Jigs and swim baits come in many different sizes and colors and to a beginner can be quite intimidating and confusing. Jigs and swim baits account for a large number of big redfish, trout and snook caught in the Indian and Banana river systems. These lures will also attract any other predatory fish that may be passing through such as jacks, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and tarpon.
To use these baits effectively you first need to know what the fish are feeding on and try to match that as closely as possible. Water clarity and depth are another important item to factor in. The weight of the jig head you will use is determined by water depth, the depth or column level that the fish are feeding at, and the speed and presentation of the lure.
Hey, not sure where you get all your fishing reports from, but just wanted to let you know your advise for satellite beach was spot on. I went out earlier today with a dozen shrimp, some cut mullet, and caught a grunt which i chopped up. Brought the sand flea rake, and caught more sand fleas today then I\'ve seen in a good while. Anyways, I was with about 6 other people, who used the assorted bait. I was the only one using sand fleas, and it was GREAT. I caught a 14 inch sheepshead (nice and fat) a couple convicts, numerous catfish and grunts. Great fishing, however, everyone I went fishing with got skunked, not a single fish or bite. I\'m positive it was all in the sand fleas. BTW, this was all surf fishing. A couple guys down there told me not to cast out far, keep it in 2-3ft water, however, I didn\'t see them catch ANYTHING. I was wading out until about waist depth and sending it out as far as I possibly could.
Kyle Simmons
I like your site... I will tell some of my users about it.. www.brevardfishinglunatics.com
Damion Trombley
Just a couple more pics 9lb sheephead @ pier... Ill get some more fish pics and snd them. Thanks John loving the site
God Bless! Mike
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission banned the harvest of
snook, tarpon and bonefish in response to the recent snap of cold weather, but
anglers may still catch and release these prized sportfish. The executive order,
which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2010, will keep snook season closed
until September and bonefish and tarpon through March 31. But this doesn't mean
you can't go fishing. Just be sure you know how to properly release a fish.
Hot, hot, hot! Hot describes not only our recent temperatures but also the local fishing from Mosquito Lagoon to Sebastian Inlet. Anglers are reporting great catches of a wide variety of fish especially in the cooler early morning and late evening hours all over Brevard county. Mosquito Lagoon is turning up the reds on the grassy flats during the heat of the day. Cocoa pier continues to produce some giant sized sheeps head and the whiting bite can't be beat at Pineda. Sebastian Inlet is giving up some nice ladyfish, blues and snook especially on the out going tides. This past week I pulled in some gator trout, ladyfish and jack crevalle off of Melbourne causeway. All in all a pretty good week for fishing!
These off shore pics submitted by Jael Vanderhoeven. Thanks Jael, great catch!
Jack Crevalle 30 lbs
Nancy's Kingfish
Dustin's Bonita
Remember
Snook season is closed
until September!
Mosquito Lagoon: The
south end down around
haul over cannel has
been giving up some
big redfish as well
as gator trout and black
drum. Finger mullet,
crabs, clams and live
shrimp fished on the
slope of the channel
just off the flats has
been one hot location.
Refer to the BFR
nautical maps to
find these holes and
channels. Up on the
flats the morning and
afternoon bite has been
smoking hot on popping
corks and Cajun Thunders
with jigs and spoons
trailed about two feet
behind them. Some really
large trout have been
caught using this method
as well as over the
slot size redfish and
the occasional monster
size snook.
Cocoa
Beach:
The surf has been rough
this past week, but
with the warmer temperatures
the sand fleas are starting
to show up again. If
you can find them, this
is the best bait to
use on pompano. Some
good catches have been
coming from along the
beach with some really
big fish being caught
in the two to four pound
range. Whiting, black
drum, sheepshead and
redfish have been hitting
clams, cut bait and
shrimp. The bluefish,
ladyfish and Spanish
mackerel will hit the
same baits as well as
Gotch~ya plugs and big
heavy silver spoons.
1000 Islands: This
has been one of the
best locations for the
use of the Cajun Thunder
and Bay Side Poppers.
Some really big schools
of redfish and trout
have been moving through.
The winds have made
it tough here this past
week, but with the popper
you can draw the fish
in and get the strike
on the trailer jig almost
every time. This has
also been working effectively
with live shrimp under
the popper also.
Satellite Beach:
Again the surf has been
rough and the bite here
has been kind of slow.
Still all in all, the
sand fleas are showing
back up and for the
few die hard anglers
that choose to tough
it out pompano can be
caught. Clams, crab,
shrimp and cut bait
are catching black drum,
redfish, and whiting
along with Bluefish
and Spanish mackerel
when the schools come
through. Don't overlook
your spoons and plugs
for some fun surf action
as well.
Pineda Causeway:
This area has been hot
for whiting this past
week. Large numbers
of whiting are being
caught with some pushing
close to two pounds.
