Central Florida Redfish Charters
Capt. Drew Cavanaugh
December 30, 2012
Cocoa Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well we are just about to the end of 2012. It has been a very unique year indeed. On many different fronts. However on the inshore fishing front out here on the flats we will be ending in a bang!
As the winter approached we went from the lagoon systems being dark waters with the algae bloom we had to it now being gin clear. The Mosquito Lagoon in Oak Hill and Indian River in the Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Titusville/Mims areas are all producing fish.
Along with this the water levels have dropped the past weeks tremendously, taking feeding grounds away from fish. On the flip side this packs the anglers in tighter. Give each other a wide berth. Be sure to know where you are navigating. You may run through an area and come around a corner and have someone stalking fish. Just pay attention to all aspects of your approach, to the fish and other anglers.
This combination of the water level at the crystal clear waters now make the ultimate package; sight fishing galore. Fly fishing or spin! Back country waters are holding redfish and seatrout. The trout are not just trout but we have been getting some extremely large gators. I have seen some trout pushing the ten pound range on a regular basis now.(Please release these. Practice catch and release, we can raise fish in tents in todays day and age. After the freeze of 2010 they, trout, are on the comeback but need your help. We all want to catch these in the future. Call FWC and ask them to classify them as game-fish too. This will stop the commercial sell of them.)
Redfish are feeding aggressively in the deeper waters at first light on the colder mornings and then moving amongst the shallow flats as the sun rises in the sky. Looking for signs of bait fish or birds feeding will help you get into position. Approach them with caution as to the temperature send them into a self preservation frenzy.
Casting a DOA Shrimp or CAL with a small bullet weight and a weed-less hook is your best option. You can use live bait but if you have the casting skills and the targeted shots then you will do just fine with artificial. The key is just a soft presentation, precise retrieve and timing. As always for red drum and the fly fisherman use crabs or shrimps patterns this time of year. most of the fish are feeding on crustaceans during the cold months here in central Florida.
I want to wish everyone out there a safe and happy new year.
Cocoa Beach Fishing Forecast:
If this pattern continues with the weather then I will predict as the new years comes in and grows we should see some really good fishing.
Target Species:
Redfish, Drum, Seatrout
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