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Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 113
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 11:09 am: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, November 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
First and foremost, on November 28th, Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando presents the CAM Orlando Fishing, Boating and Outdoor Fall Festival to be held at the Barn in Sanford. The event features food, music, retail booths, seminars by leading local fishing experts, games, boat displays and much more, and the event is a fund raiser for our Hook Kids On Fishing Program. So far, over 40 venders have signed up, including Pure Fishing, Pen Reels, Dealers Choice Boats, and BMC Boats.
As water temperatures drop into the seventies along the beach and offshore, falling water temperatures will increase the feeding activity of larger species. Shorter days, northeast swells, cooler waters, all serve as a dinner bell for larger fish preparing for the onset of winter.
As water temperatures cool, look for cobia and tripletail to begin showing up on the Port Canaveral Buoy line and on flotsam, both near-shore and offshore. When you find weeds and other debris, look for tripletail to be hanging just below the floating structure. DOA shrimp and small jigs tipped with shrimp work well when targeting these brim on steroids. It is also important to keep the sun to your back to improve your range of sight, and to keep a medium heavy rod rigged with a one-ounce chartreuse or white buck tail jig ready to throw to any cruising cobia. Also, look for the fall kingfish run to commence as well and an occasional sailfish or black fin tuna on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like 8A and Pelican Flats.
November is one of the best months to target snook at Sebastian Inlet. In addition, large southern flounder and oversized redfish have begun to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets of Ponce De Leon and Sebastian, and their numbers will increase as the flounder begin their seaward migration out of the lagoon. Also, let's not forget the influx of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and black tip sharks shadowing schools of finger mullet and glass minnows along the beach.
On the inside, look for pompano to begin to form up and move off of the lagoon flats thought the inlets, and invade the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food. Currently, reports of pompano skipping have been coming from anglers working the flats in various locations within the Lagoon. Also look for large schools of ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and sea trout to be feeding on the migrating schools of glass minnows as they move south through the Lagoon.
Sight fishing this past month for redfish has was tough due to higher water levels and tons of finger mullet, but water levels have begun to drop and the arrival of cold air and cooling water will redfish schooling up again, and the large sea trout showing up on the skinny flats. Additionally, a good numbers of quality black drum and some gag grouper will begin to occupy the deeper channels of the ICW and areas around bridges and power structures throughout the lagoon.
Last but not least, the tailing black drum and redfish have shown up early on the flats of the Banana River No-Motor Zone. If you have never experienced black drum tailing in a foot of water, it is worth the long paddle. When targeting black drum in the zone, concentrate your efforts on the deeper side on the sandbars that parallel the west shore and the submerged sand bars in the center of the Zone. When you locate tailing black drum and redfish, try throwing crab or shrimp imitation artificial baits like the DOA Shrimp or a black Clouser fly, and chunks of blue crab or live shrimp work well for natural baits.
Be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando on line at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
On November 7th there's another free seminar Introduction to Saltwater Flats Fishing Series, Class 7 of 8, "Paddle Fishing Tactics" 10 am - 12 noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 S Washington Avenue in Apopka. Instructors are Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn. For more details or directions, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464- 2000 or visit their website www.mosquitocreek.com/fishing.
Also, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
As always, if you have any questions or need help, please contact me.
Good luck an
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
(407) 416-1187 on the water
(407) 366-8085 landline
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 112
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 12:14 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
For starters, I just wanted to inform everyone that I will be limited to desk duty for most of October due to a medical procedure, so I will be compiling next months reports from information generated by my readers and friends. So, if your out on the water, shoot me an email about your results, and I'll include it in my next report.
Shorter days and cooler nights are a sure sign fall is in the air along Florida's east central coast. Another sure sign of fall is the waves of baitfish working their way south through the lagoon and along the beach as the fall bait run commences. Hordes of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) have begun their southerly migration in search of warmer waters. This migration creates a smorgasbord of yummy little baitfish, shadowed by a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter.
Weather permitting, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf will improve as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up bringing larger Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon with them.
In and around the inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian look for flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. Easterly swells, falling tides, and aggressive anglers can make for sporty angling conditions, so please pay attention, be patient, and enjoy the rewards.
In the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, higher water levels will allow anglers to venture into areas normally inaccessible during the spring and summer months. Look for slot redfish in close to the grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet, and for the larger redfish staged in deeper water ambush sites where migrating mullet are forced to venture out from the safety of the shallow flats. In deeper water areas, look for ladyfish, spotted sea trout, jacks, and tarpon feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools of fish are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. Once located, these schools will produce explosive action on small top water plugs, or popping bug flies. Also, if you locate a school of the larger black mullet, try fishing spoons or soft plastic baits deep under the school. Even though, mullet are vegetarians, redfish and sea trout will often mingle in feeding on shrimp and crabs kicked up from the bottom by feeding mullet.
