By Capt. Michael Savedow, Edgewater River Guide
Spring patterns are in place, water temperature will be rising as we head towards summer, and hoping for a good shrimp run which is a plus for spring catching in Edgewater Backcountry and Mosquito Lagoon. Every fish swimming in coastal waters eats shrimp. To target the different species of fish, choose the types of locations and techniques for each fish. For redfish in the backcountry stick mainly to shallow water flats, shorelines, drop off edges, and oyster bars. For school size seatrout go to deeper drop offs and points. Also with a current break, snook, sheepshead, and snapper hang around structures like docks, bridges, jetties and backwaters drop offs and points. Jack crevalle, bluefish, and ladyfish like open water with bait and a flowing current.
On the lagoon’s shallow flats, sight fish schooling redfish and black drum, look for pushing wakes and tailing fish. Larger seatrout also spread over the flats and off the edges. Use as light a leader & weight as possible wherever you are fishing to produce the most bites with a natural presentation. Throw artificials like DOA and Gulp shrimp, or other soft plastics to match the hatch, of course fly fishermen can’t go wrong with shrimp patterns. With an outgoing tide still running at sunrise, fish the ICW and the “old channel”, first thing early morning. You may see fish striking the surface with flipping shrimp trying to escape. Most likely the fish here will be trout, jacks, ladies, or blues. Fish free lined shrimp, soft plastic, imitation, or fly right into the action. This is the perfect scenario for fun sight fishing by spin fishers & fly casters. It does not last long, after the sun is up a bit, the action will slow on the surface, then time to go deeper with your baits.
With the spring run of bait fish, this includes glass minnows, pilchards, and mullet. You want to keep an open mind and try different baits and lures. With spring warming water temperatures, dock light fishing will be getting good again. A free lined shrimp drifting right through the circle of light is the go to bait, but small size soft plastics, and a shrimp fly for you flyfishers, outgoing tide can be best with shrimp movement on the falling. However the incoming tide can also produce a good flow. Expect seatrout, snook, jacks, blues, ladyfish, or a surprise catch.
The Ponce Inlet jetties can be very fishy in the spring, flounder are one of the main attractions on the New Smyrna side. The flat fish have been deep offshore during winter, spawning on the bottom of the ocean, and they return to inshore waters with many stopping to feed at the jetty rocks. Fish as close to the rocks as possible, best baits are lip hooked small size live finger mullet and mud minnows, with live shrimp and jigs second choice. Black drum, redfish, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, pompano, and whiting are also possible catches on shrimp around the rocks. Jack crevalle, blues, and Spanish mackerel can be great fun on Gotcha Lures working fast off the jetty during times of clear ocean water.
