Canaveral redfishing tips

[cpn_aaron]

I've been living in FL for almost 6 years now and I'm embaressed to admit it but, I've only ever caught 1 redfish that entire time. Also, I've only ever had two confirmed redfish on the line. I got a little 12" to a dock in the IRL and had a very large one wrap my measley 8# mono around a pylon another time. So I've been hoping to start gearing up to remedy this problem. I'm also going to admit while I've been pretty proficent at nailing every other fish around the Melbourne area of the IRL and surf I've moved to the Cape and I'm now far out of my element (river-wise and non Playlinda Beach).
I was hoping some Cape area fishers might have some good pointers or areas for laying into a few reds both within the IRL/Bannana and the surf. I'm just really interested in trying out the fight in these fish.

[emanuel]

Take a kayak into the river or fish the bank at Haulover Canal. There's some monster reds in there. Look for the big mullet pods and cast lures around the pod. Usually there's reds under them picking up the stuff they stir up. I haven't done much fishing for reds since I came here but I have caught some in the river and at Sebastian while fishing for flounder.

[snookman]

It might be a good idea to check out the entire Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Check out their website. They have a lot of dirt roads that lead to terrific fishing spots for reds and trout. Fish the river or the lagoon. I have never fished the areas, but have friends that take kayaks or just wade and do real well.

Clay

[KodiakZach]

It might be a good idea to ditch the 8# mono and replace it with 30# to 50# PowerPro. :D That is, if you want to land the fish and not just tangle with him :p

[cpn_aaron]

I had the 8# mono because I was fishing for pinfish in the early morning to use for snook and trout. I was plunking pieces of shrimp and started getting real trout interest (by bringing up tore up pins) so I put a whole shrimp on popped it by a hole I knew about. I must have thrown on top of the red becasue as soon as my shrimp touched water my line went. No, I have bigger game and small bait fishing/freshwater rods. I just got unlucky on catching that large one with my bait rod while fussing around.

[KodiakZach]

It's an unwritten rule of fishing. The biggest fish will (every single time) hit your lightest weight outfit you have in the water. Never fails.

[mattio]

Hey all,

I'll be fishing he beach around jetty park next weekend, anybody have any Advice for that area ? I haven't been there before, but I'm planning on packing up a couple of surf rods and some pompano rigs and spending some time on the beach there. I know they have a pier, but I never liked the hassle of Pier fishing. Any thoughts on fishing the inlet beach are appreciated.

Mattio