Higher Water Levels In The Refuge

With the higher water levels in the refuge, I decided to wet a line and hit some of the more "likely" spots I used to catch sea trout in.

My wife said it had been raining off and on for a good part of the week.  This normally sets off  the bite along the shallower flats of the North Indian River and many areas in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The air temperature this afternoon was in the high 80s and there was a slight breeze blowing over the mud flats when I started casting my paddletail bait along the shoreline.

Most of the areas I fish were without incident but along Catfish Creek Loop I started getting hits around the mangroves in the mud flats.

I missed three or four fish before finally landing an under slot sea trout that I quickly released.

The pond just before the entrance to Peacocks Pocket is usually taken over by bank fishermen dunking live or dead bats for redfish or black drum but this afternoon, I managed to catch another small trout on an old topwater Rebel Pop-R bait I had in my freshwater tackle box.  

After circling Catfish Creek Loop with no more bites, I decided to head back to the house and fininsh up some stairs I was working on.

Surprisingly, there were no people fishing the usual spots along the bank in either of the areas I visited this afternoon.

If I don't hit it again later today towards dusk, I'll be out sometime tomorrow.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Don'ty forget the Go Outdoors Sale going on now if you need ot stock up on all your outdoors necessities.

Waterfowl In The Wildlife Refuge

This afternoon my wife and I finally got a chance to check out the waterfowl in the wildlife refuge.

I had planned to do some fishing but the rods were left at the house and after talking to some of the guys bank fishing around the refuge, I didn't miss much.  Nobody seemed to be catching fish.

Anyway, the waterfowl were out in numbers that even avid birdwatchers would really appreciate.

As we entered the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, I was surprised at how low the water level was along the west side of the road.  Where I was catching rat redfish and sea trout a couple of months ago, there was only a mudflat loaded with sandpipers.

As we drove around Gator Creek and Catfish Creek Loop I took tons of waterfowl pics, some of which I have below.

We spotted mallards, teal, mud hens, ibis, pelicans, and even a few roseate spoonbills feeding in the shallows.   Definitely a duckhunters dream.

As we drove around Catfish Creek Loop, Karen and I came up on a huge gathering of Cormorants.  I have no idea why they were in this area in such great numbers but I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

 Click on the pic for a short video.

I'm not sure what the lone angler in the kayak was fishing for, but I don't believe he caught much around the birds.

As we drove around the refuge, I exited via East Gator Creek road to check out the mudflats in that area and took some pics of the area.

The pods of black drum feeding in the shallows in this area are now concentrated into the deeper areas along the main road.

As we headed for home, we spotted a family of Sandhill Cranes that didn't mind me taking their pic.

Although I didn't get any fishing in,  we thoroughly enjoyed watching the waterfowl in the area.  

Hopefully my work schedule will allow me to do some serious fishing in the next few weeks.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Tying The Mortician Rig

A couple of weeks ago when I was home, I tried my luck surf fishing at  Playalinda Beach.  

 

Except for a few small whiting which I returned, the fishing was less than stellar however, I did get schooled on how to use and tie a Mortician's surf rig by one of the guys fishing at the same Lot number.

This guy was catching bluefish and smaller whiting on the same rig using different size hooks and baits, so I asked him what kind of rig he was using.

He told me that his go to surf rigs were made with 60# fluorocarbon leaders so he could toss up to a 6 oz. pyramid sinker or Sputnik sinker when necessary. 

The problem with using a 60# dropper loop rig is that you can’t down size the hooks for smaller mouthed species like whiting, croakers, and pompano.   

The smallest size hook you can get on a 60# dropper loop rig is a 2/0 Eagle Claw L197F Circle Hook.  

I tried it with a Gamakatsu 2/0 circle hook but the eye was way too small for the 60# mono.   

When you consistently miss bites and need to go to an even smaller hook like the 1/0 Mustad 39940NP-BN Ultra Point 1X strong circle hook, it's impossible to use the heavier mono rig.

The solution to quickly changing hook sizes is the so called Mortician Rig that he was using, which is nothing more than tying two figure eight knots in the 60# dropper loop rig.   

The knots form a slot where you can easily add a larger or smaller pre tied hook to accept different sized baits without re-tying an entire leader.

The video above shows how to tie the rig with the figure eight knots.

My four surf rods are all spooled with 30# and 60# Power Pro and with this rig as terminal tackly,  it should make casting different size baits on the same rod a snap.  

When I get back home again, I'm looking forward to staking out a couple of rods on the sand using these rigs with a clam or sand flea on one hook, and a piece of chunked bait on a larger hook, to see what is biting on any particular day.  

The Mortician's rig definitely makes it easier to switch out hook sizes and try different baits without the hassle of re-tying the rigs on the beach.

I've been out of pocket for the past several months but plan on wetting a line more often when I get back home.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Where Are The Pompano?

