Break out your favorite topwater lure and get to walkin' the dog! Gator trout will be lurking behing the mullet that are flowing into our estuaries exploding on topwaters in the early morning hours throughout Mosquito Lagoon during the first couple hours of daylight and at dusk. I like to target these lunker fish starting off with a more noisy plug and if this doesn't draw their attention, switch over to one with less vibration in the water such as a High Roller. Toss it out where these gamesters are laid up working your lure with a pause every few seconds then returning with your retrieve for explosive strikes. This is the best time of year to hook a trophy "gator" on topwaters.

Redfish will start to single up cruising the shallow grass flats in search of all kinds of different baits, but as our pigfish season is approaching quickly, this will be by far your best live bait. They will also school up in large numbers with alot holding over 100 fish. Soft plastic jerkbaits during the summer months cannot be resisted by a predator such as our resident redfish. Rig it weedless and target 1-3 feet of water with plenty of baitfish present.

Black drum are still in good numbers but do feel the boat pressure. Early mornings while it's almost still dark out should get you on these tailing fish. Also mid day afternoons when most anglers are off the water the fish seem to settle down and eat better. Cut blue crab, shrimp and clams will be the go to bait along with several being caught on a crab pattern fly. Most are in the 5-10 pound class that put up an awesome battle on light tackle.

Get on out there the fishing is really heating up!

- Captain Jeff

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Fishing the back country of Mosquito Lagoon will remain on fire with cold fronts sliding through the state on a more regular basis. Redfish will bunch up in sand sloughs throughout the northern end's maze of twisting creeks, cuts and shallow bays. Be very careful with low water levels running this area or you could very well beach your boat on a sand bar or even worse, an oyster bar. I highly recommend hiring a guide for a trip or two if you are new to the area to get some understanding of Mosquito Lagoon. Target these sandy areas for schooled up reds eating a variety of live baits and most artificials. The number one goal for any angler this time of year is to SLOW down your presentation. Fishing soft plastics bounced along the bottom should produce great results. As for live baits, nothing will work better than a tail bitten' off live shrimp. Take off the fan part to give the shrimp more scent and prevent him from spinning in circles while being reeled in. In the shallows even tossing a "topwater" shrimp will get fish chasing your bait to the boat. If you have a red or trout bee-lining towards your shrimp while reeling it in simply drop it and chances are you'll hook up.

Black drum are in excellent numbers on the flats along with deeper sections of the ICW. Cut blue crabs, shrimp or clams will get the attention of these fighters of a fish. Most in the flats are averaging 5-10 pounds but there is a few schools of the big boys roaming in the 20 pound and up class.

Trout fishing is also on the most fishermans minds with our famous gator trout showing up in great numbers. These spooky trophy fish will be laying all over the Lagoon, but handle these big females with care for a quick photo and release. They are the future to our fishery and conservation is key. Try the areas where the water drops off quickly along grass flats or target deeper sand holes with tall grass around them. Smaller slot size trout are a givin in deeper water all over the place. A good ole' popping cork and a live shrimp will get you a mess of em'. 50 plus days are not uncommon.

Give me a shout for a trip of a lifetime and see why we are world famous!!

- Captain Jeff

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Fishing the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoon's this time of year is quite possibly one of my favorites. With the crystal clear low water levels of this beautiful refuge means only one thing......schooled up redfish! There's not much better than fishing in comfortable cool crisp mornings with feeding fish. Reds will school up very well this time of year willing to eat even on the coldest mornings. Switching your baits over to crustations such as large live shrimp tail hooked will get even the most stubborn fish to eat. Also remember to downsize your artificials and use more of a slow retrieve. It's not uncommon to get on a group of well over 100 fish bunched up together in the backcountry of Mosquito Lagoon. Stealth is key as you approach. I like to fish more sandy areas with the cooler water as it heats up faster with the sunlight.

Fishing for black drum, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, flounder, and even grouper will really start to pick up in 4-6 feet of water. Target mangrove shorelines where it drops off quickly along with branches dangling in the water. The closer you are to the bank and the deeper it is, the better. Go with a knocker rig with a small piece of shrimp threaded on the hook.

Trout season is closed in our area until January 1st, but there are plenty to be had although let's try to leave them alone during the closed season. Also remember snook season will close from December 15th till January 31st. The warmer canals off of the ICW will hold plenty of snook right now.

Flounder gigging is definantly going to pick up searching the shallow shorelines. "Doormat" flounder are a great possibility with some fish going over 10 pounds. If you stick one this big boys, HOLD ON!!! Shrimping should be good also on our outgoing tides especially during the full and new moons. Already this year we've been seeing larger than normal shrimp running. It will be pretty easy on the right nights to get your 5 gallon limit of shrimp per boat.

Check back for next months report and as always feel free to contact me with any questions or to book that true backwater flats fishing experience of a lifetime!!

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Check back soon and often as fishing reports will be updated regularly.

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