It seemed like the first part of summer we were never going to see any rain on the lagoon. The water level was abnormally low almost like the winter pattern but with the recent afternoon storms its coming back to normal. Let's start with Tarpon they can still be found holding around the bridges and along the edge of the ICW. Your best bet is to get out early before the boat traffic starts. Swim baits and twitch baits are a good choice for artificial. If using live bait finger mullet and croakers are a go to bait. The trout and red fish bite are strong in the early morning using top water plugs and soft baits. These fish can also be taken on pin fish,croakers,and live shrimp. If constant action is more your style we have some large schools of jacks in the ICW feeding on the bait pods. They will hit almost anything you throw at them from topwater to spoons and you can not beat the fight that a jack gives pound for pound.
Good luck and be safe

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We have definitely had some strange weather this year between extreme cold and extreme heat. But I think we are back on track with things now. The Tarpon have moved in around the bridges and near shore chasing the schools of bait. Make sure you go prepared using heavier tackle like a 7' castaway rod with 5 to 6 thousand series reel spooled with 30lb braid and a 40lb flouracarbon leader. They can be caught on suspending hard baits and soft swim baits. The go to live baits would be croakers ,pin fish,and live mullet. For the red fish and trout bite it is red hot right now. They both can be found around the schools of bait in the lagoon early in the morning. As the sun gets higher and the water warms up look for the trout on the deeper grass flats. And the reds will be holding in deeper pot holes,edges and points. Top water plugs and soft plastics are a good choice for artificial and live mullet,pin fish, and pig fish for live bait. Just remember as warm as the water is take your time releasing these fish it makes for a better survivor rate.

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Usually by June we have already mentioned how good the trout have been biting and especially on top water. But this year it has seemed that everything is a month behind but that does not matter because the trout are definitely here and feeding. They can be caught on top water and soft plastics if the big gator trout are your thing then stick with live pig fish or finger mullet. The Tarpon have started to migrate up the east coast and can be found chasing the bait pods off the beach and working there way into the intracoastal around the bridges. The best time to target tarpon is low light situations like early morning or late evening. They can be taken on a variety of artificial baits from plugs to soft plastics. Red fish are still being found in schools through out the Lagoon along with singles. Look for the schools of bait and you will find the Reds they have been eating the crustaceans stirred by the bait like shrimp and small crabs. They have been eating soft plastics in a shrimp color and also live pin fish. Just remember with the temps rising in the 90s and the water temps not to far behind that take the time to revive these fish.
Good luck

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I thought that May weather would never show up but it has finally arrived. Let's start with the red fish they can still be found in schools holding in deeper holes and edges of the flat. I have also seen smaller pods of fish mixed in with schools of finger mullet feeding on the crustaceans the mullet have stir up. There has been a really strong shrimp run the last few weeks so live shrimp or shrimp imitation will be the key I have also produced a lot of strikes on aqua dream spoons. The trout bite has turned on strong they can be caught early morning with top water plugs on the shallow grass flats. For later in the day focus on the flats that are about two to three feet deep with grass and sand holes and use a popping cork with a shrimp or jerk bait. Let's finish up with Tarpon with the temps rising into the 90s we should be seeing the water temps rise above 75 by the end of the month. This will bring us our migration of tarpon up the east coast. If you can't make it out the inlet to chase the pods up and down the beachs don't worry some will migrate inshore. The best times are early morning or late evening to hook one of these monsters they will eat a variety of baits from hard baits to live finger mullet. Good luck and be safe!

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The start of April is usually a good time to pull the top water plugs out of the box. But due to the abnormal chill this year it seems that the patterns of our fish in the Lagoon are a month behind. The water temp is still in the mid to high 60s until that rises a few degrees the snook and trout bite will be a little sluggish. The red fish can still be found in schools through out the lagoon I have also noticed a lot of singles showing up on flats and points with moving water. These fish can be targeted with live shrimp,cut mullet,or cut lady fish. If artificial is more your thing then any kind of small soft plastic or a 1/4 ounce aqua dream spoon will do the trick. And to the black drum we still have some large schools in the south end of the Mosquito lagoon and the north end of the indian river lagoon. These fish can be taken on a gulp shrimp,live shrimp,or split blue crab and hang on there are some big ones out there.

