Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing

Kayaking on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River has become one of the more popular pastimes with fishermen and individuals looking for a peaceful way to get away from it all.

Compared to the price of purchasing and operating other watercraft, Kayaking does not require a ton of money to get involved with and the savings in fuel costs alone make the initial cost of purchasing a kayak a worthwhile endeavor.

The savvy anglers who kayak the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River shallows have discovered the benefits of being able to access really "skinny" water where solitary "gator trout", snook and redfish schools frequent.

Throughout the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River estuaries fishing hot spots abound but the most productive areas are frequently in water less than a foot deep. Obviously, these spots can only be accessed from land, by wade fishermen from anchored vessels or by kayak and canoe.

The Mosquito Lagoon and Banana River no motor zones have spawned a whole new group of dedicated kayak and canoe fishermen who prefer to paddle instead of poling.

Launching a kayak can be easily handled by one person anywhere you can park your vehicle close to the water.

The WSEG Boat Ramp in the Mosquito Lagoon no motor zone is a popular launch area that opens up into a huge, almost pristine fishing area, that is seldom overpopulated by anglers.

It is located off North SR 3, approximately 3 miles north of Haulover Canal and can be accessed via an unimproved dirt road.

The dirt road access is marked by a small WSEG boat ramp sign.

The WSEG boat launch is in the western no motor zone, so only canoes, kayaks and shallow draft boats with (motors off) are allowed in the area.

The only way to navigate this area is by paddling, poling, or using an electric trolling motor.

If you're in the mood for paddling, you can cross the ICW to the East side of the Mosquito Lagoon from the WSEG ramp where there are expansive grass flats loaded with sea trout, snook, redfish and in season, tarpon. Otherwise you can fish the skinny waters behind the "clinkers" on the West shore of the Mosquito Lagoon between the mainland and the spoil islands.

Both of these areas provide fantastic fishing almost all the time and a person in a kayak can actually get lonely fishing this area.

Because the launch is completely shielded by a small barrier island, it's almost impossible to spot the ramp from the water. Therefore, its a good idea when exploring this area to bring along a hand held GPS to mark the exact location of the WSEG ramp; especially if you plan to explore the Eastern flats.

Mosquito Lagoon kayakers also have available to them the shallow water launches at Bio Lab Road, Haulover Canal, Beacon 42 ramp, and Eddy Creek at the Canaveral National Sea Shore at parking lot #8.

For Indian River Lagoon kayakers, one of the most popular launching spots is the Peacocks Pocket ramp in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve.

This launch is accessible from the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway (State Highway 402) from any of three entrances and provides canoe or kayak fishermen great shallow water fishing opportunities for large sea trout, schools of black drum and redfish.

Kayakers can put in to fish the northwestern grass flats of the Indian River Lagoon from the shallow water launches at Mims and Scotsmoor Landing.

Other access points for fishing the eastern flats of the Indian River Lagoon are the Boyscouts Camp ramp, the northwest bank of Haulover Canal, northern Shiloh Marsh road and the hidden creek next to the NASA geodesic globe which my wife affectionately calls the "gumball".

There is a narrow canal at the Mims Fish Camp 72 shallow water launch that hugs the west bank of the Indian River and is easily accessed by kayakers that provides great fishing almost year round.

During the summer months, the canal provides cooler water temperatures forredfish, sea trout, snook and sometime small tarpon that lie in wait for baitfish.

During the winter cold snaps, sea trout, black drum and redfish file into the canal's warmer depths to find refuge.

For kayakers trying to score a big bull redfish or gator sea trout, the expansive sea grass flats located north and west of the railroad bridge from Mims to Scotsmoor, Fl. and the sea grass flats that begin just north of Haulover Canal and continue south to the railroad bridge on the eastern side of the Indian River are great shallow water fishing spots.

If you have never experienced kayaking the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River estuaries you are missing out on some great fishing opportunities and a great blood pressure lowering activity.

Playalinda Beach is perhaps one of the most pristine beaches you will ever encounter in the State of Florida.

Playalinda Beach's 24 miles of shoreline, In the Canaveral National Seashore, is the longest stretch of undeveloped public beach on the east coast of Florida.

Located within the boundaries of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge; Playalinda Beach offers surf fising, surfing, shelling, and even a nude beach, if you walk far enough North of parking lot #13 and are so inclined.

