Fishing has continued to be pretty good inshore and in the surf. We are starting to get pigfish as well as croakers as bait, which is producing really well for snook, redfish and trout. Black drum and mangrove snapper have been biting on jig-heads tipped with shrimp. With the mullet run in full swing, tarpon are starting to show up in the river and the beaches, too.

Fishing in the lagoon has continued to be very good with the abundance of finger mullet. Live bait is working very well using either finger mullet or croakers, when you can find them. Tarpon should start showing up on the beach in the next week or two — and with the full moon coming, night fishing will be very good around the dock lights and bridges.

The topwater bite has continued to be good in the Mosquito Lagoon. We’ve been catching both black drum and mangrove snapper in big numbers towards the northern end of the lagoon. With the weather we have coming this week, I would suggest using topwater plugs, soft jerk baits or paddle-tails while working the mullet schools for the best action.

The fishing out of Ponce Inlet down to the Mosquito Lagoon has continued to be good, even with the full moon this past week. At night time, the snook were very active, eating large shrimp or large 8 inch to 10 inch mullet. This week’s going to have strong winds, which should make the fishing a little challenging; however, with the overcast skies the topwater bite should be very good for redfish as well as trout.

With the overcast skies, the topwater bite in the Mosquito Lagoon has been really, really good. Target the schools of mullet using a Rapala Skitterwalk in either black and silver/blue, silver or bone colored. These lures have been getting the job done with great consistency. Also, the site fishing for black drum has been great on the Indian River side. For these drum, target depths of one to two feet of water and look for either tailing fish or cruising fish along the sandy bottom mixed with grass.

This time of year, one of the most exciting things to do is target cobia that are following the manta rays as they work their way north past our coast.

The topwater bite has turned on in the Mosquito Lagoon, with both trout and redfish eating Skitterwalks in the morning and at dusk. Cobia have shown up on the beach. They are following the rays and are eating swim baits, live baits and jigs. Meanwhile, mangrove snapper continue to eat live shrimp on a jig head.

Fishing has been really good. We’ve been mostly throwing Z-Man paddle-tails, which has been consistently producing a mixed bag of redfish and trout. The mangrove snapper bite continues to be very good using shrimp tipped jig heads in either 1/8 ounce or 1/4 ounce. On windier days, the redfish and trout have been willing to eat a well-placed live finger mullet.

We’ve got clear, cool water with schools of redfish in the North Indian River Lagoon. These fish can be effectively targeted using Gulp shrimp or live shrimp free-lined. As we start getting into our warmer months, the mullet schools will start showing up, and at that time, switching up to jig heads with paddle-tails or top-water lures will serve you better in matching the hatch.

Fishing has been good this past week between schooling redfish and a fantastic mangrove snapper bite. With the warmer weather, the schools are starting to break up a little bit, but we’re finding single fish cruising the shorelines, which create some fun sight fishing opportunities!

Ally with a nice first mosquito lagoon red

Capt. Mike Mann put Cobia on the dinner menu for his customers today!

A juvenile tarpon caught with Capt. Mike Mann

Memphis and his dad, Chris, had a fun day fishing the Mosquito Lagoon with Capt. Mike Mann. This black drum is one of a bunch of fish that they caught, including some nice reds, sheepsheads, and seatrout.

Zander got this nice black drum to eat fishing with Fat Fish Guide Service in the Mosquito Lagoon.

Bill from New York had a great two days of fishing the mosquito lagoon with Fat Fish Guide Service.

Capt. Mike Mann really whacked the fish today with Justin and Hayley.

Max caught his first red casting and working the bait himself.

Colin made it happen reeling in this nice spotted sea trout