A Nice Day For Redfish

After almost getting skunked yesterday, Karen and I almost didn't bother going fishing today.

However, after I finished up with some chores, we decided to try some other areas we that we haven't fished in a while.

Since I had a lifetime pass to Playalinda Beach and hadn't been to the beach lately, we decided to check out the fishing and possibly catch some whiting if the conditions were right.

The weather was beautiful but the wind was whipping up the waves. A perfect day for surfers but not for fishermen.

We stopped first at lot #6 where I took these pics. There were virtually no fishermen in the area but lots of bathers and surfers.

We drove on to Eddy Creek and saw only a few catfish and small trout being caught so we moved on up to lot #9 where the fishermen usually catch fish.

I took these pics and after talking to some of the guys who were fishing, decided to pass on the surf fishing.

When the tide was coming in some nice bull whiting were being caught, but as the waves became more difficult to fish, almost everyone was "packing it in" for the afternoon.

These guys were the exception and were still catching whiting.

Elmo was getting antsy, so I took some pics of the last space shuttle that will ever launch from this pad and decided to take Bio Lab road along the Mosquito Lagoon out to our next spot.

I stopped to net some finger mullet for bait but couldn't get close enough for a good cast. I foolishly tried one half hearted cast into the wind at a school that wasn't nearly close enough before giving up and moving on up the road.

As we got close to the Bio Lab boat launch, we saw a group of fishermen who were thoroughly enjoying themselves out in the Mosquito Lagoon,lounging on their chairs and fishing with live finger mullet.

I just had to take this pic.

I was about to call it a day but Karen wanted to give one of our spots on the Indian River one last try if it wasn't too windy to cast.

As we came into Catfish Creek Loop I managed to net enough finger mullet for bait at one of the culverts.

We drove on up the road to the spot where she wanted to fish.

Karen stayed with her dead shrimp and bobber combo while I tossed out two live finger mullet baits. One was free lined and the other held on bottom with a 1 oz. sliding sinker rig.

As a car came by, Karen called me to make sure that Elmo was in the car.

I went to the car but he wasn't anywhere. I quickly realized that Elmo was still sitting where I netted the finger mullet for bait.

Karen was frantic and threw her rod into the truck as I backed down the road.

About 20 yards down the road I saw Elmo looking to find us. I opened the door and he flew into the truck with an incredulous look on his face that we would actually leave him like that.

After scolding him for not staying in the truck we moved back to our spot where my rods were still out.

Despite the wind, it was only about 10 minutes before a nice fat redfish picked up the freelined mullet bait and headed upstream.

After a really decent fight, I Boca Gripped the fish to the bank, took some pics and returned the fish to fight another day.

The fish measured in just over the slot at 29".

As I put on another mullet I heard Karen yell that she had a good redfish on.

I pulled out my trusty Nikon camera and took these videos of her landing a 31" redfish. As they say; "A picture is worth a thousand words".


These two fish made up for the lousy fishing we had on Friday.

After I put her fish back, I walked back to where my other rod was and lost another redfish.

Since I hadn't bothered to bring any aireation along, the mullet I netted were all dead. So, I hooked up a 7" mullet and punched some holes in its guts to get the juices flowing and pitched it into another area where I saw a fish swirl.

After about 5 minutes or so I hooked onto another nice fat redfish that put up a good fight. This fish was just at the slot and almost made it to the dinner table tonight.

Instead I opted to put the fish back to fight another day.

Karen and I were getting eaten up by the mosquitoes and it was getting late, so we decided to head on up the road and call it a day.

The full moon over the Space Center will probably keep the reds eating throughout the night.

Anyway, it was A Nice Day For Redfish and today's fishing excursion definitely made up for yesterday's less than stellar trip.

I'm not sure I can get out tomorrow so until next time, Tight Lines to you all.

Playalinda Beach Fishing Report

Playalinda Beach is perhaps one of the most pristine beaches on the East Central coast of Florida.

The surf fishing in this area is better than average because of the deeper sloughs in several of the areas and the Eddy Creek boat launch offers shallow water boaters the opportunity to hit some of the better know fishing spots in the Mosquito Lagoon.

Whales Tail and Cucumber Island are easily accessible and normally hold good numbers of slot sized and over redfish and sea trout.

In addition, there are several "holes" that harbor gag grouper if you know where to fish for them.

On the way to pick up some groceries, I called a friend of mine in Georgia and we discussed among other things, surf fishing. He loves to surf fish when he gets a chance to visit both Playalinda Beach and Patric AFB below Coco Beach.

The talk about surf fishing got me to change plans, so I headed for the beach to purchase a Federal Park pass.

Expecting to pay the $35.00 annual rate, I was surprised to find out that I qualified for a Senior Pass that is lifetime and only costs $10.00. I also discovered that the pass allows entry to any Federal National Park. However, you need to be 62 in order to qualify for it.

The ranger at the park said that the surf fishing was good for pompano and whiting, so I decided to make a run to Eddy Creek and check out some of my old spots.

Stopping first at Eddy Creek, I talked to a fisherman who was just coming in from a morning's trip to see how he fared.

He reported that he caught 8 redfish around the slot and one redfish near Cucumber Island that measured about 38"; all by sight fishing. All were caught on a light colored DOA CAL jerk bait.

He said the fish were skittish because of all the guides bait fishing for them, but that they were catchable if you practiced a "stealthy" approach.

Some people on the wooden dock were just having fun catching croaker and pinfish while a kayaker was doing the same in the shallows of the creek.

I moved to three different parking lots to see how the surf fishing was doing and at #8 found everyone ready to head home.

Lots #8, #9, and #10 are usually better for fishing because of the beach contour and the fact that less swimmers frequent this area.

The tide was almost full and the surf was rough. The guys I talked to said they needed 6oz. in order to hold bottom and they still missed fish. Despite the rough surf, there was one guy out about 300 yards in a kayak having a ball fishing!

Contrary to the information I got from the ranger at the entrance; everyone I spoke with said that the pompano had not been biting well for the past 3 weeks however, the whiting and croaker were "hot".

Everyone I spoke with caught whiting, "sailors choice", and some croaker. One guy had an undersized redfish that he returned to the surf.

After taking some pics that you can see here, I decided to get on with my grocery shopping so I could get out and do some fishing in the afternoon.

Hope the info helps some of you surf fishing addicts out!

Till next time, Tight Lines!

Playalinda Beach Smorgasboard

Playalinda Beach surf fishermen have been doing quite well on bluefish, pompano, and "bull" whiting inside the breakers.

The large "Bull" whiting up to 15 inches are holding along the surf from the Canaveral National Seashore at Playalinda Beach northward.

I've gotten several reports from my surf fishing neighbors who are telling me that the bluefish are still running just outside the surf break.

Any small live bait or crustacean will be gobbled up almost immediately, and Krockodile spoons, jigs, and small plugs will also do the job when the water is murky or in low light.

Pompano are also still being caught in the surf just outside the first line of breakers.

Rig a 2/0 or 4/0 circle hook in tandem, with a 4 oz. sinker, or just enough weight to hold bottom. The most effective baits are sand fleas, cut clams or mussels, and small shrimp.

A friend of mine who usually scores fish told me that fresh peeled shrimp, soaked in diet Coke, is one of his "secret" baits for pompano. I can't argue with him on that, but he does catch fish.

The bonnethead sharks are also starting to show up on the beach in this area.

A minimal fee is charged to get into the Canaveral National Seashore which tends to keep the beaches somewhat uncrowded.

If you have never visited the area before, I'm sure you'll enjoy the beautiful white sand and natural surroundings.

Till next report, Tight Lines!