Fall/winter fishing report from a few years back

                                         Local Lines FSFA Report

                  Fishing on the Lagoons has been solid with many of our year-round resident fish finally getting into their winter pattern.  Most of the small mullet have left the flats for deep canals, and only return to the shallows for the late morning warmup.  The Predators are doing the same!  I look for the large Black Mullet to signify the movement of fish from deeper overnight waters.  The trout and redfish will accompany these big mullet on and off the flats.  If I don’t see big mullet I don’t fish!  As with every year the Black Drum has invaded our winter flats.  These fish will tail just like their cousin the redfish.  Though you can take the smaller and bigger versions on soft plastics like Slayer SST paddle tails, DOA Shrimp, and Gulp shrimp, but for your best chance a fresh dead shrimp or half blue crab is the ticket.  Sight fishing is the way to get our shots in water from 1-3ft. deep. 

Hot Colors (Artificial) This Week: Black and Gold, Molting, white, new penny..

Sometimes it’s just fun to hook a fish!  Leaving the stress of challenging species for some fun is not only good for you, but a great way to involve novice anglers and kids.  The cooler months of the Space Coast can get the shrimp flowing.  The seatrout know and exploit this every year.  Now most of these aren’t going to be your big giant “Gator” trout; those will be hot-to-trot soon enough.  These little scrappy trout will be 12-20inches and all the fun you can handle on light tackle.  6wt or less fly gear is also a blast with them.  All the causeways will have these trout at night and plenty of them have good access.  The 2½ inch Savage Gear Mantic Shrimp is a must use on spinning gear in the 6lb. line class.  This durable little shrimp can stand up to a bunch of fish and keep working well.  The smaller lures the better if you’re looking for fast non-stop action.  Fly’s the mimic small baitfish/minnows and small shrimp can be deadly effective. Go have fun and enjoy some catching; not fishing!

Coastal Angler Article January 2011

JANUARY CAM 2011

                Once again a new year is upon us.  And though spring is just around the corner, it’s not soon enough for this Florida boy!  In fact, I write this with record low temperatures nipping at my toes.  Fishing in January is 100% dependant on the weather, and any consistent patterns will give fish the opportunity to feed.  This is also a great time to clean up your gear, spool new line, and catch up on kayak maintenance neglected in preparation for spring.

                Yet another kayak fishing seminar from LocalLinesCharter.com is set for February 2.  This seminar covering the ins and outs of kayak fishing is free to the public, and everyone from beginners to experts will receive priceless tips and tactics.  Catch “The Ins and Outs of Kayak Fishing” on 2-2-2011, 6:00 pm at Boaters Exchange in Rockledge, right off US1.

               

                For those fishable days this month, here is a sure bet and something different to try, respectively:

SEATROUT IN THE CANALS

                You just can’t go wrong sea trout fishing this time of year.  The canals and deep holes of the entire region will produce steady action on average (14-20 in.) sea trout, and a cast in the quietest, muddy-bottomed canals could have you latched on a true Gator trout of 6 pounds or better.  The best way to connect with these willing fish is a 1/8oz. Mission Fishin jig head with an Assassin paddle tail, curl tail, DOA Shrimp, or Gulp soft plastic.  Slowly bounce this rig along the bottom and wait for the telltale thump of a lethargic trout.  Dead end canals, especially ones with a natural shore lines, will be loaded; so catch them up!  With natural bait you can free-line a shrimp or add a bobber to keep it right of the bottom. Though, a fresh cut-bait soaked on a circle hook might just account for the biggest seatrout.  The canal trout will hit early in the day when lures are fished slowly, and if a flat is close by you can follow the fish out of the canal as the sun warms the shallows.  Best soft plastic colors are chartreuse, white, and natural.

