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Saltwater Fishing Charters by Lagooner Fishing Guides
Fish the Shallow Water Lagoons Near Orlando
Flats Fishing Trips And Charters
Tuesday April 24, 2018
How shallow can you go? Sometimes I wonder if you can catch fish on dry land when I fish in the shallow water lagoons east of Orlando Florida. Guides and anglers often refer to water as "skinny" as it's commonly less than one foot deep where inches of water can hold large fish! Customers are frequently asking me about our "Flats Fishing", another term for shallow water fishing in our remarkably gin clear grass beds on the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoon.
The best way to learn about Flats Fishing is to spend time exploring it. One of my lifelong friends and I often run into each other while scouting with our wives on days off. Experience can never be substituted by written articles or videos, getting into the elements and pursuing fish on a regular basis is truly the best way to get acquainted with the lagoons.
Study The Flats
As a child and into my adulthood, I waded the shallow waters of the Banana River Lagoon between Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island. The 1960's and 70's offered an experience that only an old salt like myself can appreciate in the Central Florida estuaries. But you can make your own experience today by simply buying a small shallow water boat and exploring the same way I did, but with much more modern equipment. Spend days on the lagoon, poling, wading and putting around while observing patterns and finding fish.
Polarized Sunglasses
Today's charter couldn't see what I was looking at on the shallow grass beds in the Mosquito Lagoon. When I offered him my glasses to look through, he quickly yelped "Oh My God" as he was revealed what I'd been seeing and what he had been missing. Fortunately for him, I assisted his casting with prompts of where and how far to cast and the day's success was attributed to my ability to see and not his. Get a good pair of quality sunglasses that are both comfortable and efficient. Amber colored lenses with reflective faces seem to work the best.
Lighten Up on Tackle
Ten pound braided line on a light rod in the six and half to seven foot range seem to work best for artificial lure fishing, both redfish and sea trout can be pursued with this rod & reel setup. Black Drum, snook, jacks and other gamefish can be subdued with these light outfits also. My clients have caught many redfish over twenty five pounds on these rods and they simply make the presentation easier and more effective. If you're willing to spend the time and efforts many if not ALL of the shallow water species can be caught on an 8 weight fly rod too.
To sum up what I'm telling you, spend as much time in observation with a quality pair of polarized sunglasses and a light fishing rod and you're prepared to take on the shallow water fishing on Florida's coastlines. What bait, artificial lures and methods are another subject for another article... Good luck fishing and enjoy your time in the outdoors.
Captain Richard / Lagooner Fishing Guide
Orlando Shallow Water Fishing Trips
Reviewed by Captain Richard Bradley on Last modified: January 25 2017 21:50:13.
Published by: Captain Richard Bradley of Lagooner Fishing Guides©
Fishing Reports
April - 2018 Fishing Report
Fishing Forecast
April - 2018 Fishing Forecast
April of 2018 should be a great spring for fishing in both inshore and offshore coastal waters of Central Florida. Look to the Mosquito Lagoon and Banana Rivers to produce redfish and sea trout consistently and then look toward the ocean and depending on the water temps, clear skies and wind the cobia will be on their way north and migrating past Canaveral towards their northern grounds on the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Central Florida's weather during the spring is usually no less than spectacular as the college spring breakers are winding up the end of their vacation and heading back to campus to finish up before summer break. Daytona Beach host several spring events from NASCAR Races, Bike Week and Spring Break activities while Cocoa Beach and it's Space Coast offer a much less crowded alternative for vacationers to seek a more secluded and restful Holiday. The temperatures are rising and the fishing should be heating up too in East Central Florida's Cocoa Beach.
Lagooner Fishing Guides
Cocoa Beach's premier saltwater fishing guide with over 25 years of charter fishing experience in his native waters.
Telephone: 321-868-4953
Website: www.lagooner.com
Cocoa Beach, FL
USA
Currencies Accepted USD in the form of Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card
Lagooner Fishing Guides Review / Facebook
Inshore and Offshore Charter Fishing near Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Florida. Catch redfish, sea trout, tarpon, snook and many other saltwater gamefish aboard the world famous Lagooner flats fishing boat with renowned Captain Richard Bradley.
Excellent experience with Captain Richard! He made it fun for the whole family even though my wife had a bit of the demon. She still had a blast and Capt. Richard put us right on the fish even when the other fishing charters were struggling to catch fish.
Written by: Johnathon West about Lagooner Fishing Charters on
August 28, 2013
5 / 5 stars 