Remember, in fishing we always try to match the hatch, or in this case the migration, so mullet imitation lures will be you key to success. For larger redfish, tarpon and snook, I suggest the DOA BFL or Bait Buster and if toothy fish are in the mix, switch to hard baits like the Rapala Skitter Walk or Sub Walker.
In closing, I would like to mention several worthy and fun fishing events scheduled in October and November:
On October 10th, there will be a free fishing seminar featuring Captain Mark Nichols of DOA and Jerry McBride from Florida Sportsman Magazine from 1 PM - 3 PM at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 S. Washington Avenue in Apopka. For more details or directions, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464- 2000 or visit their website www.mosquitocreek.com.
On November 7th there's another free seminar Introduction to Saltwater Flats Fishing Series, Class 7 of 8, "Paddle Fishing Tactics" 10 am - 12 noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 S Washington Avenue in Apopka. Instructors are Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn. For more details or directions, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464- 2000 or visit their website www.mosquitocreek.com.
Last but certainly not lease, on November 28th, Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando presents the CAM Orlando Fishing, Boating and Outdoor Fall Festival to be held at the Barn in Sanford. The event features food, music, retail booths, seminars by leading local fishing experts, games, boat displays and much more, and the is a fund raiser for our Hook Kids On Fishing Program.
Also, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
As always, if you have any questions or need help, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
(407) 416-1187 on the water
(407) 366-8085 landline
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 111
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 3:22 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2009
by Captain Tom Van Horn
Special Announcement: On October 10th, Captain Mark Nichols of DOA and Jerry McBride of Florida Sportsman Magazine will be conducting a FREE fishing seminar from 1 -3 PM at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida.
As hurricane season progresses and the summer squalls try to develop and move north in the Atlantic, our prevailing summer breezes begin to switch from the southeast to the northeast. This shift in wind direction along with shorter periods of daylight signals the beginning of the fall migration of all critters preferring warmer climates. This transition also marks the beginning of the fall fishing season as hordes of baitfish, primarily silver and black mullet, bay anchovies (glass minnows), greenies, and predatory species begin their southerly migration along the beach and through the Indian River Lagoon. Rather than a continuous flow, baitfish typically moves south in pulses or waves, so finding the bait is the key to catching fish. One day a particular location will be loaded with bait, and the next day they will be gone. It's hard to predict the magnitude and duration of the run, but it recent trends continue, this year's run will start early, and like last year, progress into October and November. Currently bait pods are forming up in all areas of the lagoon, and small concentration of baitfish have already made themselves known around Ponce De Leon Inlet, Port Canaveral and along the beaches south to the Sebastian Inlet area.
Look for snook, tarpon, redfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and large kingfish crushing and shadowing bait pods all along the beach. The bait pods are easily located by watching for birds diving and fish working the bait on the surface. Once you've located the bait concentration, simply determine its direction of movement, usually south, and set up in front of it and let them come to you. This is also my preferred time of year to target tarpon and snook along the beach.
September 1st marks the beginning of snook season and the beach snook run has already started with a few fish being reported. This action will pick up substantially as the bait run progresses. When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, (match the hatch). The technique I like to use starts by treading a ½ ounce barrel sinker onto your line. Next, attach a small swivel to the tag end of your line serving two purposes. The swivel acts as a stop keeping your weight from sliding down on the hook, and it also reduces line twisting as your sinker rolls with the tide and wave action. Next, I attach about 24" of fluorocarbon leader, 40 to 50 pound test, and a large circle hook. You will need to step up your tackle, rig, and bait size if tarpon are targeted. Another tip is to use 20-pound test braided line, because it greatly increases your spool capacity over standard monofilament line. Once you're rigged and acquired bait, you'll want to hook your finger mullet through the lips. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait roll along in the direction of tidal flow. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep it in the strike zone longer. Also, if you are into full contact fishing, Sebastian Inlet features some of the best snook action on Florida's Indian River Lagoon Coast, but its popularity attracts anglers from across the state, so be ready for some shoulder to shoulder fishing.
Near-shore, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish, slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless steel stinger rigs is the preferred method. Also as the water temperatures cool, look for the large manta rays to move into shallower water on their migration south bring cobia with them. In Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet look for flounder, mangrove snapper, redfish and snook around the jetties and other structure, and tripletail, barracuda, and cobia under the Canaveral buoy cans.
I always like to use Mother Nature's signals to help predict changes on our nearshore and inshore waters, and currently my goldenrods in my backyard are in full bloom. This flush of golden blooms signals the beginning of the mullet run and the formation of spawning schools of breeder redfish in the IRL and inlet passes. Besides redfish, sea trout are still plentiful on the deeper edges of the grass flats with the best bite occurring at first light and sunset. Also look for ladyfish, tarpon, slot redfish, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working ¼ ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored DOA Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule insert. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets into the near shore waters along the beach. Also watch for the larger redfish to begin forming up just outside Sebastian Inlet feeding on small baitfish and small crabs washing out with the tide.
