Spring has sprung! I don’t care what the ground hog says these are heating up! Capt. Jonathan Moss here with this month’s Orlando Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report!
Freshwater:
The last few months have been producing solid Crappie and American shad action on the St. Johns River but as things warm up, Hybrid and Largemouth bass will be your ticket! Look for drop offs in the bend of the river or the mouth of a creek. Work the edges and drop offs using a mini Rat-L Trap. I prefer the color scheme, chrome with a blue top. Bass have been chasing bait and are hungry with the post spawn. Local Orlando lakes have also been producing good numbers of bass. Number 6 x-rap in the black and silver has been my go to for these aggressive fish. Bass have been schooling together and are in the 1-3 pound range.
Saltwater:
The Mosquito Lagoon has been clearing up beautifully which makes sight fishing an absolute blast! As you scan the flats, keep an eye out for tails or pushes. These are your sign that the fish are present. With the clear water, a quiet approach is the key. Spot a fish, make a soft cast past the fish, twitch, slow down and fish on. Soft plastics such as paddle tails, swim baits, and shrimp patterns have been the ticket!
Fly Fishing:
Redfish, black drum and trout are continuing their forage of shrimp. With that being said, flies that mimic shrimp have been the key to success on my skiff. pOG Flys, www.pierceoutdoorsgroup.com/pog-flys-shop, makes a killer coyote flats shrimp and new for the 2017 spring lineup, the Anarchy Leo Mod Shrimp both have been deadly on the tailing redfish!
Pro Tip: If you spend any time fishing the flats, then you know the damaging effects of saltwater! One thing that I have begun to implement on my boat is separating used tackle from unused tackle. Whenever I switch a lure or fly, I put the used bait in a separate box marked dirty. By doing this, I can quickly grab the dirty box at the end of the day and give those baits a good rinse with freshwater. This extra step will help your lures last longer, which in turn saves you money!
Tight Lines Y’all ,
Capt. Jonathan Moss
Go Castaway Fishing Charters
Serving Orlando, Mosquito Lagoon, Central Florida
www.gocastaway.com
407-760-8593
