Watching daybreak on the water or in the woods has been a joy to me ever since I was young, This morning to say the least it was a bit brisk. I slid on my pair of fishing gloves remembering that a year ago I was staying in a log cabin catching Steelhead.

With the change of temperature and low tide scenario I decided to give the Canaveral Barge Canal a try. I have pulled a trout or two from the mouth before, so why not? Launching off 528W I noticed that that has to be the clearest I have seen Indian River this year. About 20 feet from shore I noticed that amazing blue glow coming from every paddle stroke. I was kinda surprised to find a pocket left around. Just as I entered the mouth of the canal, I was greeted with another fantastic sunrise. I quietly said a couple prayers, rigged up my poles, and it was time to fish!

This morning I was using 3″ BigGulp curlytail with splitshot at various distances from the hook. Pole #2 had a Chartreuse minnow on a chartreuse Jighead (with eyes painted on it) and on pole #3 I switched topwaters between walking the dog with a red and white lure to tossing an old black Jitterbug.

I cast as far as I could into the mangroves and other trees aggressively working different presentations at different depths. Carefully and quietly working every boat, tree, sea grass patch, dock, and shadow, with no avail. I noticed before long that the canal water wasn’t clear like the lagoon and I wasn’t seeing the mullet jump like I had gotten use to.

I can say that even before I got to the bridge I saw more dolphin than any other two trips combined. As I was bouncing half my tackle box at the bridge pears I became mesmerized by these dolphin feeding. Seven of them within 150 yards. Poor things were working harder at it than me with about the same luck. What really caught my eye was this HUGE dark almost black Dolphin that cruised threw a couple of times.

My fishing strategy still didn’t change for the paddle back. Cast, cast, cast — try another look, then cast, cast, and cast some more. Without a bite, bump, or a follow back, I made it back to the truck around 1ish.

When I got back to the lagoon the water cleared up greatly. So, being a smart ass, I chucked out a cast net shagging a few finger mullet chucking them out as I was loading up the yak, DON’T JUDGE – A SAILCAT BEATS NOTHING AT ALL………. Well I ended up catching my first ray instead even though I couldn’t buy a bite with a platinum card, I can say that today was yet another wonderful morning on the water.