Be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
As always, if you have any questions or need help, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
(407) 416-1187 on the water
(407) 366-8085 landline
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 110
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 02, 2009 - 8:12 am: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2009
Captain Tom Van Horn
The heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. So far, the summer squalls have stayed away, and as long as they do, fishing along the beaches and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are out of season, so if you target them, please handle and release them with care. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
The Labrador current as it’s know has pushed in early this year, cooling down bottom temperatures and the bottom fishing to a lesser degree than normal in some areas along Florida’s east coast. With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is the key to locating fish. Studies have shown the phenomena is actually the effect of a prevailing west wind pushing the warm surface water offshore and the cold water moving up to replace displaced water, but either way it equates to some tough fishing at times. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running to the other side of the stream isn’t out of the question.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller top-water plugs. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will slows down, and bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs. Lagoon water levels are extremely low, so please use caution
when accessing skinny water.
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on Florida’s east central coast for your courteous and respectful treatment of the resource, other anglers, and the sport, and as always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com
407-366-8085 land line
407-416-1187 on the water
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 109
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 4:40 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July, 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
We have all heard the adage, “If a frog had wings, it wouldn’t bump its butt when it hops”. Well if is the key word when trying to predict fishing quality and conditions on the Indian River Lagoon Coast in July. Two major phenomena can directly impact our offshore waters during the summer, and predicting their influence is anyone’s guess.
First, during the early part of July a coldwater upwelling known as the Labrador Current moves in from the depths of the Atlantic chilling the water column from the bottom up. The influx of the upwelling varies from year to year, and it is impossible to predict. The Labrador Current has been known to chill ocean water temperatures as low as 50 degrees on bad years, and have very little effect of good ones. The second major influence is the impact of tropical weather systems (Summer Squalls) as they brush up against the Florida coast on their way north. Again, we know how tough it is to predict hurricanes, but these tropical systems can kick up some serious seas, even from a thousand miles away.
Offshore, the Gulf Stream water temperatures are fairly consistent in July and August and if the summer squalls stay away, they are excellent months to target yellow fin tuna for those willing to make the long run east (70 to 150 miles). July also marks the beginning of the mid summer doldrums bringing calmer seas, making the long ride to the other side of the Gulf Stream smoother and accessible even for smaller boats.
Bottom fishing will remain good in July if the cold water stays away, but when it begins to push in, many species will either move in closer to shore seeking warmer water, or hightail it south. Depending on the magnitude of the coldwater influx, some bluewater species will move inshore along the reefs and wrecks like Chris Benson, 8A, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, and cobia serving as the primary species. Also, cooler water has the tendency to push manta rays up on to the sandy shoals off of the Space Center, thus creating a mid summer cobia run.
Along the beaches pods of pogies (Atlantic menhaden), greenies (thread fin herring), and glass minnows (bay anchovies) move in close to the beach bringing large tarpon, smoker kings, blacktip and spinner sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish with them. Also, look for snook fishing in the surf to improve as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember, snook are out of season June, July, and August, so if you target them, please handle and release them with extreme care.
In the lagoons sea trout and redfish are the primary targets on the flats. Concentrate your efforts in areas of mullet schools using top water plugs in early morning and late afternoon hours, and at night. Once the sun grows hot and the top water bite slows, switch to live bait (pigfish) or jigs fished on the deeper edges of the flats. Also July and August is the time of year when large schools of ladyfish and smaller sea trout shadow the schools of glass minnows in the deeper water. Last but not least, look for the pompano schools to be moving into the shadows around the causeway bridges where a well placed jig tipped with either sand fleas or fresh shrimp will provide a tasty meal.
As always, nature holds the upper hand in setting the stage for July and August, so we just have to play it by ear and catch some fish, and if you hold your mouth right, you may just catch a love bug or two.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 108
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 3:11 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2009
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Florida
Calm conditions across the water will allow for those with smaller boats to venture further out into the deep blue in search for ocean predators, and facilitate a smoother and faster ride for those with larger vessels.
Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out and the kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats, so slow trolling with live pogies will produce the best action. Additionally, bottom fishing will remain good for snapper and grouper until the first summer squall (hurricane) blows in and muddies up the water. As the summer doldrums set in, the seas flatten out and the ocean cleans up, and near-shore opportunities are typically the best you’ll see all year along the reefs and wrecks and the beach. June is also the time of year when the kingfish move in close along the beach shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), as well as along the Port Canaveral buoy line.
In the early morning on the Lagoon flats look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. Focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Also look for schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) in deeper waters. These schools can be located by watching for small terns and other sea birds working, and they usually are shadowed by concentrations of small trout and ladyfish. These fast moving schools produce fast and furious action for fly anglers casting small top-water popping bugs.
