Michael Bales

Happy New Year!! I wish you a safe, happy and hopefully prosperous 2010. I am looking forward to fishing with you this year and hope to see you out on the water soon!

Now onto the fishing, The last few weeks of weather here on the Mosquito Lagoon have been downright Crazy. Windy and Cold, Slick Calm, Foggy, you name it & we've had it. Hopefully the new year will bring some stable fishing conditions in the weeks and months to come. The water levels AND TEMPERATUREs have dropped dramatically and the visibility is crystal clear. I am looking forward to the fabulous winter red-fishing on The Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River.

When the weather cooperated I was able to take several charters this month. Primarily sight-fishing to laid-up or feeding & cruising redfish. Several large trout were also caught casting to holding fish with live shrimp or plastics such as the Riptide shrimp. Most of the fish are still adjusting to the water temperatures making for some interesting days on the water.

The fly fishing has been challenging this week. Smaller down-sized flies and accurate presentations are the ticket. Try the Bruja shrimp or an olive slider to fish in this low clean water, brighter colors in off-colored water(such as a chartreuse sea-ducer).

Tom & Paul from Delaware joined me for a three-day charter this week fishing on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and had a blast catching reds and trout. These guys were a pleasure to fish with, and Paul is quite a "fishy" guy!! Vincent and Vinne also joined me from Kentucky and caught their first ever mosquito lagoon redfish as well as some fine trout! Great job guys!

Call Captain Mike at 352-255-8175 to book your Mosquito Lagoon fishing trip! You can also visit us on the web at www.hotfishcharters.com.

Fish Species: Redfish and Trout
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Paul with a nice Redfish.
Paul with a nice Redfish.

Father & Son Redfish
Father & Son Redfish


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Michael Bales

About The Author: Captain Michael Bales

Company: HotFish Charters

Area Reporting: Charleston South Carolina

Bio: Native Floridian Capt Michael Bales has been fishing for over 25 years and full time professionally guiding for 10.I have been lucky enough to have fished and guided waters all over the world to include AK, the Rocky Mountain west, TN, NC, GA, and FL! Even a brief period as a Taimen and Trout guide while living in Europe! While not guiding in Alaska, you can find Capt Mike silently poling the waters of Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River Lagoon and the Canveral National seashore looking for Redfish or perhaps on the pristine flats of Homosassa in search of Tarpon. Having been an Alaska Professional Guide for 5 years guiding for all five species of Pacific Salmon, Steelhead, World-Class Rainbow trout and Halibut on Shelikopf straits in Cook Inlet. He has experience operating jet boats, float rafts and drift boats in remote coastal rivers of Alaska, as well as offshore boats and inshore boats in Florida.

352.255.8175
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Michael Bales