|
CRACKING DA' REDFISH CODE
By Captain Nick Sassic
| | (Click to View) |
Old habits die hard in Central Florida’s Mosquito
Lagoon. Known as the “Redfish Capital of the
World,” Mosquito Lagoon is a
23-mile-long stretch of pristine waterway measuring
two to three miles wide. Anglers visit from all over
the world to fish the shallow flats, potholes and
mangroves that lay protected due to the lagoon’s
proximity to Canaveral National Seashore and
Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.
The absence of tidal influence is what
characterizes these unique waterways as a superior
spot for sight fishing redfish. However, experienced
anglers will be miffed when their tried-and-true
tricks fail to land a big red. Distinct disciplines
and techniques are required to successfully land a
catch on fly rod when the majority of fish are caught
within 40 feet of the boat.
Regardless of individual skill levels, there are
three principles I try to teach each and every client.
The first lesson is how to see the fish. Know what
to look for, such as blue markings on a tail or white
tinged lips under the water’s surface. Training your
eyes to focus on small details like these is essential
because spotting the whole fish is not always
possible.
Train your eyes to spot the little nuances that
give fish away such as tailing, waking, busting bait,
finning and water swirls. A good pair of polarized
sunglasses will help deflect the sun’s glare off the water.
If you can see the fish, you are going to be a lot more
productive. My most successful days are when clients and I
can see the fish together simultaneously.
The second important technique is how to read the fish.
After careful and close observation, you can judge the mood
or attitude of individual fish. First, determine what the fish
is doing. Is the fish cruising, feeding or just laying there?
It’s important to note the location of the fish’s head and tail.
Feeding fish can be identified by a nose pointed down and a
tail pointed up.
The ever present flats encourage fish to frequently return
to certain areas of the lagoon. However, the challenge with
fishing in non-tidal waters is predicting when the fish are
going to eat. Fishing for redfish in the summer can be more
predictable than the winter because mid-day temperatures
encourage fish to feed in the mornings and evenings when
the water is cooler.
Try to judge if the fish is acting spooky or relaxed. The
more observations you can gather from careful examination
of fish in their natural habitat, the fewer variables you have
to contend with when trying to catch a redfish.
The last technique applied is how to catch the fish?
Hooking a redfish is a trial and error process. We are in it
for the hunt. This is why I prefer targeting redfish as singles
or doubles in shallow water. When you approach a school
of fish, you have a larger mark. However, when one gets
spooked, they all do. By casting to individual fish, you have
the rare opportunity to read the fish and learn more because
it’s a one-on-one hunt. Your mind starts moving, clicking
and getting into the groove, and it becomes more of a mental
challenge.
There are a few things to consider when determining
how you are going to catch the fish. Consider what type of fly
presentation will be required. What water column do you need the
fly to move in? Aim mid-level for cruising fish or lower for tailing
fish. What type of strip do you need to make, fast or slow and long
or short? The sink rate and type of fly used will be dictated by
where the redfish are feeding.
If a fish spots your fly and refuses, try changing your
presentation. If rejection persists, switch to a different fly.
Generally it’s more about presentation than fly selection; however,
exceptions do apply.
Another point to keep in mind is success always increases
when both client and guide work together. It’s imperative to be
on the same page. A client pays good money to book a charter, so
listen to the captain and ask questions in an effort to reap the most
rewards from your fly fishing experience.
After you catch the fist redfish on fly, the technical aspects
all seem to click together and you will know what it takes to
catch redfish throughout this particular day. However, don’t be
discouraged if it didn’t work out for you this time, because you
are learning for the future and your next trip is guaranteed to
be more successful. I encourage clients to document or keep a
journal of their experiences on various trips. Often, technical
aspects learned while fly fishing in Mosquito Lagoon can be
successfully applied to an angler’s future fishing adventures.
My experiences have taught me that after sight-fishing in
Mosquito Lagoon, you are going to become a better fisherman
overall.
|
;)
