Cold Day At The Beach

It was a windy, cold day at the beach at Playalinda but it was worth the trip to see what was being caught.

Karen and I decided to take Elmo and Odie for a scouting trip around the refuge yesterday, before the cold front moved into our area.

The weather was chilly and windy, but not as cold as was this afternoon.

We drove down Bio Lab road to see if anyone was wade fishing on the flats and saw only one other vehicle that was coming in from the other direction, close to the exit at  Playalinda beach road,

I later learned from the ranger at the pay station entrance that Bio Lab road is one way from the boat launch up to about 3/4 of a mile from the beach road where it then turns into a two lane dirt road.

It would be nice if it was marked, but what the hey.

I briefly thought about fishing a couple of places on the flats but the wind was coming across the Mosquito Lagoon too strong to bother fishing.   There were actually whitecaps on the water.

When we got to Playalinda Beach road, we decided to check out the beach and see if anybody was surf fishing.

There were a lot more vehicles than I expected in the area, but it nobody seemed to be interested in fishing the surf except for three guys at lot #8 at Eddy Creek.

We walked to the beach and checked out a few spots and I was genuinely surprised that no one else was fishing.   Karen thought that most people still believed that the beach was still closed due to the government shutdown, which is likely.

I expected the surf to be rough, but the tide was on the way out and the surf was relatively calm.  I watched a rip at lot #8 for a while and took a few pics of the three guys fishing before heading out to check out some of the other areas.  They had the entire beach to themselves.

It would have been a good day to surf fish but all I had with me was a couple of river rods with topwater lures and no live bait.

We ran up to #13, turned around and decided to run up to Haulover Canal and then Patillo Creek.

There were a few fishermen close to the bridge at Haulover fishing for black drum but they were packing up their gear to leave when we got there.

We left Haulover and drove over to Patillo Creek and found a group dunking baits for redfish.

I shot a few casts around several areas with a Chug Bug and a DOA Jerkbait without any luck and let the dogs run around the area for a bit before we decided to head for the house.

The wind had died down and the water was like glass by the time we decided to head out.

It was getting late and Karen and I were both getting cold and  ready for dinner so we decided to head home.

The cold front is supposed to pass by us by the weekend and I plan to wet a line as soon as my bones thaw out from this weather.

Till next time,
Tight Liens

Mars Curiosity Atlas Launch

This morning's Mars Curiosity Atlas launch caused NASA to temporarily close part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to fishing.

I had originally planned to hit the beach at Playalinda, catch some bluefish for supper and then drive around Peacocks Pocket road to see if I could pick up a redfish.

 

The Atlas launch screwed up my plans, so I decided to run up to Bio Lab road to fish the lower flats of the Mosquito Lagoon instead.

The weather was perfect with only a light breeze pushing the water towards Bio Lab road.

I noticed that Bio Lab boat ramp is now requesting a fee for launching your boat.

Don't know how many locals will pay it but it seems like every time you turn around, some government agency is trying to pick your pocket.

Anyway, the road was crowded with  people enjoying the scenery, mostly the alligators and only a few fishermen.



Before I decided on an area to fish, I talked to three fishermen.  None of them were catching much except for catfish and a stingray.

No one was catching redfish.

I took a ton of pics and drove close to the Pelican Island flats where I saw some fish chasing bait on the surface.

 
The area is good for wading but very weedy.  Despite the weeds, I started fishing with my favorite gold Bagley spoon hoping for a cruising redfish.

Although a lot of fish were being chased, I evidently couldn't "match the hatch" because I never got a hit.









I carefully waded around the area methodically fan casting to cover as much water as possible but nothing seemed to be interested in my spoon.

Finally after an hour or so, I decided to run up to Bairs Cove boat ramp on Haulover Canal.

There were several  fishermen on both sides of the canal fishing with shrimp and live bait but again, no one seemed to be catching anything.

I took the pictures you see below but didn't even bother wetting a line.  It was getting late in the afternoon so I decided to head home and rest out for tomorrow's outing.

 

 






On the way, I passed the western entrance to Peacocks Pocket road and noticed that the NASA personnel reopened the refuge.

Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day for catching.

Till then, tight lines!