Quan getting it done by tossing top-water plugs into schools of fingerling mullet. He boated many Indian River Lagoon trout on a recent trip with Capt. Mark Wright!
ICAST interrupted my water time this past week, but I did get out for a couple of morning trips.
Both the North Indian River and South Mosquito Lagoons are experiencing “light algae blooms” in some areas. So far nothing to be alarmed about and the blooms are not systemic. I’m sure the hot water is not helping; given water temps above ninety degrees is a reality in our summer months.
If you’re planning on fishing shallow, your starting time needs to be very early. I’m leaving the dock before sun-up. If the super early schedule is out of the question, consider a late afternoon excursion. The last two or three hours of daylight can be a magical time!
In either case, top-water plugs are ruling the roost both early and late. I find walking these plugs around heavy concentrations of mullet usually up the odds of getting bit as compared to fishing areas devoid of mullet schools.
Another food source that’s having an impact in our area is fry-fish; tiny minnows of different species. They’re only an inch or two long and skinny which makes them tough to imitate with anything but a fly! As one might expect, the critters chasing these diminutive bait fish are, for the most part also small.
In an isolated backwater pocket, throwing the smallest top-water plug we had between us, Tony received bite after bite from little trout and redfish. We could see the wee reds moving below the plug maneuvering this way and that, presumably trying to achieve the perfect angle of attack! All Tony caught was a ladyfish and a bitty swordspine snook, though he also jumped a couple of juvenile tarpon. All these fish were eager, though too little to get a hook squarely in their mouths and they were all actively chasing the tiny fry-fish.
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