The Eddy Creek boat launch offers shallow water boaters access to some of the better known fishing spots in the southernmost portion of the Mosquito Lagoon.

Located West of parking lot #8, the unimproved boat ramp is surrounded by shallow flats that are perfect for wade fishing.

Eddy Creek offers quick access to the Whales Tail and Cucumber Island areas, where the sight fishing for "bull" redfish and oversized "gator" sea trout in the crystal clear, super "skinny" waters is frequently written about and regularly video taped, for the various television shows.

The flats in this area also hold good numbers of slot sized redfish, sea trout, lady fish, sheephead, tarpon and even gag grouper; if you know what areas to fish where the deeper holes are located.

Surf fishing in this area is better than average; primarily because of the deeper sloughs that run parallel to several of the higher numbered parking areas.

Lots #8 through #11 are where the surf fishermen usually congregate and where the deeper troughs are located.

Depending on the time of the year, you can catch whiting, pompano, black drum, bluefish, spanish mackerel, king mackerel, sharks and occasionally tarpon when the conditions are right.

To get to Playalinda Beach in the Canaveral National Seashore, take SR 406 from I-95 and head due east till you smell salt air.

The Canaveral National Seashore charges a $5.00 daily fee; or a $35.00 fee for an annual pass good from the date of purchase. Seniors 62 and older qualify for a one time $10.00 lifetime pass, that is good for any National Park in the United States.

If you ever get to Titusville, Fl., do yourself a favor and take time out of your busy life to visit the area. You'll be happy you did!

The Haulover Canal, located in Brevard County Florida, was blasted out of coquina rock in 1884 to facilitate water traffic between the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River.

Throughout the 1800's, the Haulover Canal continued to be an important link for paddle wheelers and steamboats hauling people and goods up and down the Intercoastal waterway.

Haulover Canal, located just northeast of Titusville, today has become renowned as one of the best fishing hotspots in all of East Central Florida.

The canal quickly slopes from the bank to depths of over 10 feet; and it's coquina rock ledges provide homes to "bull redfish", huge black drum, "gator" seatrout, snook, grouper, tarpon, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and a variety of bottom fish.

Bairs Cove boat ramp provides easy access to both the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River fisheries. It is located on the southwest side of Haulover Canal and is open 24 hours a day.

Haulover Canal and Bairs Cove, is home to dozens of sea manatees that feed on the lush sea grass beds in the area. A manatee observation deck is located on the northeast bank of the canal next to the drawbridge where visitors can bring their families to enjoy the gentle giants.

There is a slow speed, no wake zone, in effect thoughout the waterway to protect the manatees. It also makes it pleasant for bank fishermen.

Because of the number and variety of species found there, and the protection it affords anglers from the elements; people fish Haulover Canal year round. The coqina ledges, submerged trees, and stumps along the edge of the canal provide the perfect cover for mangrove snapper, sheepshead, trout, snook and "puppy drum".

Although there is no measurable current in the Mosquito Lagoon or the northern Indian River, there is almost always a current flowing through the canal.

The winds push the water from either the Mosquito Lagoon or the Indian River side with enough force to generate the current. And, a slight current can be detected even when no wind is present, which is probably due to the tidal movements from Ponce Inlet to the north.

In any event, the current makes Haulover Canal a sport shrimping hotspot during the summer nights. The shrimp get swept though the canal, where they are intercepted by boaters anchored next to the shorelines, equipped with underwater lights, and long handled dip nets.

When conditions are favorable, sport shrimpers can load up 5 gal. bucket limit of "jumbo" shrimp in a hurry!

The abundance of shrimp moving through the cut also triggers the bite for snook and "gator" sea trout. If you spend the night on the canal, you can hear them smacking on the surface in their feeding frenzies, and more often than not you with get a surprise visit from a friendly manatee

The largest "bull" redfish and black drum in the area are also caught in the canal on cut mullet or ladyfish, blue crabs, or live pinfish drifted along the bottom.

Although bank fishing is limited to fishing daylight hours only in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge; boating and shrimping after dark is allowed.

A free, self issuing, Refuge Sport Fishing Permit is required by everyone fishing or shrimping in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge that can be download online, or is available at most boat ramps and refuge entrances, in the Fishing Maps & Regulations Brochure.

The permit outlines the special fishing regulations applicable for the area and is intended to make sure everyone is aware of the rules.

May is just around the corner and will provide some outstanding fishing opportunities in Central Florida's Haulover Canal.

