Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report: August 2014

On a guides day off I teamed up with Capt. Tyler. This over slot redfish was just one of the many fish that ate a Banks Lures Flats Creeper in my custom color (Capt. Mark Wright Special)!
On a guides day off I teamed up with Capt. Tyler. This over slot redfish was just one of the many fish that ate a Banks Lures Flats Creeper in my custom color (Capt. Mark Wright Special)!

There is a lot going on the Mosquito Lagoon even in August. Sure, it’s hotter than the hinges of Hades, but we have ways to combat this!

Start EARLY, especially if you are targeting slot reds and gator trout on the shallow flats. I actually offer a three hour fishing charter precisely for this reason. Fishing shallow after 9 A.M. can be a challenge when it’s hot.

Top water plugs like the Fender Walker and weedless rigged soft plastics like the Exude Dart, RT Slug or Cigar Minnow rule the roost on my boat. However, when encountering thick mats of grass these lures can be problematic and soaking natural baits could be your best option.

Later in the day the savvy angler can find excitement on the deeper flats. I absolutely love fishing the spotted bottom regions covered with two to four feet of relatively clean water. A jighead adorned with a soft plastic shrimp, grub-tail or swim-tail style lure works extremely well.

Grady’s patience and persistence paid off greatly on a recent trip to the Mosquito Lagoon with Capt. Mark Wright. He boated five reds using cut mullet after two hours of refusals on artificials!
Grady’s patience and persistence paid off greatly on a recent trip to the Mosquito Lagoon with Capt. Mark Wright. He boated five reds using cut mullet after two hours of refusals on artificials!

For the folks who have trouble maintaining a proper depth while retrieving these lures consider adding a rattle float above your lure. Your leader between the float and bait should allow the lure to suspend right at the top of the grass when the float is at rest.
For maximum fun out on the deeper flats acquire some live pigfish and suspend them in
similar fashion. I much prefer an adjustable “popping float” for live pigfish as it’s critical to suspend this baitfish at exactly the right depth. I also prefer fishing this technique once the breeze picks up a bit.

Finally, it’s time for the redfish to spawn. Please remember to take good care of these breeding fish once you’ve boated one. Take a quick photo holding the fish in a HORIZONTAL position supporting the belly then back in the water with it. Make sure the trophy is strong enough to swim away under its own power. Often this requires our help and patience.

I find it a good practice to squeeze the barbs down on the treble hooks of the top- water and swimming plugs I use for these awesome creatures. As long as the angler keeps a tight line and steady pressure on the fish it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever notice the barb was eliminated and it sure makes de- hooking the fish easier!

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