Finally went out to Playalinda Beach to see if the Pompano were in the area.

I took a couple of rods rigged with 30# and 60# Power Pro, a few pyramid sinkers, and some shrimp and sand fleas that I picked up at the bait shop.  What I neglected to bring along was a phone charger for my Android, hence no pics.

The weather was nice but a little windy and the surf was relatively calm for the area.

After rigging up with two and three hook pompano rigs and  4 oz. sinkers, I tossed my baits into the fartherest trough on one rod and closer in on the second rod.

I kept losing baits but finally after an hour or so, caught a couple  of small whiting which I released into the surf.

I noticed another surf fisherman a few yards from where I was fishing had been catching whiting and a couple of really nice bluefish on the same rod.

I walked over to him and found that he was using cut baits, clam strips, and sand fleas on the same rig.

After a bit of banter, I found out that he was using something called a Mortician  rig that allowed him to use several size hooks on heavier 60# terminal tackle.

He told me that a surf fisherman in Cocoa Beach told him about the rig and that I should search for it online.

We parted ways and I made a mentaal note to do just that.

Anyway, I believe that the variety of baits he was using on each of his rods is what gave him better luck than what I was having.

It was getting chilly and the bite was slow, so I decided to head for home and some dinner.

Evidently the pompano were on strike this afterrnoon, 

Till next time,

Tight Lines

Indian River Dolphin

As my wife and I took a ride around Gator Creek Road this afternoon, the first thing we spotted was a pod of dolphin surrounding a school of redfish in the Indian River. 

As we pulled into the first entrance, Karen spotted the school meandering around the line of concrete erosion brakes that parallel the causeway.

The dolphin were obviously on a school of redfish so I pulled out my cell phone and took this brief video below before moving on.

As we drove away from the action, I noticed that there were several fishermen along the banks of the river.  

The air temps were in the low 90s and the fish were obviously not cooperating with the fishermen.

We drove around the dirt road taking pictures of the waterfowl who were doing much better catching dinner in the mud flats.  

A Fish and Game officer from Alabama was pulling out of Catfish Creek Loop, so I stopped to ask him some questions about Peacocks Pocket road

They are working on repairing the roads in the refuge and according to him, they are pretty much finished with Peacocks Pocket but, he did not know if the managers of the refuge were going to allow vehicle traffic to the public.

About 3 years ago when I spoke with the refuge manager, I was told that the road would be open within a year.   When I mentioned that to the Alabama officer, he said that budgeting caused the delay.  

I thanked him for the information and we both proceeded on our way.

As I drove up to the barrier at Peacocks Pocket road at the entrance to Catfish Creek loop, two anglers with a bucket of live shrimp were walking out from behind the barrier.  

I asked them if they were catching any sea trout or reds and they reported that they had caught a few snook.  According to one of the guys, they were good size; in the 30 inch plus category.

I made a mental not to walk the road again when I get back from work again.  The last time I walked Peacocks Pocket, I picked up a few sea trout and two nice snook.

                                                      

Anyway, I thanked them for the fishing report and headed back to get an ice cream cone before heading home.

Too hot to fish the area this afternoon and I wasn't feeling up to walking the Pocket road.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Mosquito Lagoon Tarpon

The Mosquito Lagoon tarpon bite has been pretty hot this week with fish pretty much all over clean water areas.

Didn't bring along a rod when Karen and  I took Odie for a drive this afternoon, but I did manage to get some face time info on the tarpon this week.

These two guys were tossing a variety of hard baits to juvenile tarpon in the area I usually fish.  

Because I forgot my equipment when I decided to take Odie for a ride, I wasn't too upset about not being able to fish "my spot".

While I was standing with them, I spotted three tarpon busting on the surface after mullet that were in the area around the mangroves.

Although neither of the anglers I spoke with landed any fish, they said that they had several takes. 

I would be very surprised if they actually landed any of the tarpon that were in the area today.  The fish were in the 50 pound category and with all the surrounding brush, it would be pure luck to bring one to the bank. 

I was hoping to see some manatees on the other side of the road but none were in the area during my visit.

We left the area and on the way home stopped at Fox Lake to see if anybody was fishing that area.

We came up on these three Sandhill Cranes that are almost always in the area.  They came close to the truck to check us out and wish us well as we left the area.

Hope to not forget my rods next trip.

Tight Lines.

Midget Reds On The Mudflats

There were some midget reds on the mudflats in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge yesterday that I really didn't expect to catch.

The air temps were in the 90s when I finally managed to get out and wet a line so I didn't expect to catch a thing when I took Odie for a jaunt around the refuge.

I brought along a couple of light rods with Cream paddletail baits and one with a Chug Bug just for the hell of it and as we crossed the A. Max Brewer bridge, I noticed that the erosion project along the causeway looked like it was close to completion.