Night fishing especially during period of intense moon will also produce decent catches of redfish, snook, and trout. When fishing the flats at night, I prefer fishing real slow with glow in the dark shrimp imitation baits like the DOA Shrimp with a Woodie’s Rattle Capsule inserted or simply use the Woodie’s Rattle hook. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target the docks with deepwater access.
Remember as the days heat up, long battles will kill the fish, so if you plan on targeting large fish, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also, dissolved oxygen levels are low, so leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. Also, snook season is closed on Florida’s east central coast in June, July, and August, so if you catch one, please be respectfull and handle and release it with extreme care.
As always, if you need more information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 107
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 1:15 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
As the breezes of April give way to the summer doldrums, warmer and calmer ocean waters set the stage for some of the best near-shore fishing experienced all year, especially for the folks running smaller boats. The baitfish have already arrived in good numbers and the strong easterly fetch which set up during the end of April will push in clean water, flotsam and fish inshore.
The bait pods, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), have shown up along the beach, and now is the best time to target the ocean predator shadowing these schools. Drag screaming kingfish and large jack crevalle are my favorite targets, but it’s not uncommon to catch large redfish, blacktip sharks, cobia, and tarpon from within these pods of bait as well. To locate bait pods, simply look for feeding birds, flipping and jumping bait, muddy water along the beach, and busting fish.
Offshore, dolphin fishing will be the focus of blue water anglers this month. April and May are the time of year when the larger bulls are taken off the Florida Space Coast. The early season dolphin bite has already yielded fish in excess of 60 pounds. Also, as a bonus, the potential of taking a blue marlin or sailfish are good. Near-shore, the kingfish bite has heated up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks and some cobia are still around. As the seas settle down and the bait schools move in close to the beach, look for the kingfish action to move in also.
Additionally, Spanish mackerel, snook, large redfish, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are just some of the species available in the Lagoon inlets and beaches this month. As the baitfish migration moves north, this type of fishing will only improve.
On the Lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of action for light tackle and fly anglers. The water has warmed up to the point where jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon are showing up in good numbers. I like to target redfish and sea trout at first light or at dusk, with top water plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk or Storm Chug Bug. As the day heats up, change your focus to the deeper edges of the flats (2 to 3 feet deep) jigging with a DOA CAL tail or the DOA Deadly Combo.
Last but not least, if you are interested in learning more about fishing the saltwater flats, mark your calendar for the free flats fishing class 2 of 8 class series, “Lines Leaders and Practical Knots, Saturday May 16th, at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 105
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 1:33 am: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Fishing Forecast, April 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Reflecting back on my forecast for April, I can’t help but get excited about the many different angling prospects spring delivers to the Indian River Coast of Florida. I’m grateful for the opportunity to live, breath, and fish on these waters, and if March has been a prelude to what we can expect in April, look out!
Some of highlights of fishing on Florida’s east central coast during the spring is the weather is still cool and enjoyable, and as the waters warm up, the fish begin to shift into their prespawning feeding mood. Some examples of this behavior are the cobia moving north up the coast, and the spotted sea trout moving into their traditional spawning areas on the inshore flats. Like many saltwater species, the cobia and sea trout spawn in aggregations or groups, not on beds. In the case of the cobia, traditional spawning areas are off of the central east coast of the US, and in the northern Gulf of Mexico. As the fish migrate north, they burn energy and feed heavily along the way, hence the cobia run we are currently experiencing. On the flats, the smaller male sea trout move up into the shallow flats first, and then call the females in to spawn by drumming loudly just after dusk when the conditions are right, usually around the beginning on the first new moon or full moon in April, and then again on the new and full moons throughout the summer.
Offshore, April marks the beginning of the fishing season for most blue water anglers. It represents the start of the April/May northern migration of dolphin in deeper water, 120 feet and beyond and usually brings in some of the largest bulls taken all year. April also marks the beginning of the Easter kingfish run on the near-shore reef outside Port Canaveral. It’s the time of year when most of the larger kings, 30 to 50 pounds, are taken off 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats.
As we move in near-shore, tripletail should become more dependable, and look for late season cobia as well. The cobia run thus far has been so so; with bait pods (Atlantic menhaden or pogies) arriving late this year. As the bait pod move in, look for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, redfish, giant jack crevalle, sharks, and smoker kings. Concentrate your efforts in areas of bait pods. When you see areas of bait balled up and pushed to the surface, there is a high probability that feeding gamefish are pressuring the bait from underneath.
In the inlets, look for good numbers of flounder, sheepshead and black drum around structure such as jetties and docks, and Spanish mackerel, blues, and large jacks in open water. Also look for the nighttime snook and tarpon action to heat up in the Sebastian Inlet.
