Summer 2020 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

When July hits, the Mosquito Lagoon knows it… The air temperatures hit the 90 degree mark regularly, the water on the shallow flats of the Lagoon isn’t far behind. Being located just an hour East of Orlando, Mosquito Lagoon is no stranger to hot, humid summer days and afternoon showers.

Summer time means the kids are out of school. Here’s my Son on the bow of my Caimen looking for Redfish on a flat in Mosquito Lagoon.

When I fish Mosquito Lagoon in the Summer, I make sure I’m out early in the morning, before the sun is over the horizon. Often, I am greeted with calm offshore winds and slicked out flats. Ideal conditions to pole my skiff over the shallows looking for subtle signs of fish in the area. Stealth is key, when fishing this way, when conditions are calm and quiet, you need to move the same way. The fish of Mosquito Lagoon are familiar to the unnatural sounds of an angler. Limiting the amount of noise you make on the flats will not only lead to seeing more signs of fish activity but also will result in catching more fish.

Mosquito-Lagoon-Redfish-on-Fly

Capt. Jesse Register with a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish on Fly on a perfect summer day.

While there is an abundance of bait this time of year, I’m still drawn to sightfishing. That isn’t to say that fishing around bait schools or on the deeper edges of flats isn’t a good idea. I just prefer stalking single fish in conditions where I can put eyes on them and make a presentation. With that in mind, I’m typically working very shallow sections close to deeper water or poling shorelines.

Spencer, from Orlando, with his personal best Sea Trout. We fished out of my canoe for a truly unique experience on the flats.

Summer time also gets our Tarpon fishing going. It’s hard to imagine that we have the kind of Tarpon fishing we do being so close to a major city like Orlando. For the angler who is up for the challenge of chasing Tarpon from a skiff, this is the time of year to get out and test your skill against the Silver King.

Landing a juvenille Tarpon in the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Summer 2017 – Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report – Louisiana Marsh Preperations

It’s August and for me, that means I am back home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. I’ve wrapped up my Tarpon season and now I get to fish Mosquito Lagoon, my favorite place to fish. As a saltwater fly fishing guide, I get very focused on which ever season is upon us. Whether it is prepping for the journey West to the Louisiana Marsh or heading South in Florida to chase giant Tarpon, I emerse myself in it. So while I am home and enjoying some down time in between Tarpon season and Fall and Winter in Louisiana, as Fall creeps closer and you actively begin feeling the weather starting to change, I can’t seem to stop my mind from drifting to the Marsh. Thinking about poling those marsh grass edges, my angler and I working together,

A Tarpon boatside with a fly in her mouth… A truly beautiful thing.

looking for that next shot… I’d be lying if I said it didn’t get me excited. On the flipside to that, it means I’m getting that much closer to having to leave home, say goodbye to my little boy and family, live in a travel trailer in the middle of the bayou for months, alone. The struggle is real.

Tarpon Season Recap –

With all that said, I had a great Tarpon season. This season was a little different for me in a few ways. I spent a lot of time exploring this year. As fly fishing for Tarpon continues to evolve, we must evolve with it. I am a believer in thinking aoutside of the box, challenging yourself, pushing your comfort zones. Sure, I can sit on Bean Point all season and see a bunch of fish but that doesn’t make you a good Tarpon guide. When I fish Tarpon, I am looking for the right fish. The fish with the right body language.

Grabbing a Tarpon after an incredile fight on the Oceanside.

This season, Capt. Nick Sassic and I spent a little over a month living on an island only accessible by boat. We were living in a beautiful beach house and had our skiffs tied up out back. This meant we could fish long and hard. Without having to worry about trailering home, traffic, gassing up the skiff, etc. We were both able to focus on Tarpon and man we did just that!

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report –

I came home to New Smyrna Beach in the middle of June. I kept running Tarpon trips on the West coast of Florida and exploring some new areas for Tarpon. Day tripping from New Smyrna to the West coast of Florida and then Tarpon fishing all day was exhasuting. After July 4th, I stopped day tripping over to the West and stayed local in East Central Florida and the Space Coast.