BEACH RUN POMPANO

                January’s persistent west winds will beat down the surf, and allow adventurous kayak anglers access to some amazing Pompano action.  These silver sided, tasty gamesters not only grill up nicely, but they fight like crazy on light river tackle.  The troughs, washouts, and coquina areas that cover Brevard’s beaches from the sand to 100 yards out can all produce Pompano at one time or another.  A good sign that any given stretch of beach is holding Pompano would be the presence of sand spikes, rods that resemble bamboo shoots, and salty beach anglers sipping coffee.  Beware though, keep some distance.  Pyramid sinkers pack a heavy punch.  Not to mention we one-up our stationary friends with mobility and agility to chase the marauding Pompano schools.  Your standard trout and Redfish rod will do fine throwing the small Pompano jigs that I like to use.  Any small buck tail (synthetic works well), speck/crappie jig, or a Doc’s Goofy Jig type lure in pink, white, and yellow will catch Pompano.  All of these types of lures can be rigged single or tandem, and should be worked back with short vigorous snaps of the rod.  Impart this action “puffing” the sand bottom to mimic the Pompano’s favorite treat, the sand flea.  Though it is not necessary, one could tip the Pompano jig with cut clam or fresh shrimp (peeled) for a sweetener.  Tipping will improve the chances of hooking the whiting, sheepshead, and black drum that share the same habitat as Pompano.  Be sure to move and search-cast for the Pompano that could show at high tide right on the sand, or the back side of a sandbar at low tide.  Also, be sure to rig a rod with lures like Clark spoons or Gotcha jigs incase the ravenous blue fish and Spanish mackerel that patrol the winter surf show up. 

                So, grab your fishbag and some ice to keep those “pomps” fresh and try some Pompano fishing from your kayak!

Tight Lines & Wet Paddles!

    

Forecasts by: Capt. Alex Gorichky

LocalLinesChartes.com

Full-Time Space Coast fishing guide

 And Malibu Kayaks Pro-Staff paddler

Contact Capt. Alex @ 321-480-3255 

March 2017 Kayak fishing

It’s tough to sit and write of impending spring fishing on the Space Coast this year.  That is mostly due to the fact that our winter was much more like spring than typical, and a warm winter will make everything a little crazy for us anglers.  There are many ups and downs when we have a mild or in this winter’s case, no winter.  Snook will continue to become even more prevalent and push their range north with every passing warm winter.  Migrations like tarpon, cobia, nearshore kingfish, mangrove snappers, and many more will happen early by days, weeks, or even months in some cases.  It pays to be on your toes on a warm winter/spring transition.  Couple a wonky winter with lagoon issues and it will make some areas tough to fish.  However it could make others fire off for some of the best days ever experienced.   Covering ample amounts of water and keeping a sharp eye out for any indicators of fish is a must on our lagoons for this spring.  Pods of large black mullet will typically hold a few reds and trout so be sure to see that “activity” where you plan to fish.  Dead water, is as it sounds.  Will be areas that are devoid of movement be it baits, large mullet, crabs, rays, puffers, or catfish and should be quickly past up for greener pastures.  Grass is still hard to find in some areas and fish are taking notice.  I’ve seen more fish holding to docks, mangroves, and hard bottom than ever before.  Be sure to focus in these areas especially when the sun climbs high in the sky.  Black drum are still making a show on most flats, but will be looking to spawn out and slide to deeper water as the flats warm more and spring progresses.  Get on these schools while you can to have a blast.  Many lures and such will catch them but nothing beats a fresh dead/live shrimp. Be ready for that topwater seatrout bite to ramp up as the month draws to an end and they get hungry before the spawn.  As typical I will recommend any trout over 22inches swims free, and without a doubt any fish over 24inch due to the fact it can only be an egg bearing female needed for reproduction not a fish sammich.  Also as this month draws to a close, be mindful of the sad anniversary the 21^st holds.  That’s right folks!  It’s been one year since a massive fish kill/extinction event rocked our Banana River Lagoon and No-Motor-Zone.  Let me tell you it’s been a long year for those troubled waters.  We are seeing some improvement, many people became aware of an issue unknown prior to, and we even managed to take steps in a positive direction with the Lagoon Tax.  The Banana is still slow with resident fish like Seatrout and reds, but the visitor species seem to be enjoying some clear water and lots of bait.  We can only hope that positive signs and positive actions continue to be the “talk of our Lagoons”.  Sadly the No-Motor-Zone (NMZ) was hit hard and is still stumbling to recover fish stocks.  The picture show is my first client caught fish (black drum) from the NMZ for over a year.  I had stopped fishing it months before the kill due to algae density.  It was a great moment shared with wonderful clients doing something I love (my job) in an area I’ve grown up fishing.  Pure stoke is what I like to call it!   Its slow but we/I will be back to sample the NMZ’s bounty.

