Mosquito Lagoon Water Clarity

Flec

What is the current water clarity like the past few days here?  I know the rise in water temps have clouded the water somewhat in the south IRL. Water levels are also low in the south.   Thanks

dakotadunmire5

Went out today... looking like chocolate milk. Costas can still see the pockets but clarity is very poor. Was fishing down by the whales tale and bio lab. 

tunaman

Such a shame. Used to be when it cools down the water clears. This is one reason I haven't fished in 3 yrs, really miss it.

MRichardson

5 years for me.
Can't believe what this state has become, though I realize it's only the continuance of what the folks that came before me have described.

tijereta

It has been over 6 years for me, used to go 3-4 times a month. Beautiful place and unique in its own way.

Arsinek

Is the fishing in Mosquito lagoon no good anymore?

MRichardson

Reports are that it is still good.
For me, part of the enjoyment was the crystal clear water, expansive grass beds and sighting fish that weren't tailing/pushing water.  

HUNTINTHEWILD

There are pockets of fish.  If you put the time in you can find them.  Nothing like it used to be.  IMO and if I didn’t already own a boat I would do it.  Hire a guide and pick your days.  Best bang for your buck.  They are on the water a lot and know where these pockets are.

Arsinek

Are there any signs that something major will be done to save the habitat?

Flec

Without any development along it shorelines, what is causing the problem with the water?  Could this be just a natural occurance that happens? I noticed last week that the water in the south IRL had turned a brownish color from a week earlier. I hope that it is not the start of something like happened last year at this time. That lasted for about 4 weeks and then cleared up quickly.

gatorhook

It's SpaceX/Nasa and the rocket pad developments/upgrades. It's not going to get any better. We asked for it, gotta have those JOBS!

MRichardson

From my perspective it turned brown about 5 years ago and has stayed that way ever since.  

Fertilizers, leaky septic tanks and sewer pipes, air pollution and decades of organic muck buildup on the lagoon bottom contribute over time. 5 yrs ago we reached the tipping point. It's not something that just happened in 2012 or so, that's just when it hit the tipping point.

Flec

To my recollection there are no buildings or commercial construction along the shores of ML. except for maybe the extreme northern end close to Oak Hill. The waters in the IRL around Sebastian to Vero have gone south a few times but seem to clear up mostly. I have seen ML clear as recently as 13 months ago, although most of the grass was gone.

WeBeBoatin

Was clean in November and early December not since though.  Happened to be cold then too.  Some cold is coming I guess we'll see. 

Fishseeker

Flex has a great point.  I’ve been focused on the “usual suspects” fertilizer, leaky sewerage etc., but water clarity in stretches of the lagoon with no development are all similarly impacted.  Yesterday I paddled A LONG WAY north  in the NMZ of the Banana River.  Federal lands on both sides, virgin shoreline on west side, no change in facilities that would impact water quality , on east side.  Essentially “no change” over past several decades yet visibility is at ~ 5-7 inches.  Could it be as simple, and as crushing, as a rise in average water temp?

Net 30

It's way past the point where all of the Mosquito Lagoon should be catch and release.  

Go by JBs Fish Camp any day of the week and watch the Guides filet the Redfish for the tourists.

Waaaaay too many Reds killed each day/week/month/year to sustain a healthy fishery.

Rockslam

Net 30 said:

It's way past the point where all of the Mosquito Lagoon should be catch and release.  

Go by JBs Fish Camp any day of the week and watch the Guides filet the Redfish for the tourists.

Waaaaay too many Reds killed each day/week/month/year to sustain a healthy fishery.

If that was the case, how could these guides still be continuing to filet so many redfish each day/week/month/year?

Net 30

Rockslam said:

Net 30 said:

It's way past the point where all of the Mosquito Lagoon should be catch and release.  

Go by JBs Fish Camp any day of the week and watch the Guides filet the Redfish for the tourists.

Waaaaay too many Reds killed each day/week/month/year to sustain a healthy fishery.

If that was the case, how could these guides still be continuing to filet so many redfish each day/week/month/year?

It's real simple......they can't.  

When you combine the loss of habitat, the low numbers of fish left and the number of fish they continue to take - the future looks real bad, real bad.

mcacorse

Its the brown algae it has killed off most if not all of the sea grass, it is mostly sandy areas now. With no place for the bait fish , shrimp and crabs to flourish in the grass the fish are gone because there is no food source. Sad very sad

Rich M

I'd rather see the fishing shut down for a couple of years as opposed to going C&R.  Punish everyone or punish no-one.

I was trying to figure out where all the fish went - figure they died.

bostonsox2904

I would say go and check it out. You have sections of the lagoon that are cloudy and other sections that are crystal clear. I've found both in the past 2 weeks.

Redzman

I am not sure where others have been fishing, but anything north of marker 15 has been gin clear.  I haven't gone south, but the north is crystal clear where i've been fishing.

Arsinek

Yep, catch and release only until things get better. And stop all the construction and crap dumping into the water.

zamog

used to fish lagoon at least 1x a week. have not been in a year or so. we go to lagoon we just run up to jb's for some oysters and scallop basket. see friends we have known for years. miss launching at lefils

duckmanJR

zamog said:

used to fish lagoon at least 1x a week. have not been in a year or so. we go to lagoon we just run up to jb's for some oysters and scallop basket. see friends we have known for years. miss launching at lefils

Lots of guys from that old forum have drifted away from fishing....