Covid 19 Fishing Update

The Covid 19 virus has left many of us with a bad case of cabin fever.

For those of us who have ventured out to wet a line, get some much needed fresh air and catch some fish in our area, the options are slim.

Haulover Canal is closed to vehicle traffic and fishing on the northwest section.  

Playalinda Beach, Bio Lab Road, the Boy Scout camping area, and several of the other areas accessible to shore based anglers are also closed to vehicle traffic.

Bairs Cove boat launch remains closed leaving Beacon 42, Parrish Park in Titusville, and Bio Lab as the closest open boat ramps in our area.

Although "social distancing" remains in effect, the east causeway on most days seems to be party central.

When Karen and I got out to take our "boys" for a scouting trip around the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge this past Saturday, every choice bank fishing spot on East Gator Creek, Gator Creek, and Catfish Creek Loop was taken by anglers dunking a variety of  baits.

I talked with one angler in hip boots who was walking along East Gator Creek and asked him how he was doing.  He was tossing a small MirroLure plug and told me that he caught a rat redfish and a couple of Jacks.  

I believe he was talking about ladyfish but he insisted that they were Jacks.

When he said he was going to wade across to the other bank, I showed him this pic of a large gator that calls the creek home and recommended against it.

We left the buy and continued driving around the area noting that most anglers were in fact practicing "social distancing"  We saw a few black drum caught off the banks of the Indian River side but most anglers were just out to enjoy the day.

Before we left the area to the crowd and headed back to the confines of our adobe noting that the concept of "social distancing" was lost to the crowds of party goers along the causeway, we decided to drive up to Shiloh Road.

This time of the year the creeks in that area hold juvenile tarpon and redfish, and I wanted to see if there was any sign of fish there before heading home.

The roseatte spoonbills were in the area along with a plethora of waterfowl.  I took some pics as we checked out the area.

I spotted a couple of oversize snook busting baitfish along the bank in one area and a couple of fish pushing wakes in another area which were probably redfish.

I tossed a Chug Bug around several spots and never had a follow up.  Karen tossed a DOA Baitbuster around the creek and had a follow up, but no hits.

After Elmo and Odie relieved themselves, we headed home to continued isolation.

Till next time, Tight Lines

Stay Safe