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With spring in affect it seems that the time has changed but not the weather we are still getting hammered by fronts.But on the positive side the temps have rose to the lower seventies which has brought the water temps up on the flats.The fronts have brought some much needed rain to Central FL and with that have raised the water level in the lagoon by a couple of inchs.The trout bite is still a little slow due to the water temp so slow retrieves with a soft plastic is the key to trigger a bite, they can also still be found in the deeper holes and ledges adjacent to the flats.The redfish can still be found schooled up on the warm mud flats and sand holes through out the lagoon along with the black drum.I like to target the reds with a 7'med castaway rod rigged with a aqua dream spoon for long cast to advoid spooking the school. If live bait is your choice of weapon then this can be done with the same rod and change to a number 2 circle hook with a shrimp,cut mullet,lady fish or live mullet.The key is long cast to advoid geting to close to the school.If black drum is your thing then shrimp or pieces of blue crab will do the trick. Good luck and be safe!

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It has been a busy start to the month of March. Starting with the I F A redfish tour in Punta Gorda FL on the 6th. Finding the fish was not a problem but finding fish in the slot was. By the looks of the weigh in everyone else had the same issue. But there's always the next one I do want to say congrats to murphy and page. Now let's get to the lagoon, hopefully with the cold weather behind us we can work our way into the spring time routine. You can find schools of redfish all over the lagoon right now look for the mud and sand bottom and you should find them. The trout are still holding in the deeper water due to the colder water temps just remember these fish took a beaten during the freeze so handle with care. If black drum are more your style then we have some schools of them around also look for the larger sand holes with shell and oyster bottom.
Good luck and be safe

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Let's start by saying someone has made the fish gods angry due to the weather we have been handed this winter. But with the start of March hopefully brings better weather. We had the start of the I F A tournament trail out of Jacksonville this past Sat unfortunately the weather was not the best for the guys but I did receive some reports of 7lb fish being weighed that's great. With the water being as low as it is in the lagoon it has forced the red fish into there winter time schools. The water temp is still in the 50s so no need to be on the water until the sun gets high in the sky to warm the flats a little. This time of year is great for those who love too sleep in. The trout bite is still holding strong focus on deep edges with a slow retrieve of either soft plastic or diving plug. Small shrimp imitation or live shrimp with a split shot presented slowly will produce the red fish bite. Remember this time of year if you think you are fishing to slow then slow it down another notch they are not going to be aggressive but they will eat. I need to thank my friend Steve Chapman for the invite on the Boo Dreaux's Boon Docques Fishing Show. I had a great time talking fishing and promoting my great sponsors.

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Finally with a break in the artic weather there was a chance for some really good sight fishing. We left the ramp around 10am letting the sun get high in the sky to warm the flats up do to the 52 degree water temp. The fish seem to be in there winter time patterns holding in deeper sand holes and later in the day on the edges. With the water being crystal clear long cast and slow retrieves are a must. I accomplish this by using a 7' medium castaway rod and either a small soft plastic or bouncing a aqua dream spoon off the bottom. For you live bait guys a shrimp or cut bait soaking on the bottom will work just as well. The water has dropped several inches over the past couple of weeks so be careful when cruising to your favorite honey hole. Good luck.

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As everyone knows this time of year the weather is not to stable so you have to be pretty flexable on when you can get on the water.I call it weather watching but it pays off for a good day of fishing.The water has drop and cleared up nicely making it easier to locate schools of redfish. Being able to reach them is a different story unless you have the right skiff like a ECC lostmen.The trout bite is still active but long cast and stealth approach is needed to have a chance with the gators.I have been using a 7' castaway
spinning rod for the long cast with live shrimp for larger trout and a red & silver aqua dream spoon for the reds.

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This time of year is hands down the best time to fish the Lagoon because of the crystal clear water,schooling redfish,and sometimes cooler but nice weather. But you do have to keep in mind that we are still recieving at least one front a week so plan your trips around the weather.The water temp is cool enough that getting on the water in the late morning is advised. Look for the redfish to be holding on large sand holes,sand bars,and mud flats.The trout on the other hand can be found in the deeper holes and on the shallow flats later in the day.Live shrimp and soft plastics are the go to baits for this time of year with a slow retreive.

