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FLORIDA TODAY fishing report Feb. 25, 2021: Black drum, trout are main lagoon catches

Ed Killer
Florida Today

It's going to be a great weekend for fishing. Whether anglers wish to fish offshore, along the beaches or in the lagoons, the weather is going to cooperate and the fishing is going to be pretty good.

Monster spotted seatrout were caught this week by anglers fishing with Capt. Peter Deeks in Merritt Island.

Mosquito Lagoon

Big trout are being caught on topwater plugs early in the morning and on live bait during the remainder of the day. Anglers can expect to catch trout up to 28 inches in two to four feet of water. Redfish are being caught on Slayer Inc SST XXLs, gold spoons and on cut bait. Consider releasing all the trout caught. It will conserve the species for future generations. 

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Offshore

Snapper fishing has been best in 60 to 90 feet of water. Most of the fish being caught are mangrove snapper up to four and five pounds and lane snapper up to a pound. In 40-60 feet of water, there have been some cobia and kingfish caught. Some anglers are finding manta rays and they have been coming fairly close to boats. This time of year. always have a spinning rod rigged and ready with a 2-ounce flare hawk jig or with live bait. Be ready to pitch in front of the rays in order to let the jig sink fast enough to get beneath them as the cobia take it.

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Surf

Pompano, whiting, Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been caught from area beaches in decent numbers. Anglers need to exercise patience, however, because limits of pompano are hard to come by. Fishbites and sand fleas, or pieces of shrimp, have been the main offerings producing catches. The incoming tide at Melbourne Beach and Spessard Holland Beach have been the bet times to go.

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Indian River Lagoon

Fishing in the lagoon has been pretty good. Kayak anglers fishing with Capt. Alex Gorichky of Local Lines charters out of Merritt Island have been reeling in a speckled trout, redfish, black drum, jacks, ladyfish and snook. Try fishing along the mangrove shorelines on the flats in one to three feet of water. Flounder and sheepshead are being caught around structure on the causeways.

Sebastian Inlet

The snook fishing has been excellent at the inlet during the beginning of the outgoing tide. Use live croakers, mullet, pinfish or shrimp, or large swim baits and jigs to get bites. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks are hitting on Gotcha plugs.

Freshwater

With the full moon this weekend, expect to find bass on the beds in spawning mode. Anglers will catch them with reaction strikes from lipless crank baits and spinnerbaits or topwater frogs. Lake Hell n' Blazes, Lake Washington and Headwaters Lake have also produced some good-sized pre-spawn bass up to 8 pounds.  

Ed Killer is FLORIDA TODAY's outdoors writer. To interact with Ed, friend him on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.