On the lagoon flats, fish the early morning and late evening with your favorite top water plugs for extreme trout and redfish action, and soft plastics and jigs in deeper water, 2 to 3 feet after the midday sun settles in. April is one of the months when trout are egg laden for the spawn, so it’s very important to handle and release the larger females with great care. If you are looking for snook and tarpon action inside, the Sebastian River will be the place to go.
Last but not least, freshwater largemouth and striped bass action has will heat up on the St Johns River. Look for schooling bass at first light feeding on pilchards from the Osteen Bridge to Lake Harney. My favorite locations are in the river bends near the power lines at Lemmon Bluff and at the south end of Lake Harney were the River dumps in. A good way to locate these schooling fish is to look for white pelicans and other wading birds congregating along the shore. When in the feeding mode, these fish will take most swim plugs, and small live shiners. Also, last year we caught southern flounder in Lake Harney fishing pilchards on the bottom under the schooling bass.
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
captain@irl-fishing.com
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 10:58 am: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
As we ring in the New Year, it is once again time to reflect back on the events and accomplishments of 2008, and to count our many blessings. We are truly blessed to live in Central Florida where angling and spending time on the water are year round endeavors. I am also thankful for another great year of fishing with my clients and friends on the esteemed waters of the Indian River Lagoon estuary. Thank you all for a year filled with adventure on the water, and many great memories.
In preparation for this forecast, I first reviewed last year fishing photos, and I was taken back by the number of quality fish caught and the enjoyment expressed on the faces of the victorious anglers. My good friend and mentor Captain Rodney Smith always suggest I begin with the end in mind, and the end in this case is conserving and protecting the resource we all love and cherish, the Indian River Lagoon system. This report is not only an expression of my thoughts and experience, but also those of many within my circle of influence, and together we can make the difference in promoting the use, and not the abuse of resources we love and respect.
Before I get started with January’s outlook, I’d like to provide a short recap of last weeks fishing. First, the American shad have arrived with the first shad of the 2008/2009 season caught yesterday aboard Three Quarter Time at the mouth of Deep Creek by Andrew McCullough. The crappie bite was also very good on Lake Monroe this past week with a number of reported limits being taken. And last but not least, calm and clear conditions have rewarded anglers with some nice catches of black drum, redfish and sea trout on the Mosquito and North Indian River Lagoons.
Winter on the east central coast of Florida cannot be defined by any specific dates, but rather by the temperature differences generated by passing cold fronts as they swing south across the state. These variations are subject to change from year to year, and they are impossible to predict. On the average, daytime temperatures usually range from the 50’s in the morning to around the 70’s by afternoon. Likewise, water temperatures average in the upper 60’s, but they can drop as low as the 50’s during extended cold periods. On warm sunny days, water temperatures can increase as much as ten degrees on the shallow flats and sandbars. All of these factors greatly affect the species targeted and the methods used.
Inlet fishing has been good this past month weather permitting, with Sebastian and Ponce De Leon Inlets proving to be the most productive. There are still some reports of flounder moving through the inlets, but the bite has slowed considerably. On the inside at Sebastian Inlet, look for good numbers of pompano, ladyfish, and jacks to be located on the flats both north and south of the inlet cut and in the area of the monument. Also, January is the month when the breeder size redfish move in and feed in the mouth of the inlets during the last part of the falling tide. As the tidal currents slow down, the large redfish push up to the surface chasing baitfish. These monsters are brood stock, so please handle and release them with care.
Along the beaches, pompano will remain the staple for the majority of surf anglers, with a mixed bag of whiting, slot size black drum, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish added in. Try fishing with sand fleas (mole crabs) if you can catch them, cut fresh clams, or freshly peeled live shrimp.
Near-shore, January is the month when the tripletails become consistent on the Port Canaveral buoy line, and their numbers will increase as the month progresses. The other hot item near-shore is king mackerel holding along the 70 to 90 foot reefs of North Pelican and 8A. Also, bottom fishing on deep structure should remain consistent as long as the weather holds. Look for snapper, cobia and sea bass in depths of 80 to 140 feet, and grouper and amberjack along the 22-fathom ridge and deeper.
On the flats during the winter, redfish and sea trout will seek the warmest water they can find. Start out working the deeper edges of the flats in the morning and then move into the warmer wind protected flats around mid-day to late afternoon. An early morning start is not necessary this time of year if the weather is cold. Additionally, both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets “potholes” within the grassy flats. On colder days, focus your attention on the deeper holes using a very slow presentation. When targeting redfish and trout in these deeper holes, I prefer using shrimp imitation baits like DOA Shrimp in the clear or nightglow colors fished extremely slowly. I also like to add the element of sound to the bait by inserting a Woodie’s Rattle into the soft plastic bait. Other species encountered in January are black drum, flounder, sheepshead, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish. Also, January is one of the best months to target tailing black drum on the flats, especially in the Banana River “No-Motor Zone”. Both live shrimp and blue crabs are the preferred bait for black drum, but they will eat both artificial and fly when presented properly.
