Fly fishing Mosquito Lagoon places you right in the center of some of the most famous shallow-water flats in the world. Situated on Florida's east coast, just north of Titusville and tucked at the rear of the Merritt Tropical isle National Wildlife Haven, this place offers a reputation that will precedes it. In case you've spent whenever looking at deep sea fly fishing mags during the last thirty years, you've definitely seen photos of substantial redfish tailing in water so short their entire back are exposed. That's the Lagoon in a nutshell.
It's an exclusive ecosystem. Unlike many coastal areas, the particular Mosquito Lagoon isn't really affected simply by the daily increase and fall associated with the tide. Due to the fact it's so protected and far from the nearest inlets, the particular water level is mainly controlled by the wind. This creates a very stable environment where fish can remain in the same general locations for days or weeks at a time. But don't let that fool you into considering it's easy. These types of fish are clever, they're spooky, plus they've seen pretty much every fly in the book.
The Magic of the particular Grass Flats
When you first head out, the thing that strikes you is usually how vast plus open it up feels. It's a maze associated with islands, backcountry creeks, and wide-open grass flats. The drinking water is usually superior, or at least clear enough to see the underside in two feet of water. This is visual fishing at its greatest. You aren't just blind casting and hoping for the bite; you're hunting.
You're searching for "signs of existence. " Sometimes that's a "push"—a small wake created simply by a fish shifting just below the surface. Other times, it's a "tail, " which is specifically what it sounds like. A redfish places its nose into the seagrass in order to root out a shrimp or the crab, and the big, blue-tinged end pokes out of the drinking water like a small flag. Seeing that for the first time will make your heart skip a beat, plus usually, it's about the time you'll realize your fingers are shaking too much to create a decent cast.
What You're Aiming For
Redfish are the major attraction, no doubt about it. People call this place the "Redfish Capital associated with the World" intended for a reason. You will discover them in just about all sizes, from small "rats" to "bulls" that can push 30 or forty lbs, though the big types are more common in the deeper edges or during particular times of the season.
Yet it's not merely about the reds. The spotted seatrout here are world-class. In a lot of areas of Florida, the twenty-inch trout is definitely a trophy, but in the Lagoon, you can discover "gator trout" that reach thirty inches or more. They're incredibly delicate and easily spooked, which makes them a great problem on the fly rod. You'll also run into black carol, which look like irritated, striped cousins of the redfish, and occasionally some in season visitors like tarpon or snook once the water is warm enough.
Kit You Actually Require
You don't need a massive strategy of gear in order to be successful, but you do need the right stuff. An 8-weight fly rod is the precious metal standard here. It's heavy enough to punch a fly with the coastal wind—and there is certainly always wind—but light more than enough that you simply won't obtain exhausted casting this all day.
- The particular Reel: Make sure it offers a solid, covered drag. Saltwater is definitely brutal on equipment. Even though you're in a lagoon, that salt will consume through an inexpensive reel in the heartbeat if you don't rinse this well.
- ** The Line: ** A weight-forward floating line is most you will need. You're usually fishing in drinking water that's six ins to three foot deep, which means you don't want a going tip. You would like something which lands mainly because quietly as feasible.
- Leaders: Proceed long. A 9-foot to 12-foot chief is pretty standard. These fish are "pressured, " indicating they've seen plenty of boats. If your thick fly series lands right more than their heads, they're gone before you can even remove the fly.
Choosing the Perfect Flies
Typically the diet of a Lagoon fish comprises mostly of shrimp, small crabs, and baitfish like finger mullet or killifish. Your fly package should reflect that will.
I'm a big fan associated with shrimp patterns having a bit associated with weight—but not too much. You want the fly in order to sink to the particular bottom where the redfish are looking, however you don't want it to make a huge "plop" in order to hits the particular water. Something like the Borski Bonefish Slider or even a clouser minnow in natural tan or even brown works miracles.
When the drinking water is a bit murky, or in the event that you're fishing within low light, move with something more dark like black or even purple. And you also can't forget the spoon fly . It wobbles and flashes, and for some reason, redfish just find this irresistible when they're within an aggressive feeling.
The Artwork of the Stealthy Approach
In the event that there's one point that ruins a day of fly fishing Mosquito Lagoon faster than something else, it's sound. These fish have ears—well, lateral lines—that can pick up a vibration through a mile apart. If you throw a hatch in your boat, drop your pliers on the deck, or also let the hull slap against the waves, the seafood know you're there.
Most individuals fish from a technical poling skiff. These are flat-bottomed boats designed to be pushed silently with a long carbon fiber rod. It's an exercise, but it's the only way to get close more than enough for a throw without the fish blowing out. When you don't possess a skiff, sort fishing is a fantastic option. Simply make sure a person wear good wading boots because the bottom could be mucky, and you'll desire protection from stingrays (always do the particular "stingray shuffle"! ).
When to Go
A person can fish the Lagoon year-round, however the experience changes with the seasons.
Winter is debatably the best period for sight fishing. The water will get incredibly clear since the algae dies off in the cool. On the sunny, relaxed day in January, you can see fish through fifty feet aside. The downside? The fish are a bit more sluggish and can be very fussy.
Springtime and Summer bring even more activity. As the particular water warms up, the fish's metabolism spikes, and they obtain hungrier. This is how you'll see those massive schools of redfish. The downside here is the heat and the bugs. It's called "Mosquito Lagoon" regarding a reason. If the wind falls at dusk, you'll discover exactly how it got its name.
Fall is great because of the mullet run. Large schools of baitfish move through, plus the predators go into a feeding frenzy. It's a fantastic time to end up being on the water, also if seems the bit more disorderly compared to quiet harassment of winter.
A Note on Preservation
It's no secret that the Lagoon has already established some rough years. Water quality issues plus the loss of seagrass have put a lot of pressure upon the fish populations. If you're heading out there, please practice catch and launch . Handle the particular fish with wet hands, keep them in the water simply because much as feasible, and let them go so they can grow and spawn. We want this spot to be around for that next generation of fly tossers.
Wrapping Things Up
Fly fishing Mosquito Lagoon is a test of patience as significantly as it is a check of skill. Generally there will be times when you do everything right—the perfect cast, the particular perfect fly, the particular perfect stealthy approach—and the fish may still turn their noses up at you. That's simply part of the particular game.
But then you can find those other times. The days whenever the wind dies down to a whisper, the sunlight is at your back, and you visit a massive redfish tailing just twenty ft away. You associated with cast, watch your pet tip up on the fly, and believe that heavy thud on the line. In that will moment, there's no place else in the world you'd rather be. It's a challenge, it's beautiful, and it's one of the particular most rewarding experiences you can possess with a fly rod in your hand. Just don't forget the pest spray.