Spotted seatrout fishing in Indian River Lagoon

In Indian River Lagoon, spotted seatrout peak February–June and September–October and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Gator trout month — the biggest trout of the year on the lagoon flats on warm afternoons.

1. JanuaryAroundClear water sight fishing: reds and black drum on the flats. The clearest water of the year in Mosquito Lagoon — sight-fish schools of reds and drum on calm sunny afternoons; big trout in the deeper troughs.
2. FebruaryPeakGator trout month — the biggest trout of the year on the lagoon flats on warm afternoons.
3. MarchPeakTopwater at dawn.
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. MaySpawningSpawning on the grass at dusk.
6. JuneSpawningSummer pattern: dawn on the flats, tarpon in the lagoon. The most stable weather of the year. Reds and trout at first light; tarpon rolling in the Banana River and Indian River; snapper on the bridges and docks.
7. JulyAroundHot 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. AugustAroundReds start to school; tarpon at the inlets; the mullet gather. Schools of reds forming on the lagoon flats; tarpon at Canaveral and Ponce on the bait; first mullet on the beach late month.
9. SeptemberPeakThe mullet run: snook reopens, reds, tarpon and jacks on the beach. Snook harvest reopens the 1st. Beach and inlet blitzes on the mullet; reds schooled in the lagoon; trout feed as the water cools.
10. OctoberPeakAll day on the flats as the water cools.
11. NovemberAroundIndian River Lagoon closed months — check MyFWC.
12. DecemberAroundWinter 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 225 dock / pilings, 113 grass flat, 3 pass / inlet spots in the The Space Coast Lagoons map area — the kinds spotted seatrout 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.
• Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
• PigfishFree-lined or under a cork on a 2/0 circle hook for gator trout; on the bottom for grouper.
• 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.
• 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.

• Leader15–25 lb fluorocarbon
• Hook#1–1/0
• Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
• Braid10–15 lb

Feeds in 54–86°F water, best at 62–78°F.

All about spotted seatrout · The Space Coast Lagoons, the whole year