Last but definitely not least, January marks the beginning of the American Shad run up the St. Johns River. Last year, I started catching shad on January 13th and the run remained steady through February, but as stated earlier in this report, the shad have already started to arrive in the Marina Isle, Lemmon Bluff, and Lake Harney areas. As the month progresses, the shad will continue moving south (up stream) into the Econ Creek and Puzzle Lake areas.
In closing, I wish you a happy, prosperous, and fishfull New Year. As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 101
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 8:13 am: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2008
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Waking up in my Lazy Boy from my turkey induced Thanksgiving coma, my mind is clouded with thoughts of the holiday season and spending time on the water with family and friends. It’s hard to believe December has already arrived, and the New Year is just around the corner. As I awaken I begin to realize how fortunate we are to live in Central Florida where fishing is a year round sport.
Like the rest of the year, December is a great month to fish along the IRL Coast with excellent opportunities from fishing offshore blue water fishing to slow trolling for shad and speckled perch on the St Johns River. As always, weather fronts will play a significant roll in selecting your time on the water and your desired style of fishing, so it’s often best to ready your boat and equipment keeping an eye on the long range forecast and then taking a day off work and drop everything to go fishing on the gorgeous days.
When the weather is nice and the seas are fishable, solid concentrations of kingfish will be holding on the inshore reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target December kingfish are the north end of Pelican Flats and 8A reef out of Port Canaveral. The kingfish bite should remain steady as long as water temperatures stay above 74 degrees. When near-shore waters approach the 70-degree mark, start looking for cobia and tripletail along Port Canaveral buoy line and the shallow waters just off the bight of the Cape. These two species normally hold around floating structure, but they also have a tendency to free swim once the water temperatures warms up in the afternoon.
If the ocean conditions are a bit too rough, good concentrations of breeder redfish will be holding in the inlet passes of Ponce De Leon and Sebastian. Try drifting the passes during the falling tide bouncing live pinfish off the bottom. In the Port Canaveral shipping channel, work the edges of the channel using the same technique. Remember these are oversize redfish, so please step up the size of your tackle to lessen the stress of the fight, and release them with extreme care to be caught again on another day.
Snook fishing will also remain steady around Sebastian Inlet as long as the water temperatures stay warm. It is best to target inlet snook during periods of slack tide fishing live pigfish, pinfish, or croakers at night in the channel under the A1A Bridge. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy a snook dinner once in a while, don’t hesitate. Another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing is flounder. Depending on surf and lagoon temperatures, the flounder migration can stretch into December, with stragglers filtering through the passes all month.
If the winds are westerly, concentrate your efforts along the beach, and look for pompano to begin moving off the inshore flats to the deeper troughs along the beach. Also look for schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel shadowing pods of glass minnows and other bait is the surf. To target both blues and Spanish, watch for birds working bait pods, and through small jigs like the D.O.A C.A.L. and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs.
Inshore, both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay warm. Inshore fishing is best once the sun warms the water a bit, so sleep in and enjoy a good cup of coffee before heading to the ramp. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets until the sun gets overhead. Also, now is also the time of year to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone.
On the upper Saint Johns River look for the American and hickory shad runs to commence near the end of the month, and intensifying in January and February. Shad fishing is one of the most overlooked fisheries in Florida, and a fun fish to catch on both fly and light tackle gear.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2008 for your business and friendship, and I am looking forward to spending more time on the water with you in 2009. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2009 gift certificates at and receive 50.00 dollars off of the standard rate by either replying to this news letter or calling me, so purchase a charter in advance for yourself or that certain angler close to your heart, and go fishing with them.
As always, if you have any questions or just need information, please contact me.
Happy Holidays, and good luck and good fishing, and God bless,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 100
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 4:01 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Fishing Forecast, November 2008
By Captain Tom Van Horn
November is one of the best months to target snook at Sebastian Inlet. In addition, large flounder and oversized redfish have begun to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets of Ponce De Leon and Sebastian, and the flounder numbers will increase as the flounder begin their seaward migration out of the lagoon. Also, let's not forget the influx of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and black tip sharks shadowing schools of finger mullet and glass minnows along the beach. Another important note, is to remember sea trout season closest November 1st on Florida's Space Coast, and remains closed through January 1st, 2009.
As water temperatures cool offshore, look for cobia and tripletail to begin showing up on the Port Canaveral Buoy line and on flotsam, both near-shore and offshore. When you find weeds and other debris, look for tripletail to be hanging just below the floating structure. Live shrimp and small jigs tipped with shrimp work well when targeting these brim on steroids. Fishing later in the day keeping the sun to your back will improve your range of sight, and always remember to keep a medium heavy rod rigged with a one-ounce buck tail jig ready to throw to any cruising cobia. Also, look for the fall dolphin and kingfish run to commence as well and an occasional sailfish or black fin tuna on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like 8A and Pelican Flats.
