Thunderstorm Tarpon

The tarpon were still biting this afternoon, before, during, and after the thunderstorms passed across the Mosquito Lagoon.

I managed to wet a line after my Doctors appointments in the southern section of the lagoon where I picked up some fish the other day.   

When I started fishing a D.O.A. Baitbuster, the bite was so good that I never bothered to change baits.

When I pulled up to the area I planned to fish, I immediately noticed that the culverts were open and flowing into the Mosquito Lagoon and that a pod of sea manatees seemed to be having a good time in the current produced by the runoff.

The other side of the culvert was teeming with rolling tarpon of all sizes. 

Most were in the three foot category but I spotted several feeding on baitfish that were in the 80 to 100 pound class out in deeper water.

I started casting the larger baitbuster and immediately got hooked up with a good size ladyfish that I managed to land and release after several nice jumps.

On the next cast, I got hooked up with a juvenile tarpon about 3 feet long that tossed the bait after a couple of jumps.

I continued casting and managed to get at least one hit or a hookup on almost every cast I made.  On several casts, I had multiple hits from fish that missed the bait.

The water was colored from the rain and as the thunderstorm started, the water became more colored making misses from the fish the norm.

After hooking and releasing the first couple of fish, a large gator appeared and started making a nuisance of itself.   I kept fishing around the gator and still managed to get hookups.

When the rainstorm hit, the air temperature dropped, I stopped fishing and sat in the truck until the storm eventually passed by.

I started fishing again and caught a couple more fish before I had to leave the area.

They close the gate at the end of Bio Lab Road at 6:00 pm, and I had about 10 minutes to get my but out of dodge.

I managed to land a couple juvenile tarpon in the 30" category and lost at least 20 fish during the hour I was actually fishing the area.

Fishing the thunderstorms is usually productive and this afternoon was no exception.

Till next time,

Tight Lines

Tarpon In The Lagoon

It was late when I finally decided to see if the Tarpon in the lagoon were hitting.

The late afternoon rains were running south so I packed up a few rods and headed towards Bio Lab Road to see if the tarpon in the lagoon were interested in any of my offerings.

I was hoping that the pumping station was still moving water and bait into the marsh area but I wasn't too surprised to find the area void of fish and fishermen.

I tossed a topwater Chug Bug around for a bit to see if anything was interested but after several fruitless casts, I decided to continue my search.

The water levels in the backwater areas were all up and I spotted several areas where tarpon were rolling and snook were nailing baitfish along the mangrove roots.

I stopped to fish this this spot when I spotted a large snook breaking water along the mangroves after baitfish.

I tossed a Creme paddletail bait and a Chug Bug around without a hit, so I switched to a small topwater SkitterWalk and finally got a couple of fish interested enough to take swipes at the lure.

I fished the spot for about 20 minutes or so before moving on to another spot where I always find tarpon.

When I got there, nobody was around except this Blue Heron on an open culvert fishing for his dinner.

I started casting the Creme paddletail bait around and got a couple of hits without a hookup.  I noticed that some fish were nailing baits on the surface, so I started tossing the SkitterWalk around the area.

I made several casts across a point near some mangroves and coaxed a large tarpon to nail the lure.

The fish was in the 90 pound category and jumped entirely out of the water but missed the bait.

I continued tossing the lure until the fish stopped hitting and decided to switch to a black and silver D.O.A. Baitbuster that I had tied on a heavier rod that I use for snook.

It only took two casts to get a follow up and a miss from a juvenile tarpon right at the bank.  

I continued tossing the bait and finally got hooked up with this 37" tarpon,  

The fish jumped several times and put up a good fight before giving it up at the bank.

I took a couple of pics and returned the fish to the water.

I continued fishing with the D.O.A. bait and picked up another tarpon slightly larger than the first fish right at the bank.  After another jumping battle, I took this pic before sending it back home.

As a group of anglers moved into the area while I was landing and releasing the second fish, I decided to head for home.

They were also after juvenile tarpon and were using Bass Assassin paddletail baits on weighted hooks.

It was around 5:30 pm when I decided to head home.  They close the gate at 6:00 pm, and as I was driving out of the area, a fish and game truck was driving in, apparently to warn everybody out of the area.

Till next time,

Tight Lines

Ladyfish Outing

After dealing with doctors all week, I finally got a chance to get out and wet a line in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

Because of thunderstorms in the area, my wife Karen didn't want me to leave the house, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch a tarpon or ladyfish in the "swamp".

I had planned to run Bio Lab road but the rains were upon me, so I headed for the closest body of water in the area which just happened to be East Gator Creek in the refuge.

They have been working on repairing Peacocks Pocket Road so the entrance of it and Catfish Creek Loop are blocked by heavy road grading equipment and literally tons of road gravel.

I entered the work entrance as the rain started and began casting a topwater bait around the area.  

I had several light hits before finally hooking up with a small ladyfish that was not much larger than the Chug Bug that I was using.

I hooked and lost two more fish on the same bait before the lightning started.

I like fishing before and after a thunderstorm but common sense prevailed and I decided to hit the car and head for home when the lighting got closer.

I was the only angler in the area during the time I was fishing in the refuge.

I took a few pics of the area before heading home to get some dinner.

Might get out tomorrow if I get a chance

Till next time, Tight Lines.