing outing on the north Indian River estuary.

The balmy afternoon gave way to a dead calm when my wife and I finally got to Peacock Pocket road. After stopping long enough at the shallow water canoe launch to throw a cast net for some finger mullet, we started looking for the telltale wakes of large redfish that frequent the area.

We didn't have to wait long. There were several large oversize redfish cruising the shallows and occasionally swirling on finger mullet.

I netted about a dozen 3 to 4 in. finger mullet, several shad like baitfish, and a small ladyfish when we stopped for bait. In addition to the live bait, we had frozen shrimp and my tried and true Chug Bugs.

I caught a couple slot sized trout on lures and Karen picked up a medium sized garfish on a finger mullet. It's unusual to land gar on hooks because of their ability to clip off a hook with their sharp teeth, but Karen managed to land this one. See the pics.



We chased several other wakes from large redfish but had no luck until dusk.

My wife had one rod with a shrimp bait and the other with a live free lined finger mullet.

I was trying my best to catch a redfish that looked to be at least 30" long to no avail.

Just at dusk, both of Karen's rods got hits. The rod with the shrimp peeled line up stream, so she grabbed it first and tied on to a slot sized redfish.

The fish got tangled in the brush alongside the bank, but she finally got it free for me to lip it out of the water for her.



It measured just at the top end of the slot and will be diner tomorrow evening. I haven't had blackened redfish in a while and we're both looking forward to it.

I didn't do too well this evening, but tomorrow is another day!

Hope you enjoy the pictures and until our next venture, Tight Lines!

Fall Fishing In The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Fall fishing in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge area is great! With the temperatures cooling down a tad bit, the fish are hitting with a bit more regularity.

Jump fishing in the marsh areas has been providing some good results with trout, redfish, and an occasional snook on the Indian River side.

The baits of choice are again the ChugBug, D.O.A. white jigs, and recently small 3" finger mullet, when they can be found.

My wife and I have been getting excellent results lately using free lined mullet, on a 5/0 circle hook, targeting the large redfish and gator trout that cruise the shallow marsh canals.



We have been catching many slot sized, 15" plus trout this past Thursday and Friday evenings that will eagerly chase down a free lined mullet.

Friday evening, my wife lost a huge redfish that popped her line after a respectable fight, and caught several slot sized trout. See the pics.

I picked up about a dozen slot sized trout and several smaller trout on free lined mullet, and my frog colored ChugBug.

I seem to have a problem with patience, and prefer manipulating an artificial lure to fishing live bait.

I missed a nice snook on the river side with my ChugBug last evening, and with the full moon, the Indian River was just gorgeous.



I love breathtaking sunsets, so I'll publish a couple here for you all to enjoy.

Going out this evening, so until tomorrow...

Tight Lines To You All!