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Hey Everyone!
Let me start by saying Sorry, I know it's been a while since the last Lagoon report. As many people know winter has set in and a little to hard. We had lows for many days in the 20's which caused our Snook and Trout population to take a drastic hit. I seen so many floating...it is sad! But what is worse is the people that are taking advantage of this by going out there and picking up the ones that are floating and fileting them at the docks and leaving the carcass' behind. They give us fishermen a bad name! The good news is that the Redfish have got into their winter patterns but with the temp change in the water it will take a few days of warmer weather to turn the bite on. When the bite does turn on, Patience and Slow presentation is a must. Hopefully the extreme weather is in the past and we can get focused on the year to come. I am ready for what 2010 has to bring!
Capt Patrick Rood

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Finally with the cooler weather upon us the water has cleared and the fish have started their winter patterns. Leaving the ramp around 7am on the 30th the temp was about 44 degrees and I was hoping the weather man was right that it would get in the 70's and for once he was. We started by targeting a couple of schools of redfish holding on a mud flat but no luck there they did not want to play.From there we got on another school that was alot less spooky and had some good luck.From there we decided to go get on some trout so we targeted some drop offs and ended the day by boating several trout. It was diff a great time on the water with Chris and his son William I always love seeing children enjoy the sport of fishing and boating their first saltwater fish good job guys.

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Started the day by wearing a pair of Longjohns, Winter Coat and as much as I could put on...due to the fact that it was 38 degrees. I picked my clients up at River Breeze boat ramp at 8 am, They had a look on there face of doubt due to the weather. But as soon as we got to the first flat and a school of about 30 redfish rose up then it turned to amazement. We proceeded to pull a couple of fish off that school and moved on to a few more schools. But the highlight of the trip was watching the son sight cast a single in about 7 inches of water and hang on for the E ticket ride. The look on his face is the reason I do this each day! The weather was cold, windy and miserable but we over came the obstacles and boated some really nice fish. Thanks for a great day of fishing guys! Hope to see you back soon!

Capt Patrick Rood

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Dec the 14th
I needed to get out to pre fish for a charter and to my surprise my wife wanted to come along.We got to the ramp at about 9am and headed to a island in the lagoon that has been holding a school of fish off the point on a bar.I staked the skiff off up wind from the bar and had my wife pitching a gulp shrimp back across the bar and first cast hooked up and the trash talking began.She was upset but we move to another flat where the water was flowing across at a steady pace and keeping the sun to our backs she was picking them off one at a time. So needless to say I heard it all day long about being out fished. But the funny thing is that in her eyes it doesn't count that I had a push pole in my hands the whole day. I couldn't think of another person I would rather be out fished by.

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After a cold front moved threw on Thurs. the wind and rain came with it and stayed with us until Sunday.The tempature dropped down into the forties and the wind was still blowing about ten to fifteen out of the north but we already put the trip off for a few days so it was game on.We left the ramp at about 9 am and proceeded to target the leeward side of some islands with the sun to our backs we sight casted gulp shrimp to several single redfish.After boating a few singles I proceeded to move us to a point that had a bar on the end of it. The water was being pushed across the bar by the wind and there was a school of about twenty redfish holding on the bar.I staked off up wind of the bar and driffted the baits back across the bar and they were diffinetly hungry.We ended the day with several redfish and a few trout along with a severe case of wind burn LOL.

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I started the morning by meeting my client at River Breeze boat ramp in Oak Hill.We both were bundled up like we were going skiing it was about 48 degrees and for a florida boy it was cold.The wind was blowing about 10 mph out of the north so we focused on some points where I new some reds were holding to try and stay out of the wind and like clock work it was one after another.After the sun got a little higher I proceeded to test the skills of my client by putting him on some fish to sight cast to and he past the test.We finished the day by picking up some over slot fish one 13lbs and the other 12lbs after that he was done.He boated 10 redfish and called uncle after the last two.I have noticed that the water has started to clear up nicely and the water should be dropping soon and the shrimp bite is diff. on.
Capt Patrick Rood

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The water temp has dropped and the bite is on.The lagoon is finally starting to clear and redfish are staring to school which makes for my favorite time of year.
Right now the water temp is just perfect for the top water bite,trout and redfish are both eating top water.Soon the water will start to lower and the fish will be found in the deeper pockets and on the shallow mud flats just be aware of the ares that use to have water will most likely be high and dry.This time of year also makes for great chances at tailing redfish with the lower water conditions which is always fun .December charters are filling quickly but still have some avaliable, also have gift certificates avaliable for the holidays.What better gift to give then a day on mosquito lagoon catching fish.

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Check back soon as reports will be updated and written.

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