Michael Bales

Sight-fishing at its finest!! It's as simple as that. The last few weeks have continued to produce excellent tailing Redfish and Black drum action in some massive schools along the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon flats, backcountry and mangrove shorelines. Most days have been spent casting flies or light tackle at tailing redfish throughout the day. Try using a live shrimp, Riptide realistic shrimp, or live blue crabs of about four inches for some explosive strikes!

As I said in my last report, staying quiet and stealthy is critical to success. The fish are very sensitive to noise or vibration when feeding in a mere 10-12 inches of water! Accurate casts will also prove to be the most productive. When using spinning equipment, make LONG casts beyond your target and work them slowly into the fish's feeding area. I typically use a 7-1/2 foot medium to fast action rod with a Shimano Stradic spooled with 6-10 pound braided line. I also use a 3-4 foot flouro-carbon leader in 12-20 lb tipped with a 4/0 circle hook.

Fly fishing also continues to be good using small crab and shrimp imitations on tailing redfish or Black Drum. Successful fly fisherman will need to make spot-on accurate casts with as few false casts as possible. Many people ask me how far should they practice casting? I'd say a minimum of 40 ft, but many fish in the Mosquito Lagoon are caught on fly when making VERY short casts in the 10-20 foot range. Trying not to rock the boat or send any pressure waves as you load the rod and limiting the number of false casts will result in far more more hook-ups. My best patterns this week were the gold tinsel toad and the the dupree spoon fly.

The trout bite continues to heat up with the rising temperatures as well. Topwater plugs like the Saltwater chug bug at sunrise or a Riptide shrimp in 3-5 feet of water has been the ticket. The trout are in very good shape considering the harsh winter, always remember to catch & release these fish when possible helping to ensure our fisheries future.

These past two weeks I fished with Steve O., Ron P., Ed & his wife, Jed and Jay, Jim and Mark, and finally Jed and Pat for some great fishing this past Friday! All were a pleasure have on the boat and I look forward to fishing with them again soon.

Call Captain Mike Bales at 352-255-8175 to book your Mosquito Lagoon fishing charter! Or, visit us on the web at http://www.hotfishcharters.com

Fish Species: redfish, Black Drum & Trout
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Mosquito Lagoon Redfish
Mosquito Lagoon Redfish

Ed with a nice Mosquito Lagoon redfish.
Ed with a nice Mosquito Lagoon 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