I too a pic as we entered the refuge and decided to toss the paddletail baits around some mullet I spotted milling around the shallows.

On the second cast I picked up a midget red that all but inhaled the bait.

I unhooked the fish and put it back after taking a quick pic on my cell phone.

I made a few more casts and caught a couple more midget reds around the same size before moving up the road.

Unlike a few weeks ago, the mud flats on the north side of the road were covered with water but there was little to no movement.  I knew that the the fish had to be close to the bank in deeper water this time of the day and probably had lockjaw.

I stopped at a couple spots to cast the Creme paddletail baits and at the third spot managed to pick up another really really small rat redfish.

I took another pic and released the fish before moving up the road.

I talked to a couple of fishermen who were dunking live and dead shrimp for black drum and found out that the bite was pretty good around  the Catfish Creek area.  They said that most of the drum were being caught late in the afternoon and early in the morning.   Typical for this time of the year.

After letting Odie out to take a wizzz, we moved to East Gator Creek to check out the area.  A lone Heron was fishing along the shallows and didn't seem to be having any luck.

There were a few swirls along the deeper edges of the mudflats close to the road but even with some Pro-Cure Inshore Formula Gel, I never got another bite in that area.

Before leaving the refuge, I decided to toss the Chug Bug around the far bank on the south side of the road.  I loaded the topwater up with some Pro Cure and after about the 5th or 6th cast hooked and released the ladyfish below.

We left the refuge and I headed to Fox lake to see if the freshwater action was happening.

The water was calm but after casting both plastic and the top water Chug Bug around the lily pads, I never got a hit.

I took this pic of some resident Sandhill Cranes that seem to like like people before leaving the park and heading home.

Till next ;time,

Tight LInes.

Where Did The Flats Go?

Me and my wife decided to take Odie for a ride this afternoon to check out the fishing spots in our area.

It was mid afternoon when we loaded up a couple of rods and headed into Gator Creek Road.

There was a slight breeze on the water and the air temp was in the mid to low 80s.  Not great for topwater fishing but acceptable for swimming a few paddletail baits.

When we drove into Gator Creek, I was surprised to see a lot of dried up mud flats.

  The areas where I had been catching redfish and sea trout a few weeks ago were now drawn down to unfishable trickles.

Undaunted, we drove out of the area and decided to hit Bio Lab Road to see if the flats in that area were fishable.

The water levels in the lagoon were way down and the water was almost crystal clear making sight fishing the thing to do for the rest of the week.

I stopped to fish a couple of spots where I spotted a single fish and picked up an under slot sea trout on the Creme paddletail bait I had on the rod.    I took a a quick pic and released the fish.

The water on the other side of the road where there is normally a few ladyfish, snook, and juvenile tarpon was virtually dried up and fishable only to the waterfowl that were wading the shallows.

A few brown pelicans, roseatte spoonbills, and cormorants were in the area along with the usual shore birds dining on small crustaceans.  We took a few pics of the birds and decided to head to the house for dinner.

I was not thrilled catching only one small sea trout but compared to the other anglers dunking baits along the bank, I seemed to be out fishing them.  

All in all it was a pleasant afternoon in the refuge.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Rat Reds On The Flats

After shopping at WalMart this morning and stocking up on some Storm paddletail baits, I decided to sneak off and do some late afternoon fishing at Gator Creek for some rat reds on the flats.

It was pretty windy this afternoon when I crossed the bridge so topwater fishing was definitely out of the question.

I took a few pics of the construction that is ongoing along the causeway before turning into Gator Creek road.

 

As I entered the refuge there were four groups of anglers wading the shallows fishing with live shrimp.

One of the guys had a fish on but I didn't take the time waiting to find out what it was.

I meandered to the spot I fished yesterday and although I didn't see any signs of fish, I decided to give it a try anyway.

I tied on one of the Storm baits I picked up this morning at WalMart and began blind casting the area.

After about 10 minutes, I hooked into a redfish on a dropoff.   The fish was small enough to be considered a "rat" so I took a pic, removed the hook, and put it back into the clear water to grow up.

After several casts I hooked into a larger fish that I  also released.

After missing a couple more taps, I moved up the road to another spot in the same general area of the mud flat and began blind casting.

Almost immediately, I hooked and released a sea trout that just made the slot.  The fish was hooked deep but I got the bait out and the fish was none the worse for wear.

After a couple more casts I hooked into another red that was about the same size as the previous fish.  I took another pic before releasing it.

To make a long fish story shorter, I hooked, landed and released five more rat reds on the flats before the bite died off.   The largest two fish were slot size or slightly larger.

On the way out of the refuge, I drove around East Gator Creek to pitch a few casts in likely looking areas but never got a hit.

I took some pics of the receding waters on the flats before heading home for some dinner.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.