Summer 2015 Kayak fishing

Summer time has come for central Florida’s kayak anglers.  Look for the fishing to be just as hot as those still and muggy mornings!  The brisk spring winds of May will become a distant memory.  Kids are out of school and it’s time to get fishing.  Many of the baits that are so small in the spring that you won’t even notice them have become perfect bait sized morsels, and certainly caught the attention of or predatory fish.  Threadfins, baby pogies (small Atlantic menhaden), pinfish, mojarra, and several types of mud minnows will supplement a diet that has consisted of mullet for the past few months.  I will be putting out some short videos on catching, caring for, and using these baits.  Those video’s, a weekly forecast by Local Lines Charters, and much more can be found at http://spacecoastfishingforecasts.blogspot.com/ be sure to check frequently for updates.

In-Shore Lagoons:  The early and late in the day topwater bite is in full swing.  Fishing these low light conditions with walk-the-dog type lures can be an extreamly productive way to spend your time on the water.  It can take some practice to acheve the side-to-side motion needed to rtuely get the most from this lure.  The reward for a well worked plug is easily the most hart stopping experience an angler can have.  Witnessing any of our “top four” unload on your plug in the slicked out shallow water will certainly stop a hart. The space coasts Redfish, Seatrout, Snook, and Tarpon (“top four”) are all predators that love to go ham for these pieces of plastic.  

November 2015 Fishing Report

November has crept in and fall came with a bang this year.  We enjoyed a fantastic mullet run and the surf could still be hot for the first part of this month.   As the mullet dwindle flounder with become frequent catches around Port Canaveral, Sebastian Inlet, and Ponce Inlet.  For the fast flowing inlets its best to keep your kayak out of the main flow and most dangerous sections for safety reasons, not to mention it’s very tough to effectively kayak fish those areas.  Targeting the Intercostal lagoons and beaches adjacent to these inlets is a great way to safely intercept the flounder as the push out of our backwater areas and make their way offshore for the winter spawn.  Fish with small live baits (fishfinder rig), Slayer Inc. SST’s (paddle tail)/jig head, or small bucktail jigs (tip w/strip bait) on drop-offs, around structure, bottom transitions, and sand to rock/oyster areas to find the concentrations of fish.  Slowly work your baits close to the bottom and be ready with the landing net!  A great many trophy flounder have been lost by holding their head out of the water.   Flounder have a Houdini Ninja magical way of spitting the hook as they shake their head on the surface.  To get the flounder in the kayak simply put your landing net a few feet under the water and glide your tasty treat in.  Port Canaveral stands as the calmest “inlet” for anglers to kayak and target flounder.  However, what Port Canaveral lacks in sketchy moving water, it more than makes up for in large/small boat traffic.  It pays to keep an eye out when on the water, and to understand the posted security rules.  The fall flounder migration is a great time to test your angling skills on a challenging opponent.  Not to mention the flounder is one of our best eating fish on the Space Coast.

