Fresh Oak Hill Fishing Reports

Here in Mosquito Lagoon and New Smyrna Beach, it is prime Tarpon and snook fishing. Tarpon: Covering the flats and backcountry, first thing in the morning or at last light we are Getting plenty of shots at rolling tarpon with light tackle and fly. Most of the tarpon we target in the backcountry are in the 20-30lb range, although we occasionally see fish over 60lbs. Throwing flies, soft plastic jerkbaits, or drifting live shrimp and baitfish under floats right into a group of rolling tarpon gets the adrenaline pumping all on its own. Listening to the "bloop" of a tarpon gulping air in the dead quiet of the morning is an unforgettable experience. Once hooked, it can take some skill to land these fish as they act as though they have been struck with a live wire, exploding from the water in a series of cartwheeling, acrobatic jumps, broken up by powerful runs. Around the main channels of New Smyrna's inner coastal waterways, and along the beach, we find larger tarpon often over 80lbs. With heavier tackle, be it an 11 wt. flyrod or 30lb.-test spin setups, we will target tarpon first thing in the morning or after sunset, even well into the night when the bite won't quit. the 3 and 5hr night trips are perfect to have some good chances at not just tarpon, but also XL snook and bull redfish. During the trips starting in the morning, we have the option to run out to the beach and chase big migratory tarpon early in the morning and transition to targeting nearshore kingfish and bonito as the day progresses. Snook: The snook have been very active with the tropical temperatures the water has achieved. From targeting them laid up on the flats with artificials and flies to drifting live baits to them around structures, oyster bars, and holes. While sight-fishing snook on the flats you'll also get shots at the redfish and large trout the Lagoon is famous for. Half-day bookings launching in the evenings can begin late enough to split the time between fishing the flats and backcountry and fish the docklights and other structures for incredible visual fishing as well as some opportunities at truly monster snook.

We went out early to avoid as much heat as possible. We watched the sun come up and the bait shower across the water in front of us. no sooner did the sunlight hit the water and the first trout hit the deck! We reeled in some small ones and a couple of slot sized and decided to move a little. I don't know if the dolphins were leading or following but everywhere we found good fish they seemed to find us! We were almost ready to come in when Josh got a runaway hit and a 27" snook exploded out of the water and it was a site to see! He put up a good fight but it just ended too soon. it was a great way to end the day!

We knew we'd be up against it due to the moon phase of the past week or so. Full to half-full moon up for most of the night and deadly high mid-day temperatures give the fish an excellent opportunity to feed all night and look the other when no matter how well a bait is presented to them during the daytime. Repeat client and good friend, Tyler was not intimidated. We kicked the day off watching 20 - 60 lb. tarpon lazily roll at first light. For about 45 minutes we pitched live shrimp, blue crabs, and baitfish as well as artificial presentations to them. A few sipped down the blue crabs but gave us the slip as a bony-mouthed tarpon will sometimes do. By the time the sun cleared the horizon, the tarpon activity declined and we moved onto the flats. Within minutes we were staked out on a school of black drum in the 5-15lb. range. After a few missed hook-ups we finally landed one around 22" and a slot red before the school moved on. From there it was pretty much all sight fishing. We had a few opportunities at large trout and snook cruising the flats despite the tough moon phase and Tyler followed directions perfectly to sight-fish a couple of over-slot Mosquito Lagoon redfish! They are plentiful but demanding in the clear shallow water and closely adhering to the direction of your guide is all but imperative. In the late afternoon, we returned to the main channel to try our luck with the bull reds. On light tackle, we landed a few more fish including another over-slot redfish and we had an absolute monster on the 6500 penn that somehow managed to break us off on some structure. From seeing schools of black drum and redfish to rolling tarpon and cruising snook, despite the tough moon phase, we had a heck of a good time.

Leaving the River Breeze Boat Ramp at first light, we headed out to begin the hunt for redfish, snook, and trout. At the first location, we poled a channel edge that has been holding a lot of redfish but, even to my surprise, we bumped into a school that probably topped 100 fish. In the low light and high water, we didn't have a chance to see them untill it was too late! With frazzled nerves we rounded the corner and pushed up onto a very shallow section of the flat. Throwing a tan/rootbeer gurgler we kicked off the day with a 20" trout. Switching to an olive shrimp pattern we began sight fishing as the sun rose enough to illuminate the flats. We would get a few shots at redfish in the deeper parts of the flat as we meandered from one shallow zone to the next while getting shots at large laid-up trout in mere inches of water over sandy potholes in the grass. Large seatrout are a very tough species to sight-fish on the fly but with the right adjustments and accurate casts, we were able to stick 4 over 20" as well as 5 beautiful slot redfish. The summer transition to better snook and tarpon fishing is upon us but the gator trout, as well as the redfish, will remain on the flats all summer long!

The Speckled Trout bite is on! The bait has changed and the time is right! Now is the time to book your trip on the Mosquito Lagoon! The weather is right, the water is right, and the fish can't wait to bite your hook! Book now before it gets too busy!

As a young guide, every moment spent on the water is about learning more and becoming a better teacher. Every trip is better than the last and although this late summer season is brutally warm, there is almost no better time to catch a slam. Tarpon. Every fisherman and woman knows of them and in the New Smyrna Beach area, late July through September is arguably the best time of year to target them. Whether we are slow trolling mullet or throwing the fly at happy rollers, they are thick in the intercoastal and off the beach on the right tide. We are seeing fish ranging from 30-100+ pounds but they are a blast at any size. Redfish. There has been a surprising number and even small schools of redfish cruising the backcountry despite the warm weather. Prime time for sight fishing redfish is often the fall and winter, however, at low tide north of the lagoon, the bite has been remarkably consistent. Depending on your skill level and desires we can post up with live bait or, the preferred tactic, sight fish with artificial lures and flies. The fishing has been very visual, and the fish are intermittently tailing even late in the morning. Snook. With the mild winters we've been having, the snook fishery is better than ever in New Smyrna Beach through Mosquito Lagoon. We are consistently catching fish from 20 to 30 inches and occasionally even larger ones. You have the choice of targeting them on fly or spinning tackle or book a trip and speak with me about night trips to fish the bridges and dock lights! Flounder. On the seawalls or in the mud-bottom, backcountry creeks we are catching flounder from 15 to over 20 inches! Last weekend we caught 5 during a half-day charter after landing a 40-pound tarpon and a couple of mid-size snook. That's a bang for your buck. Whether you wish to target a specific species or go for a super slam, now is a great time of year to get on the water!