Mosquito Lagoon junkie, Casey, with his first Redfish on a topwater fly.

Mosquito Lagoon will always be a special place to me.  A place that I love and getting to share that passion with other fly anglers is why I am a fly fishing guide. Mosquito Lagoon was once the famed Redfish Captial of the World, and while many anglers are picking other destinations to pursue Redfish, the Lagoon is still one of those destination fisheries you should experience. We have a diverse fishery here. Tarpon, Redfish, Sea Trout, Black Drum, Snook just to name a few.

Casey with a nice North end Mosquito Lagoon Redfish.

July and August, the heart of the Summer, has fished exactly how you would expect. There is a plethora of finger mullet present and as the sun creeps over the hozion and begins to light the morning sky the Lagoon begins to come to life. You may see a pod of fish tailing over the grass, Sea Trout popping bait pods or rolling Tarpon. As the Sun gets higher throughout the morning and the temperatures follow, you notice less and less activity. The fish aren’t gone, they are just far less active. It’s time to change gears and go looking for them. Fish, like any other living thing, want to be as comfortable as they can possibly be. Do what you can to figure that out. What are they looking for today? Cooler water, food, sandy bottom, grass, etc.

Spencer, from Orlando, with his personal best Sea Trout. We fished out of my canoe for a truly unique experience on the flats.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to book some bow time.

Capt. Jesse Register

Fly Fishing Guide Capt. Jesse Register

Booking a Fly Fishing Guide?

Not all Fishing Guides and Charter Services are Fly Fishing Guides.

Just like the title reads, not all fishing charters or fishing guides  are Fly Fishing Guides. A true Fly Fishing Guide specializes in Fly Fishing.

As a traveling angler, heading to a new destination you’ve never been to, or maybe you’ve been but never went fishing, there are a few things to consider when booking a Fly Fishing Guide. Here are a few questions you may want to consider asking when talking to potential Guides.

Does the Fly Fishing Guide you are considering actually fly fish?

Lots of charter services and fishing guides advertise that they guide fly fishing trips. Yes, they own a boat and  they can get you out on the water for a day of fly fishing, but will they have the knowledge to make your day as productive as possible and help you land that trophy Redfish you came for? If the Guide doesn’t fly fish, it doesn’t mean he can’t put you on fish, but will the Guide know the best angle to set you up on a shot? Most likely, the answer is no. Wind is almost always a factor when fly fishing in saltwater, if your guide is a fly angler he should know how to position the skiff so that hull of the boat isn’t “slapping” in the wind and alerting the fish to your presence or he’ll know to put the wind on your non-casting side so that you can make the best shot possible.

  • How long has the Guide been fly fishing?
    • Fly anglers never stop learning and progressing. As you know, there is a huge learning curve. The more experience your Guide has fly fishing, the better your day will be on the water. Guaranteed.
  • Does the Guide tie his own flies?
    • Most legitimate Fly Fishing Guides will tie their own flies. There are nuances to fisheries. That is not to say that store bought flies won’t work, they probably will. However, a Guides flies will be specifically tied for the various situations you will encounter throughout the day.
  • Does the Guide fish on his days off?
    • This is definitely very important. If I’m not booked, I’m making plans to get on the water with one of my buddies. I’m just as ate up with the fly game as you are and love sticking a few fish!

Let’s face it, booking a charter isn’t cheap. I encouraged you to do your research before booking with a Guide. I can’t stress the importance of “getting to know” your guide some before you book, give the guy a call and see how your personalities jive.

Interested in booking a trip or just have questions… Feel free to contact me.

contact me

Capt. Jesse Register

Summer ’16 Mosquito Lagoon / Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report

Mosquito Lagoon Sea Trout

A really cool image of a “Gator” Sea Trout caught in Mosquito Lagoon

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report – Summer 2016

Summer is definitely upon us. The days are hot, the winds are light and we’re dodging unpredictable rain showers and thunderstorms. While the temperatures are hot, so is the fishing. As a Fishing Guide, there are times during a season where it feels like you’re a robot. You get so dialed into your routine it becomes second nature. I can get the skiff loaded in the morning with my eyes closed and at a world record pace. What I find difficult is getting the time to sit down at the computer and write up a fishing report that has useful information in it and is also enjoyable to read. With out further delay, here is my summer fishing report for the East Central Florida area, mainly Mosquito Lagoon.

