By Capt Pat Murphy
A super mild winter and spring is almost here, before you know it water levels have finally dropped to seasonal levels and that simply means great fishing. Redfish are tailing hard in the early am hours and often can be found foraging well into the afternoon. Sight fishing on both light tackle and fly will continue to be productive well into the upcoming months as the winter transition makes its change to spring feeding patterns. Soft Plastic lures in the 4 inch size continue to be the most effective go to lure for redfish and seatrout on the flats and drop offs. Look for Black Drum in your usual redfish haunts with some recent schools numbering in the hundreds, a well-placed shrimp will get the attention of these tasty fish. The top water action is hot now and will only get better as we move into the baitfish transition soon to come. Both gator trout and redfish are aggressively taking noisy surface plugs like the skitterwalk and Pop Shadz soft plastic popper. Lighter colors have been the most effective in bone or white.
Remember the wind is the most important factor when fishing the lagoon as it has the most impact on locating fish and their feeding habits. North wind typically lowers the water level, while southern winds will contribute to higher water levels. Now is a good time to learn the area with low water allowing you to see almost all of the major bars and submerged islands. A solid west wind tends to stir the water a bit and fishing the Clinker Islands can often be very productive with a refuge from the open water. Fish the back sides of Islands and the mouths and entrances to the main channel. Remember as always If I can help you with making your day on the water more productive feel free to contact me for tips or advice on where to go and when, until next month Tight lines and screaming drags!
Capt Pat Murphy
321-278-9852
mosquitolagoonguides@gmail.com
www.mosquitolagoonguide.com