Flats Report for Cocoa Beach & Titusville areas
July 23rd, 2007 fishing report by Capt Doug Blanton
Redfish
The red fishing has greatly improved over the past few weeks. The schools have gotten smaller but all this means is that you have more fish scattered across a flat instead of one big school. You have to give these fish a little more room than the larger schools but you have a better chance of catching more of them because you have more schools to work.
Most of the reds we have been catching have been in areas with a lot of mullet. The reds don't seam to be feeding on the mullet as much as small grass shrimp. However, if a bait fish gets a little too close or makes a wrong move they are more than happy to eat them as well. Most of the reds we have been catching have been on the Trout Fingerling.
In the early mornings or on days that the pressure has been dropping we have been able to put a few fish in the boat with top water. When this has been the case we have been having our best luck with the 4.25 Green Back High Roller. This is one of my favorite top water plugs because of all the different ways this lure can be worked. On those top water days we have had our best luck walking the dog up to the schools then speeding the retrieve up to make it look like it is running from the reds.
On the days we are able to get them to eat top water we have been having good luck with the worked across the front of the schools with long casts.
On fly we have had some of our best days fishing the "redfish toad". If you click on the picture it will take to to the Fly Fisherman's fly of the month with a breakdown of how to tie this fly.
Trout
The trout fishing has been great in Cocoa Beach. Most of the fish have been small but we continue to put a few nice fish up to 5 pounds in the boat. Our best catches have been on Yozuri's 3-D fingerling in 4 to 6 feet of water. Just on the outside of flats that are holding a lot of bait.
Snook and Tarpon
The tarpon are here. We are starting to see large schools of tarpon up to 60 pounds working the drop-offs in areas that are holding a lot of big bait. The best part about this is that that are starting to feed pretty good. We are having our best luck with big top water plugs like the new 6.5 Monster High Roller in Florida Special and the 5 inch Pinfish Fingerling.
On fly we have had our best catches on the EP Rattle Mullet. Once you get this fly in front of them it has been a matter of a how fast you can strep it in. They have been a little more willing to take a fast moving fly.
Now when it comes to snook fishing we have had our best catches in the early morning on small top water plugs like the Redhead Pop Roller. and on fly with the Blue or black back crease flies.
I also want to remind everyone that October is only a few weeks away. This is the time of year we put more tarpon in the boat than any other time of year. I still have a few days left so if you are looking to get in on the action let me know ASAP. Just 3 years ago we put 30 tarpon in the boat in an afternoon.
until next time.....
Get out there and catch a memory.
Capt. Doug Blanton
www.SightFishing.com
To book a trip with Capt Doug click here or call 321-432-9470