Redfish on fly

Capt. Justin Price checking out a solid redfish from Mosquito Lagoon.

This summer has provided some of the better sight fishing we’ve had in a long time. The water levels have been and remain low. The low water has been

Carnage

Carnage

challenging for some anglers. There have been multiple conversations overheard about the low water conditions and how that is causing some anglers and guides to struggle. I’ve found it to be the exact opposite. With the low water coupled with a loss of grass habitat over the last few years, has made finding redfish fairly easy. As a sight fishing guide, I spend my day on the pushpole. All day. I’m very familiar with the areas of Mosquito Lagoon that will fish well on these particularly low water conditions.

Juvenile Tarpon on fly

A small Tarpon from Mosquito Lagoon. An exciting sign of things to come.

This summer, it has been pretty easy  to find multiple groups of redfish tailing up on a flat. If you are a fly fishing angler, the previous 2 to 3 months of sight fishing redfish on fly in Mosquito Lagoon has been exceptionally good. On top of the redfishing, there have been a lot of large sea trout on the flats, a few groups of black drum and were even getting shots at some smaller tarpon.

Want more info?

If you’d like some more information on fishing Mosquito Lagoon, an updated fishing report or just have a question, let me know.

Snook on fly

Christian with his first Snook…. And on a fly.

Louisiana Marsh Fly Fishing

2016 Winter Louisiana Marsh Recap

Winter is definitely here! Like usual, when the fishing is hot, I’m playing catch up on fishing reports and editing images. Here is a short and sweet Winter Fishing Report from the Louisiana Marsh:

While a lot of the country is getting hit with harsh, blistery, cold air…. We’re still fishing hard and catching some really nice fish. As a saltwater angler, I definitely love my summer time, warm weather fishing but with that said the drop in temperature doesn’t seem to be affecting the fish at all. In fact, it seems to be improving things.

This year was my first winter guiding redfish in the Louisiana marsh. I’ve been fishing the winters out there for several years now, but it was always a vacation not work. This year, I had a lot of interest from clients of mine from Florida to fish Louisiana. So, right after the new year, I packed up the skiff, rods, cold water fly lines, the dog and drove up to Louisiana. If you’re an avid angler and enjoy sight fishing BIG redfish and black drum, then you owe it to yourself to fish the Louisiana marsh at least once in your life. The marsh is massive, it’s rich with life and the fish are big and hungry.

Here’s a few images from this winter. Enjoy!

Fly Fishing for Redfsih in the Louisiana Marsh.

A fine example of a Louisiana Marsh Redfish caught this winter.

Spin to Win!

Spin to Win!

Louisiana Redfish

Fly fishing for redfish in the Louisiana Marsh

Look at what we have here… Nice fish

Fly fishing for redfish in the Louisiana Marsh.

Scott, from CT, with his biggest redfish to date. Way to go dude!

Fly fishing for redfish in the Louisiana Marsh.

Scott with another nice redfish on fly.

Fly fishing for Redfish in the Louisiana Marsh.

Scott with another nice one!

So, now we are back in Florida, fishing around the Space Coast has been good. The fly fishing has been pretty fun right now. The key has been finding shallow clean water and working the flat slowly looking for laid up fish on the sand/grass edges. The water is really clear, so be stealthy.

Get out there and fish! As always, if you are interested in learning more about salt water fly fishing around Central Florida don’t hesitate to reach out.

Capt. Jesse

Capt.JesseRegister@live.com

November 2015 Mosquito Lagoon / Indian River Fishing Report

Here is the November 2015 Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River fishing report. The fishing has been consistently good throughout the month. Lots of Redfish on the flats of the Indian River Lagoon system and plenty of Redfish up shallow on the shorelines.

