03-17-2003, 07:50 PM
[#312c98]3/14/2003 Flats fishing report for the Titusville & Cocoa Beach area. By Capt Doug Blanton[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Spring is almost here! The temperature got up to 85 on the flats today and the wind has been a lot kinder all week. Schools of bait seem to be growing larger by the day and the fishing has been good. This week hasn't been a week of loading the boat with fish but everything we have caught has been great quality fish. For example, the most fish we put in the boat one day ways 3 reds 6 to 11 pounds and 12 trout 4 to 8 pounds. The great thing was all of the fish caught that day were on top water. As this upcoming full moon passes we should be in for a few months of the best fishing of the year. Last year at this time we had days were we put 11 reds (6 to 35 pounds) and 40+ trout (2 to 10 pounds) in the boat off top water. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]So with that said, clean the dust off your rods and grab your fishing buddy and get out and have some fun.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Redfish[/#312c98]
[#312c98]There have been 2 schools of reds working the flats of the Banana River for over a week now. Most of these fish have been in the 6# to 10# range with most of them being within the 18 to 27 inch slot. Both of these schools have been moving fast chasing schools of mullet as they come across them in 1 to 3 feet of water. These fish have been more than willing to take top water. All of the fish we have pulled out of these schools have been caught on [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url] or the [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#800080]3 1/4" HighRoller™ in Florida Special or their new Green back[/#800080][/url]. For those of you who have fished with me and used the green back, High Roller has made my secret color available to everyone now. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]In addition to the schools, there have been numerous single reds tailing in the early am in a foot or less water. These fish have been quite spooky. The only thing we have been able to tease these fish with has been Cotee's [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#800080]Reel Magic[/#800080][/url] rigged with a 5/0 [url "http://http://www.eangler.com/eangler/proshop/productdetail.asp?prod%5Fid=2508&"][#0000ff]Daiichi Bleeding Copperhead Hook[/#0000ff][/url] in [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#800080]black/gold/flk[/#800080][/url]. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout[/#312c98]
[#312c98]The trout fishing has been great most of this week. We put 26 fish in the boat this week over 4 pounds. All of our trout were found mixed in or near schools of bait in 1 to 3 feet of water. Now the best part, they were all caught on Top Water!!!! Once again these fish as well as the reds were caught on [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url]. Our best catches can between sun rise and noon on cloudy days and until 9 on clear days. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Everything else [/#312c98]
[#312c98]We saw a few snook moving on the flats this week but none of them wanted to play. It is just a matter of time before we start to here them busting the surface at first light. Schools of 2 to 8 pound jacks started prowling the flats this week. 1 to 4 pound ladyfish started working the outer edge of the flats. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]These are the days that dreams come true on the flats, so get out there and catch a memory. Capt. Doug[/#312c98] [left][#312c98]My tips for sight catching fish in skinny flat water [url "http://www.sightfishing.com/fishingtips.htm"][#800080]click here[/#800080][/url] . [/#312c98][/left]
[#312c98]For more information on Flats fishing with Capt. Doug [url "http://www.indianriver.cc/fishing_trips.htm"][#800080]click here[/#800080][/url][/#312c98]
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