Fishing Charters on Mosquito Lagoon

It is no wonder that Mosquito Lagoon is frequently titled the "Redfish Capital of the World," when it's dominated by this sport fish. Redfish and other species common to the Carolinian Province, like spotted sea trout, thrive in the Lagoon. Mosquito Lagoon is a bar-built type estuary of about 152.8 km of east central Florida. It's considered a sub-basin of the Indian River Lagoon System, which extends along the east coast of Florida from New Smyrna Beach all the way to Stuart. Mosquito Lagoon is one of Code Red Fishing Charters favorite fishing hot spots, and the place where records are to be made!

Redfish in Mosquito Lagoon

Redfish, also called channel bass, red drum, red bass, spot-tail, or reds, are among Florida’s most desired sport fish. They are commonly known as red drum for their drumming-like sound that they make during spawning, and when removed from the water. These fish can be a sizable catch. Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission documents Florida's redfish state record as 52 pounds and 5 ounces!

Catching a fish that big requires technique, but Code Red Fishing Charters has the skills and bait for your trophy catch! Redfish thrive in the aquatic vegetation of Mosquito Lagoon. The submerged vegetation are key to the success of the ecosystem of Mosquito Lagoon, and are the feeding grounds for redfish and seatrout. If you want to catch a red, a Code Red Fishing Charter on Mosquito Lagoon is the place to be.

Mosquito Lagoon is dominated by shallow flats of less than 1.5 m. It's dense growths of submerged aquatic vegetation (e.g., manatee grass, shoal grass, widgeon grass, macroalgae, etc.) make it the perfect fishing spot for redfish. Environmentally, it's one of the most diverse estuarine areas in the United States, and is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “Outstanding Florida Waters,” which makes Mosquito Lagoon a safe and healthy preserved fishing zone. It's an Aquatic Preserve without shoreline residential development, without neighboring businesses, and no agricultural runoff.

Code Red Fishing Charters has the technique and equipment to maneuver these parts. Climb aboard one of our skiffs for a fishing adventure on Mosquito Lagoon, and catch your trophy fish!

Baiting for the Perfect Catch

Redfish travel in large schools that are conducive to breeding, and favor a diet of finger mullet, shrimp or crab. These bottom feeders rely on their acute sense of smell to catch prey. While you can use live bait as a lure, cut bait cannot swim away. It's advantageous to use the scent of bait to lure redfish out in the open. Finger mullets, mantis shrimp, menhaden, and pinfish make great scented lures. Redfish eat a lot and grow fast. Most are a foot long in just one year. Redfish typically weigh about 6 to 8 pounds by three years, and can exceed 80 pounds at maturity.

Rods and Lines

A 12 to 15 pound test line and a 40 pound test leader on a six to seven foot rod make an ideal setup along shorelines, mangroves, in deep water, and on the flats. 

Behavior and Patterns

Mosquito Lagoon is home to redfish all year long, without offshore migration for spawning fish. Tagging studies indicate that most redfish dwell their entire lifespans within a six mile radius of their birthplace. This is one of the reasons why Mosquito Lagoon is home to some of the world's largest redfish. Redfish migrate into flats for feeding when water temperatures rise above 70 degrees. Tidal stage usually affects when redfish move onto the flats, but Mosquito Lagoon is unique in that it lacks measurable tides. Water levels rely more on wind than lunar influence. This characteristic makes Code Red Fishing Charters at Mosquito Lagoon an all day long event.

Boating with Code Red Fishing Charters on Mosquito Lagoon

Skinny waters present challenges to a lot of anglers, making skinny waters a sweet spot for redfish. A shallow draft boat can be advantageous in these parts. Code Red Fishing Charters definitely has the advantage with an 18 ft shallow draft skiff designed specifically for the skinny waters of Mosquito Lagoon. Book a Code Red Fishing Charter for your next fishing excursion!

Tips

• Sightfishing can be a useful redfish technique. Watch for those fish tails to break the surface while their noses are buried in the mud to feed. This is known as “tailing redfish.” When you get a tailing fish in sight, wait quietly for them to move.  As soon as they swim away, cast your bait in front of them and directly in their path.

• Redfish wait for stingrays to disturb the mud and create a cloud at the bottom while looking for food. This highly visible sign should be an automatic signal to cast towards the muddy area.

• Redfish are oriented to the surface while they are on the flats. They can see and hear anglers, so be quiet and keep a low profile.