FlatsTime Charters
Sightfishing The Upper Indian
River’s Three Lagoons
The northern shallow grassflats of the Indian River
Lagoon are usually clear & clean all year, and
especially so during winter, spring, and up to mid-summer.
During the heat of summer the water in some areas
can become turbid from strong easterly winds, and
clouded by algae growth perpetuated by run-off and
subtropical sunlight. With light winds and somewhat
sunny conditions a sightfishing angler can usually
expect to see the fish they’re casting at in
our shallow lagoons. I should also add that there
are relatively no measurable tides in any of the areas
that I fish.
A light, shallow running flats skiff with an aft poling
platform and a forward casting platform is a great
asset; quality fishing gear and line are must-haves
as well. One of the most important pieces of equipment
successful sightfishing anglers rely on is quality-polarized
sunglass, and the best for shallow water are those
with an amber or copper colored lens. Whether they
are made of glass or polycarbonate materials is optional,
and the choice of the user. Each has their pros &
cons, but both are well suited for the job. Polarized
glasses with amber or copper lenses reduce or eliminate
the maximum amount of glare that is created on the
shallow water's surface from sunlight, which is usually
worse here during the dawn and dusk hours, but cloudy
weather can create glare to some degree at full-noon
as well. By reducing or eliminating it with the right
sunglasses anglers are able to penetrate the glare
and clearly see seagrass, sandy spots, and fish. In
overcast conditions amber or copper colored polarized
glasses are essential while fishing shallow saltwater
flats. I use Action Optics sunglasses. http://www.smithoptics.com/
There are times when "blind-casting" is
necessary, especially on cloudy, windy days, but sightfishing
is a common practice here in Florida, and the Space
Coast area is well known for great sightfishing opportunities
on our shallow, clear grassflats as well as for our
area’s big red drum fishery. At times, such
as during calm wind conditions, fish can be very visible
and frequently we see big redfish and black drum actually
“tailing” which they commonly do in shallow
water while digging in the grass for crustaceans like
shrimp or crabs. They may also show their “backs”
or dorsal fins when swimming along the surface, especially
in very shallow water. Casting to tailing redfish,
black drum, or rolling tarpon is considered by many
to be the ultimate sightfishing experience, and many
anglers frequently get shaky knees or freeze up when
they have the opportunity to cast at very large fish
in shallow water the first few times! As we pole along
we look for clues as to where the fish are when we
can’t actually see them in the water or on the
surface, like v-shaped pushes & wakes well ahead
of the boat that are created by moving fish. We continuously
watch the surface, and peer through the glare.
For those who are unfamiliar with sightfishing in
shallow saltwater there are a few things that you
should know before you start out on your own or pay
for a guided sightfishing trip. ~ First is the reality
that no fishing guide can control the wind or any
other aspect of the weather, which may affect your
ability to see fish! Sightfishing in shallow water
is not an exact science, and it's not something you're
going to completely master in one day, or in a week.
Although as a novice you can catch fish, it takes
time to learn enough to be consistently proficient.
If your interest level is high you’ll learn
it faster.
For those interested in becoming a successful sightfishing
shallow-water angler here are four “golden rules”
that will greatly affect your ability to find &
catch fish:
# 1 - "Quiet in the Boat" ~ don’t
make a lot of noise; think “Stealth” at
all times, especially when you’re using a trolling
motor, and you’ll catch more fish. When you're
around predatory fish in shallow saltwater you have
to be quiet, especially big fish. You can talk, just
don't change your trolling motor’s speed any
more than you have to, and don’t drop gear &
tools in the boat or stomp around the deck! Pole or
troll up on a flat as quietly as you possibly can.
# 2 - "Casting Accuracy" ~ casting accurately
is the most important thing you’ll need to learn.
It’s all about presentation, no matter what
you’re using or what color it is. Casting to
tailing or moving fish in shallow water without spooking
them is a learned skill. Whether you're throwing bait
or lures, to consistently make accurate casts takes
practice.
# 3 - "Reading the Water" ~ it’s important.
In theory it's simple; you have to be able to tell
what kind of fish you're looking at, both baitfish
and predator, and if the predators are moving, where
they really are. A single fish that’s pushing
a V on the surface as its moving or that’s making
a wake as it changes directions is rarely where the
novice angler thinks it is, and the same can be said
about fast moving schools of redfish at times. It
is always easier to catch fish when they’re
in a school, but learning where moving fish really
are still takes time, experience, and patience, especially
if you’re casting at single fish. When you see
a moving fish making a V on the surface it’s
dorsal fin is usually making the disturbance and it’s
head is actually somewhere in front of that. Where
that is exactly depends on how large the fish is and
how fast it’s moving. The same goes for fish
that push water and turn, which redfish and big black
drum both commonly do. Sometimes you’ll see
a rounded wake but that doesn’t mean that’s
where the fish actually are anymore. They both like
to swim in circles. If they’re moving towards
you near the surface you’ll see the V shape,
but if they push water, turn, and drop you will see
a curved wake and you have to watch closely and fast
to see where they really are. When a boat or an angler
spooks fish they rarely swim towards you, but a badly
placed lure or bait can send them running right at
you!
# 4 - "Spooking the Fish" ~ never throw
bait, lures, fishing line, or fly line on top of fish
in shallow saltwater. If you’ve obviously spooked
a single fish or a school and they start moving away
from the boat give them a chance to calm down before
you start casting again. Wait until they settle down
and then quietly move up to them again. Sometimes
they’ll charge off at full-speed towards the
horizon and there’s not much you can do about
that. I don’t recommend chasing (herding) spooked
fish. Let them go and maybe they’ll stop. If
they don’t, just consider it a lesson-learned
and move on. Try not to throw at spooked fish that
are swimming away from you, more times than not that
will usually just make matters worse.
If there's one thing predatory fish know for sure
it’s that anything that’s moving in the
air above them (birds, lines) or in the water coming
at them from their front, (flies, lures) should be
considered a potential threat. Even very big fish
don't like movement above them when they’re
in shallow water. When it happens it's logical to
assume the fish think a bird is attacking them. Aside
from the very real possibility of genetic memory,
all fish have an ingrained fear of birds that’s
a learned behavior from their days as young fingerling
fish in shallow estuary waters. As for the proper
angle of presentation for flies & lures, predatory
fish also know that baitfish never attacks them!
Capt. Bob loves teaching interested anglers how to
fish the flats and sightfish; it’s his job!
Instruction is part of your charter and is always
available at no extra charge. He will gladly teach
you as much as you’re willing to learn if you’re
willing and don’t argue, but please realize
that a novice flats angler is not going to learn it
all in one day.
“Our Charters Are Sightfishing By Fly or Spinning
Reels With Artificials, We don’t Use Bait”
* Ask about discounted rates for multiple-day charters
for novice anglers.
* Please realize that instructional sightfishing charters
with artificial flies & lures are best done one
angler at a time. Obviously you will learn faster
if there are fewer distractions.
Capt. Robert A. Jaspers ~ USCG #955013 ~ flatstime@cfl.rr.com
321.626.0104