Shrimp and clams have
been the main stay here
for catching most of
these fish. Early in
the week I was told
about large schools
of redfish pushing through
on the Banana river
side of Pineda. I was
informed that these
fish were being caught
on a drop shot rig fished
in the current next
to the bridge with swim
baits attached to three
foot of leader. Fish
on the bottom letting
the current work the
swim bait until the
fish hit.
Eau Gallie/Mather's
Bridge: This
has been a really good
spot this past week
for pompano around the
bridge pilings. Most
are being caught on
sand fleas and clam
strips as well as small
pompano jigs. Also in
the mix has been some
large sheephead. Bluefish,
Spanish mackerel and
ladyfish have been super
thick in the evenings
on the northeast side
and are being hammered
by anglers using Cajun
Thunders and popping
corks and a jig or spoon
approximately two to
three feet trailed behind
it.
Canova Beach:
Canova beach has pretty
much the same conditions
as Satellite Beach.
Again the surf has been
rough and the bite has
been kind of slow. Still
all in all, the sand
fleas are showing back
up and for the few die
hard fisherman pompano
can be caught. Clams,
crab, shrimp and cut
bait are catching black
drum, redfish, and whiting
along with Bluefish
and Spanish mackerel
when the schools come
through. Don�t overlook
your spoons and plugs
for some fun surf action
as well.
Melbourne:
This is pretty much
the same as Satellite
and Canova beach as
far as the reports that
have been coming in.
The pompano bite has
been steadily improving
here, especially if
you can find clear water
and sand fleas. If you
can't find sand fleas
then clams will be your
best second option.
Along with the pompano,
sheepshead, whiting
and black drum have
been keeping anglers
pretty busy. Bluefish
and Spanish mackerel
as well as ladyfish
and jack can be caught
out of the surf on big
spoons and jigs such
as the Redtail Hawk.
Cut bait is always a
good choice if you prefer
not to throw lures.
Turkey
Creek:
There have been quite
a lot of redfish caught
here this past week
according to local anglers.
Live bait, especially
shrimp, fished on the
bottom of the deepest
parts of the channel
have been the trick
here. Black drum and
mangrove snappers are
being caught along the
pilings under the bridge
with shrimp, clams and
crab.
Grant:
Again, lots of redfish
are coming out of this
area as well. Along
with the redfish have
been black drum and
sheepshead. Shrimp and
clams are the mainstay
here. Schools of bluefish,
ladyfish, jacks and
Spanish mackerel have
been moving through
and have been keeping
anglers busy throwing
jigs, spoons and Gotch~ya
plugs. The morning and
afternoon bite is starting
to really get hot on
top water plugs.
Sebastian:
: The bite continues
to be pretty much the
same as the week before
with black drum, sheepshead
and pompano being caught
along the rocks on clams
and shrimp. The clearer
the water the better
the bite! A little further
out from the rocks,
redfish and an occasional
flounder are still being
caught. Off the north
jetty bluefish and Spanish
mackerel are throttling
lures such as silver
and gold spoons, chartreuse
/ red > redtail hawk
jigs and fast moving
flashy crank baits.
This bite can be fast
and furious and keep
you busy for hours.
The incoming tide is
the better bite.
If
you would like to send
in a report or picture
from an area that you’re
fishing and let us know
what the bite is like
(good or bad), the staff
at BFR
will be more
then happy to post it
for our other readers
to get a heads up on.
We want to know the
location but not your
favorite/secret spot.
Include lure or bait
being used, fish caught
with size and weight
and your name. This
can be sent to
captainredfish@gmx.com
Just as it is important
to take care of your reels,
your rods should not be
overlooked. After every
trip in and around saltwater
your poles should be rinsed
with fresh water. This
is a common procedure
I do after every trip.
I also like to take the
reels off the rods about
every three months and
wipe the rods down with
pledge and a soft clean
rag. I check the wraps
and guides for wear and
tear and use a cotton
q-tip to check the guides
to check for nicks, cracks
or frays. As you run the
cotton q-tip around the
guide any imperfections
will catch on the cotton.
Next I check the reel
seat along with the handle.
Once I have finished this
procedure I then put the
rods and reels back together
and store in an upright
position with no bend
or stress on the rod at
all. Taking care of your
rod will always keep it
like new and will ensure
that the rod is ready
for the next battle you
come up against while
fishing.
Jigs and swim baits account for a large number of big redfish, trout and snook caught in the Indian and Banana river systems. These lures will also attract any other predatory fish that may be passing through such as jacks, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and tarpon.
To use these baits effectively you first need to know what the fish are feeding on and try to match that as closely as possible. Water clarity and depth are another important item to factor in. The weight of the jig head you will use is determined by water depth, the depth or column level that the fish are feeding at, and the speed and presentation of the lure.
Nancy's Kingfish
Turkey
Creek:
There have been quite
a lot of redfish caught
here this past week
according to local anglers.
Live bait, especially
shrimp, fished on the
bottom of the deepest
parts of the channel
have been the trick
here. Black drum and
mangrove snappers are
being caught along the
pilings under the bridge
with shrimp, clams and
crab. 