If you’re around Central Florida right now or coming to visit the Orlando, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach or Space Coast you need to make some time to get out on the water. We are definitely into our Fall fishing pattern. The weather has cooled down, we’ve experienced our first few pushes of cool air from the North (bringing with it some strong winds) and the fish are happy. Everyone is reporting large amounts of bait in Mosquito Lagoon, Ponce Inlet and Indian River Lagoon.

Fishing around bait pods early in the morning with plugs can be very productive this time of year for a mixed bag, expect to find trout and redfish by casting to areas with good bait activity. If you don’t get into a bite fairly quickly either move along the flat or pick up and go look for another area holding bait. As the light levels get higher throughout the day, expect for the bait activity to taper. As this happens, I typically change gears and start sight fishing for Redfish, Trout and Black Drum (believe it or not still finding some baby Tarpon around but I expect that to Taper as the water temps drop lower).

The water levels in Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River are beginning to drop, along with the air and water temps. This should only improve conditions and fishing. The fishing has been a little off due to the the high water and there are days where you are struggling to find fish and other days finding good numbers hasn’t been a problem.

Recently, I guided Chris, a fly angler from Germany, on his first flats fishing experience. Chris had booked 2 days with me, our first day together incredible…. It was the day before a cold front moved through and we had one of those really good days were the fish were actively feeding on the shorelines way in the back country of Indian River. Chris does a lot of fly fishing in Germany for Trout. While I’ve never fished for Trout, I’ve guided lots of anglers that have. There is a big difference between the saltwater flats of Florida and the rivers of Germany. We were dealing with some brisk Northerly winds and some pretty heavy cloud cover but Chris was able to get it done towards the end of our day with a healthy slot Redfish. This ended up being Chris only fish of the trip as our 2nd day together cancelled due to weather. Chris has already told me he’ll be back for more this year, as he frequents the Central Florida area for business.

German Fly Angler, Chris, admiring his first Redfish. For those of you who have experienced this, you can understand that moment and feeling of putting your hands on that first caught species. Its an intense moment and I love getting to share it with clients over and over.

German Fly Angler, Chris, admiring his first Redfish. For those of you who have experienced this, you can understand that moment and feeling of putting your hands on that first caught species. Its an intense moment and I love getting to share it with clients over and over.

Here are a few images from a cloudy, windy November morning on the Mosquito Lagoon. Stone is a young angler and also my nephew, who is hungry to learn about fly fishing. He’s been working on his cast and having some good luck fishing in some ponds around the Orlando area. He’s been dying to get a redfish on fly, so we made that happen for him. He fed 7 redfish and we landed 3. It was a blast guiding him and watching it all come together…. Congrats Buddy! Here’s to many more….

Mosquito Lagoon Redfish on Fly

Local fly angler, Stone from the Orlando area, proudly shows off his first redfish on fly.

Stone, from Orlando, showing off his largest redfish to date. I can guarantee you, Stone will never forget watching this fish absolutely crush a hand tied shrimp fly in a foot of water.

Stone, from Orlando, showing off his largest redfish to date. I can guarantee you, Stone will never forget watching this fish absolutely crush a hand tied shrimp fly in a foot of water.

A young fly angler, Stone from Orlando, releasing a healthy Mosquito Lagoon redfish. It's great to see young anglers embracing conservation.... A critical fundamental of our sport!

A young fly angler, Stone from Orlando, releasing a healthy Mosquito Lagoon redfish. It’s great to see young anglers embracing conservation…. A critical fundamental of our sport!

As always, if you’re coming to the Orlando area, do yourself a favor and stop by Orlando Outfitters. Its an awesome fly shop, run by a great group of knowledgeable fly anglers. Stop in check out the shop, they have an awesome selection of materials, tackle, flies, apparel and more!

Check back for future Indian River Fishing Reports!

October 2015 Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Fishing Report

October 2015 Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report

Here is the Fall 2015 Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report.

October was a tough month for fishing around the east central region of Florida. Many anglers struggled to find a consistent bite due to the tough environmental conditions. Fishing reports from all over our region are reporting high and dirty water, making the fishing tough. From Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Orlando, Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon were all affected by extremely high water conditions. The high water levels brought with it some off colored water making sight fishing for redfish very tough. When the water levels are low, the fish have less areas to roam and feed. So, when we have high water, the fish can spread out and explore areas they normally don’t travel. Read below for an up to date fishing report for the month of October as well as a fishing forecast for the coming months.

