Redfish fishing in Indian River Lagoon

In Indian River Lagoon, redfish are on year-round, spawning in August–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Clear-water sight fishing: schools of reds on the Mosquito Lagoon flats on calm sunny afternoons.

1. JanuaryPeakClear-water sight fishing: schools of reds on the Mosquito Lagoon flats on calm sunny afternoons.
2. FebruaryPeakGator trout month; reds tail on the flats; snook opens in the south. The biggest trout of the year on the flats on warm afternoons — slow suspending plugs. Reds tailing in the shallows.
3. MarchPeakTailing fish in the shallows.
4. AprilPeakSpring peak on the lagoon; cobia and kings off Canaveral. Trout and reds on the flats early; cobia on the nearshore rays and buoys; kings on the Canaveral reefs; the first tarpon at Ponce.
5. MayPeakTarpon show in the lagoon and inlets; trout before the heat. Tarpon in the Indian River and at the inlets; snook at Sebastian (closes the 31st); trout at dawn before the flats warm.
6. JunePeakDawn on the flats, before the sun is high.
7. JulyPeakHot and glassy: reds early, tarpon and jacks in the lagoon. Fish the flats before the sun is high; tarpon and jacks bust bait in the deeper lagoon all day; dock lights at night.
8. AugustSpawningThe lagoon's own spawn — big breeder schools in Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River (FWC's spawning study site), August into October. Catch-and-release in the lagoon — check MyFWC.
9. SeptemberSpawningBreeder schools on the lagoon edges; slot fish everywhere.
10. OctoberSpawningThe lagoon's best month as the water drops through the 70s.
11. NovemberPeakFlounder run at Ponce and Canaveral; trout and reds on the flats; pompano. Flounder through the inlets on the outgoing; trout on every flat; pompano in the surf; the first drum schools.
12. DecemberPeakWinter sight fishing begins; snook closes mid-month. Cold clear water: reds and drum on the flats on sunny afternoons, trout in the troughs, sheepshead on the pilings.

Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River and the northern Indian River Lagoon — shallow, clear, grass-and-sand flats famous for sight-fishing tailing redfish and giant trout — plus Port Canaveral and Ponce Inlet, the beaches, and the nearshore reefs.

Fish Scouter charts 380 mangrove shoreline, 225 dock / pilings, 113 grass flat, 48 bridge, 3 pass / inlet spots in the The Space Coast Lagoons map area — the kinds redfish hold on.

• Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
• PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
• Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
• Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
• CroakersHooked through the back on a 2/0 to 3/0 circle hook, free-lined or on a Carolina rig — big trout and redfish can't leave them alone.

• Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
• Hook1/0–3/0
• Jig head1/8–3/8 oz
• Braid10–20 lb

Feeds in 58–90°F water, best at 65–82°F.

All about redfish · The Space Coast Lagoons, the whole year