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North Indian River Lagoon (Titusville) 5.24

Today was a day of first for me.........but first I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who have served our country!

Well, first, I was bound and determined to be on the water at first light - and I was - and the plan was to work the western shore of the river south of the condos. Of course the east wind was 10 miles an hour stronger than forecast scrapping that idea so I went back to the eastern shore just south of the Max Brewer and worked a very shallow grass flat that was crawling with mullet using a top dog jr. I caught a couple of really small trout........and a puffer........before finally catching an over slot Red. The fish slapped the lure with its tail....I just let it sit...........and it came back and ate it........in less than a foot deep flat caught on topwater just at sunup.......doesn't get any better than that. Two casts later, I hook up on another red.......this time a fat 24 inch slot that is joining my family cookout tomorrow. Then some jacks showed up..........followed by some dolphins......and that was the end of the morning bite. So, I next went to this dug out mosquito impoundment I've been hitting lately........caught several ladyfish and a few more small trout on spoons. The guy who told me about this spot was there and caught a baby tarpon on a fly he tied........very kool (I couldn't get one to look at a spoon). Then I went exploring waiting for the nighttime bite. Went back to a spot south of Gator Creek that has been producing some nice trout recently..........threw a top water for an hour...........not a strike..........then there was a brief rainshower - the temperature dropped and the wind laid down just a bit......and that's when I hooked up with a nice snook again on top water - it jumped three or four times - at first I thought it was a tarpon it jumped so much. What a fight!!!

This was my first snook as well as my first slam ever in 10 years wade fishing in Titusville !!!! I think that's a good sign for the snook population. Following are some pics from the day (sorry none of the first overslot red - I was too busy fishing):
There are only so many casts in life, so shut up and fish!!

Replies

  • mcsnookmcsnook Posts: 175 Deckhand
    nice job..the wind forecast is never right...finally a slam...that's a sweet lookin snook...afternoon showers this summer, heard it can be really good...trying to time it right with an hour drive is tough though....you wade fish at night??? you trust those gators a lot. thanks for the report.
  • gettinwetgettinwet Posts: 1,366 Officer
    mcsnook wrote: »
    nice job..the wind forecast is never right...finally a slam...that's a sweet lookin snook...afternoon showers this summer, heard it can be really good...trying to time it right with an hour drive is tough though....you wade fish at night??? you trust those gators a lot. thanks for the report.

    I don't trust the gators - particularly in this spot - I've seen a 10+ footer there. I suffer from that horrible affliction called "onelastcast" - but I was able to stay close to shore in ankle deep water in a sandy area - also it looks darker in the pic then it actually was - the sun had just gone down but there was still some gray light. I've had a lot of luck fishing during rain showers too.......since I'm already getting wet I fish through it unless there is lightning.
    There are only so many casts in life, so shut up and fish!!
  • Pescatoral PursuitPescatoral Pursuit Posts: 5,065 Admiral
    Great report!

    Congrats on your slam!
  • mcsnookmcsnook Posts: 175 Deckhand
    Ever done the very north end, turnbull ? creek area. Used to wade up there and did ok. I used to wade out from the scotsmoore ramp, also actually caught my biggest red to date. couldnt measure him in waist deep water, but im guessin 40". Waded out one day looked to my left and there was a big gator staring at me. What if that boy was under water and i stepped or kicked one. pretty scary. Figured that's it time to get a boat. Have a ghenoee now, so my range has opened up and I don't have to stare down gators!
  • gettinwetgettinwet Posts: 1,366 Officer
    mcsnook wrote: »
    Ever done the very north end, turnbull ? creek area. Used to wade up there and did ok. I used to wade out from the scotsmoore ramp, also actually caught my biggest red to date. couldnt measure him in waist deep water, but im guessin 40". Waded out one day looked to my left and there was a big gator staring at me. What if that boy was under water and i stepped or kicked one. pretty scary. Figured that's it time to get a boat. Have a ghenoee now, so my range has opened up and I don't have to stare down gators!

    I tried the mouth of Turnbull - targeted it a few times after a lot of rainfall due to the water flow - never had much luck - but have never been at first light - and hear stories of monster reds and black drum especially along the western shore. What's the bottom like around the Scottsmoore ramp? Most of the northern lagoon is pretty muddy but walkable - the closer you get to the creek and into the channel plus marshy/grass areas of the shoreline the worse it gets.

    I almost stepped on a gator myself once - right at sunset - popped out of the water within arms length - hissed/took off. Probably a 6 to 8 footer - I think I was "walking on water" for a moment!! But normally they don't bother me so I don't bother them - I just stay away from nests, baby gators, and bulls bellowing over territory - and I don't usually wade at night.

    I want to get a ghenoee myself - especially now my eight year old son and nine year old daughter are asking to go fishing. I'm afraid to take them where I go because of gators - I might not be meal size - but they could be. How stable are they really? I'm a big guy (6ft/270lbs) and have tipped almost every canoe and kayak I've been in at some point?
    There are only so many casts in life, so shut up and fish!!
  • mcsnookmcsnook Posts: 175 Deckhand
    At scottsmore I would always wade out on the north side of the channel. It's pretty thick mud the first 20 ft or so. I would sink in to about mid calf. But once you get past that its firm and as you wade north plenty of sand holes. I always caught somethin there but sometimes nothin around in the 1-2 ft zone so I'd go deeper and cast to the 4-6 ft zone for school trout. 12-17 inches using a doa and poppin cork or topwater. It's been 10 years since I did that but I assume its still the same.

    Ghenoee are more stable than a canoe but still not easy. The hard thing for me is going bow to stern. Im lookin into puttin a trim and tilt on so can stay on the front half. If you are bringing out the kids I think I'd consider a skiff.
  • roto7777roto7777 Posts: 2,545 Captain
    great pics and post
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • RealSeabeeRealSeabee Posts: 583 Officer
    Nice report...see you out there.

    I like Turnbull Creek area w/ any wind except North. We caught two Slot Snook up there last season along with a lot of shorties. The Tarpon are laying thick up there right now but Reds, Snook and Trout are with'em. This is the Only place I have ever caught a KEEPER sized Slam....Snook/Red/Trout and for good measure that same day got some Jack Cravelle and a Juvie Tarpon.

    I like the area from Gator Creek down to about Brock Creek as well but then I skip down to about 200' shy of the opening of Peacocks Pocket on that shoreline. Big numbers on the Reds down there last Mullet Run (July / August & September).
    When Practice meets opportunity, Set-The-Hook!
  • southerntidesoutherntide Posts: 51 Greenhorn
    Was up in the Northeast corner of Indian River (due East of the mouth of Turnbull) yesterday evening. Waded about a mile from dry land and finally started to get some consistent trout right before sunset. While releasing one in about waist deep water, I look to my right and Mr. 9 foot gator is all puffed up out of the water 30 yards away, head and tail way out of the water. Froze for a few seconds then he slid under the surface. Hauled butt to shallow water and called it a day. The gator stalked me for about 600 yards down the shoreline, occasionally letting me spot him on the surface for a few quick seconds here and there.
    I've seen them there before but they have never came that close before nor followed me.
  • cFLDuckscFLDucks Posts: 38 Deckhand
    Had a couple close encounters with them during duck season... I've stepped on one before.
  • FinCityFinCity Posts: 145 Deckhand
    I would definitely be wearing a shoulder holster.
    Early to bed, early to rise, fish all day, make up lies. :fishing
    Jerry
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