Even with the tough water conditions and the transition to a Fall weather pattern, we had days where we found fish. Whether that meant fishing up around New Smyrna one day and then down in Mosquito Lagoon the next…. The key has been following better conditions. Mosquito Lagoon hasn’t really settled into that Fall fishing pattern just yet. While there is an abundance of bait around, the weather has been all over the place. We are still having days that are creeping in to the 90’s. Here are some photos of recent charters from October.

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3 generations of the Damm Family came out to enjoy some of Mosquito Lagoon's healthy redfsih population.

3 generations of the Damm Family came out to enjoy some of Mosquito Lagoon’s healthy redfsih population.

Josie, from GA, came down to catch some Redfish with her family in Mosquito Lagoon.

Josie, from GA, came down to catch some Redfish with her family in Mosquito Lagoon.

Bill, from TN with a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish

Bill, from TN with a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish!

October Feature ImageIf you’re visiting Florida, especially the Central Florida area, you owe it to yourself to get outside and experience Florida’s natural beauty and fun!  The fishing will continue to improve into the winter. As the temperature cools, look for fish up shallow and in groups feeding in the sea grass. Work slowly and methodically and you should find fish!

As always, if you’re in the Central Florida area, check out Orlando Outfitters for all your fly fishing needs.

Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide

Feel free to contact me with any questions or for an updated Fishing Report.

 

Fall 2015 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Here is the Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report for the Fall of 2015:

Nothing but fat bellies. With the high water, the fish were able to feed in areas they typically can't access.

Nothing but fat bellies. With the high water, the fish were able to feed in areas they typically can’t access.

Fall is officially here… The North East winds have started to blow, I’m finding more and more areas of clean water and the water levels are receding from the incredibly high water we experienced at the end of summer. The dog days of summer are behind us. Now, as I’m getting ready to drop the boat in for a day of fishing, I’m grabbing a windbreaker for that first run to our spot. It’s a nice change, with this transition from Summer to Fall came an influx of finger mullet, this phenomenon is known as the “Mullet Run”. Definitely a great time to fish, whether you fly fish, sight fish on artificial or live bait!

The last few weeks have been tough in Mosquito Lagoon. Everywhere along the east coast seemed to have the same problem, WAY TOO MUCH WATER. This allowed the fish in the Lagoon to spread out and explore areas they may have never been able to get in to. There were many days where our best fishing came by exploring and pushing the limits. Mosquito Lagoon, especially the Northern boundaries of the Lagoon, has several islands. Well, with the influx of water we had, many of these islands were flooded, so flooded that I could push my skiff through the mangroves and get on top of the island with my skiff and have plenty of water to pole around and hunt fish. This proved to be a great tactic and resulted in some inedible shots at tailing redfish.

Scott, from PA, with a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish. This fish was tailing, feeding on small crabs.

Scott, from PA, with a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish. This fish was tailing, feeding on small crabs.

Scott_Flood_Tide_Redfish_2

Scott with another Redfish, caught on a small crab pattern.

Another perfect Mosquito Lagoon Fall Redfish.

Another perfect Mosquito Lagoon Fall Redfish.

If you are coming to visit the Orlando, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach or Space Coast area; you owe it to yourself to get out and fish. We’ve got some great guides in the region. Come book a trip with one of us and experience saltwater fishing at it’s finest!

A typical New Smyrna Beach sunrise over Mosquito Lagoon

A typical New Smyrna Beach sunrise over Mosquito Lagoon

Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Fishing Report

Here is the Summer Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Fishing report. A short drive from Orlando, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and surrounding Space Coast areas.

Fishing this summer on the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River has been great. Between throwing flies to cruising 100+ pound Tarpon and Redfish crushing baits on the shore lines, its been hard to find time to sit down and write a monthly fishing report.

Summer time means kids are out of school and that means vacation time for many. New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach and other Space Coast destinations are popular vacation spots…. But did you know these same vacation spots are excellent places to go fishing?

