Indian River Lagoon Forecast – August 2025

Jeff March with his personal best spotted sea trout, caught on live finger mullet in the IRL.

 

August can be one of the best months of the year to fish for redfish. It’s also the hottest, so you want to go early in the morning before first light for the early bite. Sometimes in the middle of a calm day big schools of 50 to 200 redfish can be spotted on the edges of flats between 1- and 3-feet of water in the Indian River or Lagoon. Try using live shrimp, flies or Gulp shrimp with no weight. Use a light action rod and 8 lb. braid with a light leader for best results.

Trout fishing has been good in the morning. Use topwater plugs, or the best technique is to use live pigfish on the flats, best when near bait schools!

The black drum are also still around, usually on the drop offs. I use live shrimp or pieces of crab or Gulp shrimp and throw at the fish and let it sit on the bottom.

Garrett Boykin caught this 37-inch redfish in the North end of Mosquito Lagoon with artificial shrimp.

Tarpon fishing has been very good and I expect it’s going to continue in August. Sight-fishing in Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, look for fish rolling. The tarpon come back to the same places year after year and they’re usually in 3- to 8-feet of water in the Indian River or cruising near the channel edge. I typically use spinning tackle with 20- to 40-pound braided line with 60 pound fluorocarbon with a 6/0 circle hook, throwing a live mullet or bunker at them or slow trolling them.

Ocean fishing for tarpon has been great! In the ocean, look for the schools of bait just behind the shore-break and throw a cast net on them. Keep your eyes open as you will see the tarpon rolling or coming up to gulp air; usually they are in packs of several fish or large schools and following the bait. The fish should be in 20- to 40-feet of water. Here you’ll also find schools of jacks, sharks, reds, bonita, etc. feeding near these schools of bait while fishing for tarpon. Use gear heavy enough to get these tarpon to the boat as quick as possible; long fights with light gear usually will mean the predator sharks will have an easy meal when you release them!

Watch out for the afternoon rains and thunderstorms moving in fast and stay safe!

Capt. Troy Perez
Troy Perez Fishing
facebook.com/captaintroyfl
capt.troyperez@gmail.com
(321) 607-2033

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