Light Tackle Sightfishing
Florida…recognized as one of the world’s premier fishing destinations. The world famous Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon are located near Cape Canaveral, just minutes from Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Vero Beach. It is the premier inshore fishing destination for light tackle sight fishing on Florida's Space Coast. To learn more about these water's that Capt. Nathaniel guides clients in professionally, click one of the following: Mosquito Lagoon, New Smyrna Beach, Indian River Lagoon.
Sight fishing is one of the primary methods used to fish the saltwater flats of East Central Florida. With good weather conditions, one can expect to see, watch, and cast to the fish they hope to catch. Just as you would find in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas with bonefish, Capt. Nathaniel's keen eye scours the water high atop a platform searching for moving, feeding, or laid up fish. After hookup heavy shouldered fish provide exhilerating runs that can dig deep into your backing. Read more about Redfish, Tarpon, Snook, Sea Trout,and and see why/what makes East-Central Florida one of the premier sight fishing locations in the world
When sight fishing Capt. Nathaniel will be searching for clues to locate fish. These eye grabbing hints are often "wakes" created by moving fish and/or "boils" created by a feeding fish. Many other times they are simply "laid up" fish who are sitting motionless in the water column. Like a scope on a hunting rifle, quality sunglasses give you an advantage in sight fishing. A quality set of polarized sunglasses are an important tool that allows you to look into the water to see the fish.
A word of caution, some days you may not need any help to spot fish. Redfish and Sea Trout have been known to find refuge in water so shallow throughout our inshore waters, that half their body, even their eyes, will be out of the water as they move from flat to flat! We like to refer to these fish as our "crawlers!" The Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon offers anglers a chance (the only chance in the world) to sight fish giant redfish in water 2-3 feet deep. Normally, 3-4 year-old redfish move to nearshore waters to join other adult giant redfish. Not in the Indian River or Mosquito Lagoon…our redfish never leave and live the entire life within the lagoon system.
If a potential world record trout is at the top of your to-do-list, one should look no further than the Indian River Lagoon. Tthe current Florida record, as well as the world record, came from this body of water. Research indicates that, like our redfish, our spotted sea trout are genetically different than other sea trout found throughout the world. Spotted sea trout in this region grow more quickly and bigger than anywhere else in Florida.
From the spring through the fall tarpon become a favorite sight fishing target. While we lack the tarpon numbers commonly found in the Florida Keys or on Florida's west coast, our early morning tarpon fishing can be oustanding for the patient anglers. In and around the Ponce Inlet area, snook become another sight fishing target. Snook can often be found during the mid-day laid up in around around docks, bridges, and mangrove islands.
As mentioned sight fishing is like hunting. Therefore it’s not only necessary, it’s a must, that both guide and angler remain very quiet and use stealth, just as one would when sneaking through the woods. The slightest noise is amplified in water and carries a great distance. Our fish aren’t dumb; they know the sounds boats and people make when we play in their environment. Just as we are looking for clues to their whereabouts, they are doing the same for us. Patience...and stealth...is virtue!