On the inside, pompano will begin to form up and move off of the lagoon flats thought the inlets, and invade the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food. Currently, reports of pompano skipping have been coming from anglers working the flats in various locations within the Lagoon. Also look for large schools of ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and sea trout to be feeding on the migrating schools of glass minnows as they move south through the Lagoon.
Sight fishing this past month for redfish has was tough due to higher water levels and tons of finger mullet, but water levels have begun to drop a little and the early arrival of cold air and cooling water has the redfish schooling up again. There's still a large amount of mullet on the flats, so the mullet run isn't over yet. Additionally, a good numbers of quality black drum and some gag grouper will begin to occupy the deeper channels of the ICW and areas around bridges and power structures throughout the lagoon.
Last but not least, the tailing black drum and redfish will begin to show up on the flats of the Banana River No-Motor Zone as the water levels recede and the water temperature cools down. If you have never experienced black drum tailing in a foot of water, it is worth the long paddle. When targeting black drum in the zone, concentrate your efforts on the deeper side on the sandbars that parallel the west shore, and the sandy submerged bars located on the middle flats located on the east side. When you locate tailing black drum and redfish, try throwing crab or shrimp imitation artificial baits like the D.O.A. Shrimp, a black Clouser fly, and chunks of blue crab or live shrimp work well for natural baits.
As always, if you need more information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 land line
407-416-1187 on the water |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 99
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 4:16 pm: | |
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2008
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The summer heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. As long as the summer squalls stay away and the Labrador currents do not cool inshore waters too much, fishing along the beaches and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
The Labrador currents are pushing in right on cue, cooling down bottom temperatures and the bottom fishing in some areas along Florida’s east coast. With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running to the other side of the stream isn’t out of the question.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller top-water plugs and soft swimbaits like the D.O.A. Bait Buster. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will shut down, and bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Heavy rainfall has elevated water levels in the Lagoon, so work the areas of moving water like culverts and spillways an up close against the shoreline for snook feeding on small minnows, and redfish feeding on fiddler crabs. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs.
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on Florida’s east central coast for your courteous and respectful treatment of the resource, other anglers, and the sport, and as always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 98
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 6:55 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Florida
Summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, and yes it’s once again time to crank it up. With the rising heat and humidity of summer you might think I’m referring to cranking up the air condition, but ah contraire, I’m referring to cranking up the fishing prospects on every front, inshore, near-shore, and offshore. Although the heat is rising, the winds of June are subsiding, and calming seas allow for smooth sailing, especially for those who fish from shallow water boats.
Calm conditions across the water will allow for those with smaller boats to venture further out into the deep blue in search for ocean predators, and facilitate a smoother and faster ride for those with larger vessels.
Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out and the kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats, so slow trolling with live pogies will produce the best action. Additionally, bottom fishing will remain good for snapper and grouper until the first summer squall (hurricane) blows in and muddies up the water. As the summer doldrums set in, the seas flatten out and the ocean cleans up, and near-shore opportunities are typically the best you’ll see all year along the reefs and wrecks and the beach. June is also the time of year when the kingfish move in close along the beach shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), as well as along the Port Canaveral buoy line.
In the early morning on the flats look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. Focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Also look for schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) in deeper waters. These schools can be located by watching for small terns and other sea birds working, and they usually are shadowed by concentrations of small trout and ladyfish. These fast moving schools produce fast and furious action for fly anglers casting small top-water popping bugs.
Night fishing will also produce decent catches of redfish, snook, and trout. When fishing the flats at night, I prefer fishing real slow with glow in the dark shrimp imitation baits like the RipTide Realistic Shrimp with a Woodie’s Rattle Capsule inserted or simply use the Woodie’s Rattle hook. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target the docks with deepwater access.
Remember as the days heat up, long battles will kill the fish, so if you plan on targeting large fish, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also, dissolved oxygen levels are low, so leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. Also, snook season is closed on Florida’s east central coast in June, July, and August, so if you catch one, please be respectfull and handle and release it with extreme care.
As always, if you need more information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 97
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 3:54 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 22, 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida
Well it looks like May has finally arrived on the Indian River Lagoon Coast. Today was my first day on the Lagoon where the winds laid down, and yes we even had a rumble of thunder and some well-needed rain although brief, thank you Lord.
I started out my week fishing on Sunday, where I was privileged and honored to spend the day on the water with Paul and Diana Faircloth and their nephew Clay. You see, it was Clay’s 11th birthday, and it was our mission to break in Clay’s new fishing rod. Our day started out slow with a few small sea trout in the morning, but as the day grew longer the bite improved, and we ended the day with a good number of sea trout caught on Riptide Jigs and top-water Rapala Skitterwalks, and yes Clay was successful in breaking in his new birthday rod.
Several other trips were planned during the week, but they were either scrubbed or postponed for future dates due to windy conditions.
