Mosquito Lagoon Fall Fishing and Hunting
- Captain John Tarr
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us and that Christmas will be here before we know it. It's the time of year that everyone gets extremely busy and stressed out; which means it is also the perfect time to get outdoors and relieve that stress. If you need to get out on the water and want a truly stress free day, book your trip and leave everything else to me.
Fall is officially upon us, here in Florida. Our morning temperatures are cool with our afternoons still warming up a little and making the days completely comfortable. The early morning runs may require a light jacket, but by mid-morning, the day is absolutely spectacular. My hardest decision has been where to spend the majority of the time: on the water or in the woods? This is the first year I have decided to make that decision a little easier for a very small group of clients, by offering a limited number of fishing/hunting trips (aka Cast and Blast). These are 6 hour fishing trips combined with a morning or afternoon hog hunt. I have limited this offer to 12 total trips. I still have a few left, so if you want one, reach out ASAP. Now, on to the fishing report.
The cooler weather means that our waters are clearing up nicely. Conditions are about as perfect as they get for sight fishing. The real excitement is the amount of seagrasses that we have back in Mosquito Lagoon and the additional opportunities this brings for both the fish and the angler. Sight fishing is what I started specializing in over 25 years ago and the conditions are getting better and better, as our water quality improves. No one in the area has the experience or knowledge that I have for this fishery and the expertise in the fly fishing and light tackle fishing that I have. Fly fishing has been my passion for the last 37 years and I bring that passion and knowledge to all of my clients. It's in knowing where to find the fish, how to set up for the fish, and how to present to the fish to increase the chances of having success on the flats. All you have to bring is the ability to make a good cast, at a distance of about 50 feet, with minimal false casts. For my ight tackle anglers; the same applies except for the false casts.
So, what can anglers expect for the next few months? The primary focus for a lot of trips will be redfish. As the cool weather continues, the water levels drop and redfish begin that wonderful sight of "tailing". With their heads buried in grass of looking toward the bottom, their tails stick up and break the surface of the water. Watching the sun glint of their tail, shining light an electric blue neon sign, is quite a view and one that can make even the most experienced anglers start shaking. Whether a single tailing fish, a small group of them, or an entire school of 100 or more, the picture you will see will stick with you forever. Anglers that keep it together and focus can expect to have plenty of opportunities and fish fights. This will also be a time that gives nice chances at sight fishing Gator Seatrout. These may be the wariest fish we have on the flats of Mosquito Lagoon. These big fish don't get that way by being stupid, but they can be targeted and caught. For the past few years, I've started finding more and more Gator Seatrout in the waters, since their numbers plummeted during the Covid fishing pressure. Targeting these fish requires patience, as we cross the flat at the slowest pace possible, while trying to spot their almost perfect camouflage against the bottom of the flats. If all of that comes together, they usually respond by eating. Anglers will also have shots at snook, especially during the afternoons, as they float near the surface to remain warm, and there are plenty of black drum too.
Overall, if you've been waiting for the perfect time to come fishing in Florida, and enjoy the world renowned Mosquito Lagoon, this is the time! Call me (386) 314-5998 or email me captainjohn@tailhunteroutdooradventures.com and get your trip booked!