Ed Killer South Fla. Report

 Mosquito Lagoon: Capt. Jon Lulay of Mosquito Lagoon Redfish Charters in Titusville said the fragile lagoon this past week featured clear water, and great fishing opportunities. Big redfish and big black drum can be caught by sight casting to schooling fish with a Slayer Inc SST swim baits or a Berkley Gulp! jerk bait on a Mission Fishin jig head. Lulay said his anglers had a few nice trout up to 5-6 pounds this week. When it has been calm, he said he has been able to locate 2-3 schools of black drum between 10-14 pounds, too. What works best for the drum are live shrimp on a Mission Fishin jig head. When trying to locate a school of big drum or reds, look for the color change in the clear water. Lulay said the water quality has belied the lagoon’s long term issues which seems to be habitat loss. The sea grass is really depleted and some spots which had acres of sea grass even one year ago look like a desert he said. But the fishing is still good for now, and the spring bait run is coming soon.

Surf: Caleb Couture of Tradewinds Surf Fishing Charters with Caleb Couture on Facebook said the surf fishing from Spessard Holland to Sebastian Inlet has been pretty good, and it’s going to get even better in the coming weeks. His anglers have been catching limits of pompano, plus whiting, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and, close to the inlet, even a few surprise permit. Anglers using Pompano Rigs by Couture, found at Strike Zone in Melbourne or Reel Em In in Sebastian, with the pink and white colored floats, or chartreuse floats, and Fishbites in pink with shrimp or sand flea flavors have been having good success. The best times have been to fish an hour before or after high tide or an hour before or after sunrise and an hour before sunset, he said.      

Indian River Lagoon: Capt. Jim Ross of Fineline charters in Rockledge said anglers can still find a few black drum and redfish by fishing from area bridges with live shrimp and cut crabs. However, water quality in the Indian River and Banana River lagoons is really poor. Ross said it’s hard to get excited about a fishing trip on these waters when the nutrient load has caused so much degradation that a fish kill seems to be looming. Hopefully, it will not happen, but warm weather and possibly a rain event could trigger one this spring similar to the one in 2016.

Sebastian Inlet: Capt. Glyn Austin of Sebastian Inshore Fishing said the variety of catches being caught in and just outside the inlet has been excellent. Everything from giant oversized redfish to slot-sized snook to early season tarpon is being caught on live baits. Some anglers fishing from the jetties at Sebastian Inlet State Park are not having as much success as anglers fishing from boats, however. Black drum and sheepshead are staple catches, and schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel provide flurries of action.     

report courtesy of Ed Killer Florida Today