The redfish were shallow, very shallow. Waving tails reflected the morning’s low light as the fish rooted in the lush seagrass, feeding on small crustaceans. There was only 10 inches of water in the back of a bay on the east side of Mosquito Lagoon and it was not enough tofully cover their bronze backs.

Kayak angler scans the surface for one last tailer before sunset.

Pete Elkins and I had launched a pair of kayaks just before sunrise. Now, within casting distance of tailing fish, Pete stepped out of his kayak to finish rigging his fly, a No. 2 Borski slider. Ahead, we could see several more tails above the water. The fish were unaware that we had quietly moved in on their shallow-water breakfast buffet. Pete’s first cast landed behind the red, but the fish turned and grabbed his fly. After releasing his fish, he moved around me while I fought mine. Then he was soon hooked up again.

It was a picture-perfect start to a day on the Lagoon, and a reminder that stealth and success go hand-in-hand when approaching shallow-water fish. Had we rumbled on to that flat under power, no doubt those fish would’ve fled the scene. Poling a skiff would’ve been the next best bet. Too often these days, though, it seems Mosquito Lagoon anglers are in a hurry, unaware of how their fishing practices may limit the action—not only for themselves, but for other fishermen in the area.

Mosquito Lagoon is located in East Central Florida at the north end of the Indian River Lagoon system. That system, consisting of the Indian River, the Banana River and Mosquito Lagoon, is often referred to as the nation’s most diverse estuary and Mosquito Lagoon, in my opinion, is the brightest of the three gems in this magnificent setting. The Lagoon is a special place with arguably the finest fishery for redfish and gator-size seatrout anywhere in the country, high praise for a relatively small body of water (20 nautical miles north-to-south, about 2 miles east-west). Clean, shallow water and vibrant seagrass beds offer perfect habitat for these inshore gamefish, a sight-fisherman’s dream come true. Prosperity, however, can be a fleeting thing and the Lagoon’s long-term status is by no means certain.

Because of Mosquito Lagoon’s proximity to Orlando and easy access from Interstate 95, the number of anglers on its waters has significantly increased as word of the fabulous flats fishery has spread. In addition, numerous inshore fishing tournaments are now being held there and boat ramps are usually full by 8 a.m. on most weekends. Some anglers are starting to wonder if the lagoon can maintain its quality fishery in the face of ever-increasing usage.

“There are more fish than in recent years,” noted Capt. Scott Tripp, who’s been fishing here for 15 years, “but the pressure has definitely increased. There are more anglers and boats and this is making the fish very spooky—they have a harder time getting settled so that they will readily feed.”

Captain Brian Clancy, a 40-year veteran of these waters, agrees. “At times, the fish can be quite skittish—comparable to bonefish—because of the pressure.”

I consider Mosquito Lagoon to be my home waters and want to see it flourish forever. In talking with “regulars” like Tripp and Clancy, and thinking back on my own days on the water, I’m convinced we need to take a lighter approach if we want to continue enjoying the Lagoon’s bounty of accessible flats and accessible fish.

Kayaks and canoes have proven their merits, and a lot of anglers—many of whom also own larger boats—have become fans of paddle power here, especially for sneaking into the real skinny stuff. Many powerboats simply cannot get back into the depths favored by reds and trout on the Lagoon. Anglers unfamiliar with the area may inadvertently leave telltale propeller scars, damaging grassbeds. Even if your skiff can run the shallows on a plane, getting out after shutting down may be an entirely different proposition.

When I’m not strictly paddling, I do a lot of fishing out of a square-back canoe, with an 8-hp motor on the stern. That’s a nice compromise: roomier and more stable than a pure paddle boat. On a recent trip—again with my friend Pete Elkins—we covered ground by motoring along the Intracoastal Waterway channel, on the western side of the Lagoon. This is the only marked channel in the area, and it runs from the north end of the Lagoon to Haulover Canal at about the Lagoon’s midpoint. (It’s marked well on Florida Sportsman Fishing Chart No. 04, and others.) If you’re a boater unfamiliar with the adjacent shallows, it’s best to stick to this channel until you’re near the area you want to fish. At that point, you can follow someone with local knowledge of the depths or proceed slowly with caution so as not to damage the seagrass beds.