Early this summer, Mosquito Lagoon was fishing very well. There were many days where we started out looking for baby tarpon in the Indian River, around Titusville. Over the last few years, the baby Tarpon fishing in Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River have been improving and becoming a staple for me as a guide. I know in the summer time, if the wind is light and the light level is low, I’m going baby Tarpon fishing. Baby Tarpon a great species to target for light tackle and fly anglers, it’s rare you only find one fish (typically, if you find one… you will find good numbers in that area). Baby Tarpon will eat a well placed fly or lure, but they can be very picky. I start with small flies and will go from there. If I’m not getting hits on small profiles, I’ll bump the size of my fly up a little (maybe something a little bulkier to move some water and help the fish find it). Many times you are fishing for these little poons in dirty water, so don’t be afraid to get aggressive with your presentation.

Lindsay Tarpon

Lindsay with her first baby Tarpon on Fly. On a 6 WT!

Baby_Poon_Fly

Example of a baby Tarpon fly. This one was chewed on a little.

Back Country Tarpon on Fly

Tim, from Colorado, with a perfect back country Tarpon on Fly

Snook_on_Fly

You never know what you’ll find around those pods of rolling baby tarpon.

The Tarpon bite is typically best early in the morning, during low light conditions. Once the sun creeps up in the sky, I switch gears and go look for Redfish. This works out great, because once the Tarpon stop rolling, the sun is typically high enough to go sight fishing for Redfish up in the shallows. When you are fishing for Redfish in the shallows, its important move slow. A skiff displaces water, that displacement of water is noticeable to fish, if they feel the presence of the boat odds are the fish will begin moving out. If you move slow and quietly your odds of a hookup are much higher.

Here are a few Redfish pictures from over the summer:

Long time fishing buddies celebrate a nice Redfish from Mosquito Lagoon.

Long time fishing buddies celebrate a nice Redfish from Mosquito Lagoon.

Jake with his first sight fished Redfish. Not the biggest but you never forget your first.

Jake with his first sight fished Redfish. Not the biggest but you never forget your first.

Anglers love watching Redfish smash top water plugs.

Capt. Jesse releasing a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish.

Capt. Jesse releasing a Mosquito Lagoon Redfish.

Jake, from Montana Fly Co, and I release a Black Drum.

Jake, from Montana Fly Co, and I release a Black Drum.

Lindsay and Mayon, in town for ICAST, enjoying a day off fishing for Mosquito Lagoon Redfish.

Lindsay and Mayon, in town for ICAST, enjoying a day off fishing for Mosquito Lagoon Redfish.

Steve, from Southern Culture on the Fly hooked up on an early morning tailing Redfish.

Steve, from Southern Culture on the Fly hooked up on an early morning tailing Redfish.

Back Country Tarpon on Fly

Fly Fishing for Tarpon along the Florida Coast

Do you fly fish? Is catching a Tarpon on fly high up on your “bucket list”? Or are you a seasoned “Poon” angler? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you know there is an unwritten bond between all of us. A brotherhood if you will.Backing!

Lindsay with a Baby Tarpon on Fly

Lindsay, with Simms Fishing, with her first Tarpon on fly.

This past summer I spent most of my time on the water chasing that magical, armor clad, silver king. Whether we were targeting juvenile fish in the back country or posted up ocean side for giant migratory fish, fishing and guiding for Tarpon is my absolute favorite. Everything about the pursuit of this fish is captivating to me. Whether I’m getting my skiff ready the night before, tying flies, rigging leaders or picking up clients for a day of fishing…. I’m pumped to see what the day has in store. Whats even better about all of this? It last for a few months.

For me, prime time for Tarpon fishing is mid April through early July, with May and June being my favorite months for the big migratory Tarpon. We are constantly learning more about Tarpon and their migration. More and more money and time are being spent to study this amazing species. As we learn more about their habits, we realize that there is a lot we can do to protect this fish for our children and grandchildren.

 

Tarpon on Fly Jumping

Ocean-side Tarpon Jumping

Tim_Tarpon_AnnaMaria_June_2015 079