Kayak Fishing Report: South Florida Special – Lake Ida
This past week was spring break, I was really excited to do a lot of fishing, and well….the weather kind of sucked. BUT, I took advantage of the cooler weather and decided to go south, and do something I’ve been wanting to do for some time, go after Peacock Bass.
Mosquito Lagoon & North
The little last bit of winter still wants to hang around the Central Florida area for another week. This past weekend was when the front moved through creating cooler temps and windy conditions.
FWC statewide snook workshops start next week
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is adopting a holistic management approach for snook that includes a review of several environmental and human factors including habitat, fishing effort and stakeholder feedback to evaluate the fishery at a more local scale.
Fort Pierce Inlet
Armed with six dozen live shrimp and a well full of threadfins, Matt and I fished the mouth of the inlet at first light. A few juvenile tarpon were rolling and the occasional shark sky-rocketing along the current breaks of both jetties promised a great start to the day. The first few live baits were greedily eaten by tarpon looking to be in the under thirty pound class.
Tough Week Offshore
Well, not a great week offshore. Weather once again served as an obstacle to get out, and if you look at the upcoming forecast, we are looking to be landlocked yet another week.
Good Fishing Inshore & Beach
Good time fishing the beaches and inshore this week. Plenty of sharks, bluefish and big jacks -- if you can find clean water. Live bait is the key but they can be enticed with artificial baits, as well.
Solid Snook Bite
We’ve had a solid snook bite again this week along the Space Coast. These fish are becoming a staple for us on our fishing trips during the springtime of the year. Although you can get snook to strike artificial lures on occasion, live offerings are much more reliable to get these fish to strike.
Fellsmere Bass Fishing
The artificial bite has been as good as I’ve seen it in a long time. The most productive baits for us has been a half ounce Golden Shiner Jackhammer (Hogfarmer Spunk Shad TN Magic), a Bass Assassin RSB worm (Gooseberry), Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 (Flake Flake Golden Sexy Minnow), and Nichols Pulsator Gold Blades White and Chartreuse (Flapjack Sight Flash trailer).
Good Fishing Off Full Moon
Fishing has been very good coming off the full moon with the cold weather we’re expecting over the next week or two look for more winter like patterns with schools of redfish and black drum on the deep drop-offs. Snook have been chewing readily on live shrimp on a jig as well as soft plastics with the cool weather we may get a good push of manta rays with Cobia coming down the beach.
Chamber of Commerce Kinda Days
The past couple of weeks have been chamber of commerce kinda days here in Central Florida. We have had highs in the 80’s and clear blue skies but unfortunately you must have a little bad to appreciate the good.
Waters Alive with Activity
The waters throughout the New Smyrna Beach area have been alive with activity this past week. My clients have been boating redfish, trout and black drum several different ways.
Space Coast Surf Fishing Remains Strong
Surf fishing along the Space Coast looks to remain strong with pompano, whiting, bluefish and flounder available on local area beaches. The sand renourishment projects will absolutely deteriorate the beach and surf fishing conditions, so make sure to stay clear of those “projects.”
