Capt. Patrick Preston is a fishing guide with true roots in Mosquito Lagoon. Apparent besides his small town-New Smyrna Beach-upbringing is his sincere passion to fish. From a childhood spent fishing and exploring the flats of Mosquito Lagoon, to his current status as USCG Captain, Patrick’s enthusiasm for fishing is unsurpassed; as he is always looking forward to the next big catch. While Patrick has only done fishing charters for three years, his lifetime angling experience has leant way to his competence in using inshore fishing techniques to catch target fish species such as: sea trout, redfish, snook, black drum, tarpon, and other various fish species indigenous to the Mosquito Lagoon waters.
| Born: | 1981 |
| Family: | Single but engaged |
| Hobies: | Surfing, Hunting, and Traveling |
| Years Guiding: | 4 |
| Charters: | Inshore |
| Favorite Water: | Mosquito Lagoon flats |
| Favorite Fishing: | Any type of Sight Fishing (Redfish, Trout, Cobia, Tarpon) |
| Boat: | 2001 17’ Pathfinder Tunnel Hull with Yamaha 60 |
| Tackle: | Shimano Stradic 4000 with 7’0” Shimano Clarus Rods (Medium Heavy) |
| Favorite Lure: | Jerk Bait |
| Favorite Structure: | Grass Flats, Bonefish Flats, and Backwater Creeks |
| Favorite Fish to Catch: | Tarpon, Sailfish, and Snook |
| Memberships: | IGFA |
Fish Stock: New Smyrna Beach
3rd Redfish
The Lure Classic
1st Redfish
Mosquito Lagoon on Fly
1st Redfish Team
1st Redfish Angler
Xtreme Redfish Series: Titusville Tournament Division
1st Redfish July
3rd Redfish June
Fish Stock: New Smyrna Beach
4th Redfish
ILD Redfish Tournament Mosquito Lagoon
6th Redfish
IFA Redfish Tour: Florida East Coast Division
5th Redfish
Sherriff Ben Johnson’s Battle of the Badges
1st Redfish Spots
4th Redfish
October Hunt for Reds
1st Pathfider Division
Mike Schmidt Winner’s Circle Cystic Fibrosis Tournament
1st Redfish Blast
Redfish Team Tournament
4th Redfish
Volusia County Firefighter’s Red Hot Spot Tournament
1st Redfish
Can you tell us about some of your fishing experiences?
Believe it or not my best charter experience was on the same day as my worst charter experience. I picked up my clients at JB’s and by the time I started to motor South I had realized something was wrong. The back hatch was flooded; I forgot to put the plugs in the hull after removing them the day before. So, I had to have one of my clients back my truck and trailer down at the boat ramp; while I ran the boat to drain the water from the hull. I then put the boat on the trailer (draining gallon after gallon with my clients looking at me like I was the dumbest person on Earth). After the boat was on the trailer I went to a buddy’s house a block from the boat ramp and borrowed the plugs from his boat (only a 30 minute delay altogether). So we put the boat back into the water and started making our way down South. I looked over and thought I saw a big school of Redfish in some deep water, so we stopped to investigate. We then sat in one spot for about 3 hours and caught somewhere around 50 Redfish back to back on live shrimp. The fish were from 24-36 inches and really hungry. And that was the end of a really interesting day that I will never forget.
That is great! Even the best guides still forget to put the plugs in! Besides fishing the Mosquitto Lagoon what are some of your other favorite fishing locations?
Here in the state of Florida I like fishing Sebastian Inlet and Islamorada down in the Keys. Outside of the states I like the Central America area. Specifically, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.