Orlando Saltwater Backcountry Fishing Report

The following is an archived fishing report for the below date and location. If you are looking for the most current fishing reports on the Mosquito Lagoon, Ponce Inlet, near coastal beaches and Indian River in central Florida then please visit our reports page. Also visit our "video reports" page to see an HD version of this fishing report.

If you are here in the Orlando, Disney, Kissimmee, Cocoa Beach, Edgewater, Titusville, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, Melbourne, Tampa or Daytona Beach area and are looking into going on an inshore light tackle flats fishing charter for redfish, seatrout, tarpon, IRL snook or black drum then please give me a call at - (352)223-7897 - email - captdrew@floridainshorefishingcharters.com and I will be glad to see if I can meet your needs or answer any questions you may have.

March 8th, 2014 - Central Florida Backcountry Fishing Report

The east central Indian River Black Drum Florida area backcountry saltwater flats’ fishing is beginning to take a shape of spring time. Although this winter has been anything but perfect, it still has been better than most in the past. Now that it seems the clouds and high winds have begun to subdue themselves, this Mosquito Lagoon Black Drumwill open up superb days of sight fishing. As well as optimal water temps and air temps make for perfect days to be on the boat targeting fish. The redfish, spotted seatrout and black drum fishing will continue to get better as days go by.

The past few weeks have been great for black drum and redfish especially. The black drum have been nonstop throughout the entire lagoon systems, seems like they are showing up all over the place. Including, the entire Mosquito Lagoon and the north Indian River Lagoon system in the Titusville and Mims areas.

At first light it has been Fishing Mims Floridalike clockwork; tails all over the place. Large schools of red fish and black drum moving across vast grass flats, in a rage of feeding frenzies. Getting to areas before sunup is, and will always be, number one priority when being a serious flats fisherman. Whether you are doing it as a professional, like I, or as an angler just looking for a great day at sport fishing, this has to become habit. The reason is many. First off that golden light period, we have all been there and know what that is. So no reason to go into detail on that one, you know the answer. Secondly and probably one that seems to have disappeared with honor and pride is water etiquette. Yes ETIQUETTE.

The past several weeks I, along with others, have witnessed those that just do not care that you make such a strong effort to get into positions for this “golden hour” just to have those that do not display the “water code of ethics” decide they will come in on top of you. They know who they are and they know what they do is unacceptable however it is not “illegal” to say, it is most definitely Orlando Redfish Chartersnot right. Poor taste in professionalism. This, my friends, is where you take a deep breath and feel the karma snake one day will bite them. So I ask just for everyone to show respect and learn the basic skills of flats fishing etiquette to improve the day for everyone.

I have said Cocoa Beach Fishingthis numerous times for a good analogy to use. If you are going out to dinner with your wife or girlfriend and you show up to the restaurant late, and you have a very special “table” you were wanting to sit at do you just go in and sit on top of someone already sitting there having their dinner? No, of course you do not. Then why I ask myself does this happen on the flats? Makes you think about it, does it not.

When into position and you have located your targets, as always have a game plan in your mind. Once into position a well place light colored shrimp fly, live shrimp on a circle hook or DOA Shrimp with a small bullet weight is one of the best choices for these flat roamers. Along with soft presentations, and of course the magical ingredient, accuracy is the utmost key for landing the black drum and redfish. When targeting singles just take that same approach but then you are just Orlando Saltwater Fishingscaling down your target area to a smaller zone.

Those of you who love the top water action cannot go wrong this time of year. As the days begin throw a DOA Shallow Running Baitbuster for a while until the sun light gets high enough in the sky to sight fish or see what you are doing. This has got to be one of the best lures to throw to fish, anywhere.

As always please practice catch and release. Also please handle all of your fish horizontally and not use grips and hang them by the jaw. This just will help their survival upon the release.

Until the I wish for everyone out there to have a safe and happy spring time!

Captain Drew's Cell - (352)223-7897

Past Central Florida Fishing Reports

2006 to 2009 Archived - Mosquito Lagoon, Sebastian Inlet, Indian River and Ponce Inlet Fishing Reports
2010 to 2015 Archived - Mosquito Lagoon, Sebastian Inlet, Indian River and Ponce Inlet Fishing Reports
2016 to 2020 Archived - Mosquito Lagoon, Sebastian Inlet, Indian River and Ponce Inlet Fishing Reports


Captain Drew Cavanaugh
Orlando Flats Fishing Guide
Captain Drew Cavanaugh - Florida Inshore Fishing Charters - New Smyrna Beach Florida 32169

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