We don’t get many “New” things in our Local kayak fishing scene, but that has changed!  First, for those with Christmas on the mind Kayaks by Bo in Titusville has started a gift registry.  Now you can pick out the exact kayak or accessory’s you desire and all those that care can buy it for you.  Yet another great program from the awesome folks at Kayas by Bo to ensure a great experience on the Space Coast’s waters.  Also, our coastal wave condition data just got a (free) kick in the pants from CheckTheWaves.com.  An enterprising (small) private company has managed wading through red tape to bring the Space Coast and beyond an amazing data set produced by several deployed “wave height” buoys close to the coast.  Offering a range of vital information on wave height, peak period (dominant swell interval), Sea surface, and sea floor temperature several times an hour for free on their website ensures those of us ocean fishing from beach, kayak, or boats will be happy.  As of writing this article the Cocoa Beach Buoy is being tested and will see deployment soon after.  With buoys already deployed off Jenson beach and Indialantic Beach this team is just getting started.  Several more buoys will be deployed including one off Daytona Beach that could complement the kayak reachable artificial reef recently sunk very well.  Billy Wells of Check the waves said “Real time surf reports, driven by real time data”, and I believe once us fisherman find this resource it will turn to “REEL” time surf reports.  The resource is free, not funded by the government and a benefit for all who venture to the ocean.  The will have and app. coming soon and are still working on the feel of their website, but the data is flowing and CheckTheWaves.com has quickly become a “favorites tab” for this surfing fisherman.  Go check them out.

Past Forecast Sept16

September is on the calendar and fall is just around the corner.  Two words should fill every kayak anglers mind when it comes to this time of the year.  Mullet Run!  No, we are not reliving the bad hair fad from the 80’s.  I am speaking of the fall mullet (baitfish) run that will engulf the entire east coast from now until October.  For those that have not witnessed the spectacle of massive mullet pods being demolished by every predator we like.  Now is your chance!  When cold fronts dip into the Deep South and typically far before we feel even a chill, mullet of every size will start their yearly push southward.  From finger mullet to giant (hog leg) mullet they all shift through our waters on an endless march to the warm winter waters of South Florida.  As they pass by our coast the gamefish take notice.  In the lagoons Snook and Tarpon will feed hard in preparation for winter.  Many times they leave with the bait if the weather cools early.  Our resident redfish and seatrout will also look to do the same, though they don’t leave with the bait.  Topwater plugs and soft plastics like the SlayerInc.com SST mimic the readily available mullet and have you in the fish for sure.  I always tend to have a topwater rigged at all times for actively feeding fish.  The lagoons can be great at these times, but where the real action goes down is the Atlantic.  Miles of bait pour down the beaches in steady streams.  Live baiting in the surf zone and just outside of the breakers can be phenomenal for us kayakers after a beach launch.  I’ll fish finger mullet on a fishfinder rig with typically 1oz of weight.  Using 30-40lb leader and 3/0 hook to finish the rig.  Keep yourself and kayak a safe distance out from the break and cast towards the shore.  Maintain the line and hang on.  Everything from redfish, snook, bluefish, flounder, jacks and more will give you a tug.  For large Jacks, Sharks, Giant Tarpon, and even kingfish look to slow troll Large (8-12inch) Mullet on a 8/0 Circle hook with 4-6 foot of 60lb leader. Many times the surf can be a challenge for beach launching kayakers at this time of year.  When the breakers exceed your comfort level look to launch from the boat ramp at Port Canaveral for an easy go of it!  Fishing inside the port, and the beaches north or south will have you in steady action.  The areas around Sebastian Inlet will also be alive with tons of bait and hungry predators.  For the artificial crowd lipped plugs are king, 40-60lb leader and a good selection of floating and sinking plugs will have you set.  Fish the floaters in the breakers and the sinkers outside for Tarpon and such.  Those of us who have fished this area for a number of years know the current condition of our lagoon is unsustainable.  We have an opportunity to secure solid funding through the proposed lagoon Tax.  Is the plan that’s been devised enough to fix these lagoons?  Sadly no, but it is a start down what will be a long path of recovery.  And certainly the first time we’ve had an opportunity of this magnitude.  So please help us stand up for these amazing waterways.