If you enjoy wildlife photography of the Space Coast area lagoon estuaries, and care to learn more about Central Florida's Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River Fishing, please check out http://johns-centralflorida-fishing.blogspot.com/

Early spring, is normally the time to catch huge Sow Gator Sea Trout in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River grass flats, north of Mims, Florida.

The water levels in both the Mosquito Lagoon and Northern Indian River, have risen substantially in the past few weeks, due to the incessant rainfall we have been blessed with, around the Space Coast.

The abnormally low water conditions that we have experienced this past March and April, proved beneficial in cleaning out the river system, and creating crystal clear water fishing conditions.

This provided some unbelievable sight fishing opportunities in the Mosquito Lagoon, for the gator sea trout that are found around the white sand pockets in the lush grass beds.

The spring migrations of silver mullet, that usually start around April, and spark the gator trout season, was delayed a bit this year, due to the historically low water conditions.

We are now in June, and I'm happy to report that the mullet have invaded the shallows. After this past weeks rains, the vast stretches of mud flats on the northern Indian River, that is prime habitat for a variety of waterfowl, are now shallow flats teeming with bait fish and feeding predators.

Fishing early in the morning, before first light on the grass flats, has been sensational for sow gator trout.

The best locations are the drop offs and ledges along the grass flats. The best baits for large trout are top water plugs that imitate an injured finger mullet. My preference is a large "chug bug" or "skitter walk" top water lure.

After the early morning frenzy, your best bet is to pitch a live pigfish or pinfish, large live shrimp, or soft plastic bait, to the edges of the white sandy potholes in the sea grass. For the past couple of weeks, the fish seem to be feeding more aggressively later on in the afternoon.

The redfish are feeding in shallow water areas that were previously dry land only a few weeks ago.

The shallow water areas on the East shoreline of the Indian River, from the NASA causeway, all the way north, to the Scottsmoor boat ramp, provide excellent sight fishing for tailing redfish schools, gator trout, and an occasional tarpon.

Soft plastic baits, live or fresh-dead shrimp, and top water lures are baits of choice. Live finger mullet or mud minnows, rigged with a slip sinker rig, will catch you a bull redfish when everything else fails.

I don't think there is any place on the planet that provides great, year around fishing, like the Mosquito Lagoon, and Indian River estuaries and summer is not even here yet.

Some of the finest sight fishing opportunities for "bull" red fish are found in and around Central Florida's Space Coast east of Titusville, Fl.

The Indian River north of Titusville has miles and miles of grass flats that harbor large "gator trout", huge "bull redfish" exceeding the 30 pound mark as well as black drum, snook and tarpon all in season.

The shallow flats of the Indian River can be accessed by anglers using boats at the launch ramps in Mims, Scottsmoor and three areas around Titusville. It pays to use caution when launching at some of these ramps due to the low water conditions that currently exist there.

In addition to the boat launches noted, The Mosquito Lagoon can also be accessed by the boaters at Haulover Canal, Bio Lab road, Beacon 42, Eddy Creek and the WSEG shallow ramp north of the Beacon 42 ramp. This last boat ramp is just inside the poll and troll zone area so don't try entering with a motorized craft unless you use your trolling motor or push pole.

These flats are not as well known for sight fishing as are those in the southern region of Florida and the Bahamas, but with the popularity of the "Redfish Tour" and other tournaments, the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons have become a regular stopping off place for professional anglers.

Water clarity in the south end of the Mosquito Lagoon can be compared to that of the Keys. Since there is no development along the shorlines, no water runoff, and no causeways other than the Haulover canal the water quality is maintained in the shallow lagoon.

It's shores are protected from any development by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on the west side and the National Seashore and Playalinda Beach on the east side.

There are approximately 20 miles of lush seagrass flats with water no more than three feet deep that provide perfect conditions for seatrout to grow to the "gator" proportions that they have and "bull redfish" to hit bragging record sizes. Slot size redfish are also here in plentiful numbers.

Poling the flats early in the mornings and blind casting to the white potholes in the grass beds can reward you with a bragging size "gator trout", snook or redfish just about any time of the year.

It's particularly unnerving to see a school of several hundred redfish cruising the flats in water so shallow that their backs are sometimes visible. At times like these, if you are careful not to spook the fish, you can catch and release 10 or more fish before they move on.

This is the reason fishermen from all over the country come to Florida's Space Coast.