For the past two months, I have been diligently trying to fish in the No-Motor Zone with local angler Jim Rawnsley from the Oak Hill/Edgewater area, but windy conditions kept us off of the water until today. Jim was the winner of the ISAA Raffle for the Captain Shawn Williams Family Charity charter I donated last spring, and I’m glad we waited.
The wind was light from the southwest as we polled out onto the flat, and we didn’t see any significant fish for the first few hours. After covering a lot of ground and messing with small trout on top-water plugs, we located a nice school of redfish. At first Jim made several nice top-water presentations, but the school lifted and began moving off. At that point, we opted to leave them rest and catch us some bait and then return later.
As the day grew longer, the wind laid down even more, and on our return the redfish school was spread out across the flat happily tailing in every direction. In addition to the redfish, there was also a good number of tailing black drum mixed in, which was an unexpected surprise. For the next several hours we chunked cut bait, and Jim successfully land three over slot redfish with the larges being 43-inches. The tails continued to pop-up everywhere, but a distant rumble of thunder sent us hightailing it back to the launch site as the rain set in. Hopefully, this trip was a prelude to the summer and the wind has finally begun to subside, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
As always, if you need more information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 96
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 10:36 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 15, 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Windy conditions have held the upper hand all week along Florida’s east central coast. Thus far, April weather patterns have carried into mid May making fishing conditions less then desirable. Additionally, the hot western flow and drought conditions have combined to create dangerous brush fire conditions with tragic results. If you plan to be out and about in the outdoors anytime over the next few weeks, please be vigilant and take extra precautions to prevent wildfires.
My adventures this past week started last weekend where brothers Robby, Allen, and Dave Robertson joined me for a day on the water. The trio has fished together for years in a number of locations, and I was honored have them aboard Three Quarter Time for a day of fishing.
After studying the conditions and our options, I chose to launch early at Kennedy Point in Titusville to avoid encounters with tournament anglers fishing the Extreme Redfish Tour. Of course, we faced strong west winds, so my first stop was on the west shoreline about a mile south of the ramp. As the morning light began the wane and I polled in, the trio began working a Storm Chug Bug, three inch Rapala Skitterwalk, and a Mirodine, and the small sea trout and ladyfish were chewing. The bite was consistent in three feet of water, but as I polled in shallow looking for redfish it shut down.
When exploring for fish on a flat, it is important to poll in a diagonal direction, crisscrossing from the deep edge in shallow and then back out again until you locate the depth the fish are holding at. In this case, the action began to pick up once we returned to deeper water. Soon the west wind began to settle down, and I opted to give the east shore a shot, where we scored seven redfish and one respectable sea trout all caught on chunked ladyfish.
My next adventure was with repeat clients Don and April Christopher from the Jackson area as they celebrate their 33 wedding anniversary. Two years ago we scored several sizable fish, but this was not to be the case this time. I spent the first several hours checking some of my favorite locations for big redfish, but the choppy conditions availed. So we decided to target sea trout instead and the action was fast and furious. The majority of the sea trout were dinks, but at one point we were seeing how many we could catch on consecutive cast, and the record was 8. All together, at least fifty sea trout were caught, and the hot bait was a 3” chartreuse RipTide Mullet on a ¼ ounce jig. If you are interested in some real fun, fish anywhere along the west flat in the north Indian River Lagoon between the Carbide Flat and the Scottsmore ramp just off of the deep edge where the flat drops off into 2 to 3 feet of water.
As always, if you need more information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 1:25 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2008
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
As the days grow longer, angling enthusiasts along Florida’s Space Coast take pleasure in spending their afternoons after work relaxing on the water. Warming coastal waters draw streams of baitfish north followed by warm water predators, as our prevailing easterly winds give way to summers genially shifting sea breezes.
Offshore, dolphin fishing will be the focus of blue water anglers this month. April and May are the time of year when the larger bulls are taken off the Florida Space Coast. The early season dolphin bite has already yielded fish in excess of 60 pounds. Also, as a bonus, the potential of taking a blue marlin or sailfish are good. Near-shore, the kingfish bite has heated up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks and some cobia are around. As the seas settle down and the bait schools move in close to the beach, look for the kingfish action to move in also.
Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are just some of the species available in the Lagoon inlets and beaches this month. As the baitfish migration moves north, this type of fishing will only get better.
Inshore, the bait pods, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), have shown up along the beach, and now is the best time to target the ocean predator shadowing these schools. It’s not uncommon to catch large redfish, large jack crevalle, blacktip sharks, cobia, and tarpon from within these pods of bait. To locate bait pods, simply look for feeding birds, flipping and jumping bait, muddy water along the beach, and busting fish.
On the Lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of action for light tackle and fly anglers. The water has warmed up to the point where jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon are showing up in good numbers. I like to target redfish and sea trout at first light or at dusk, with top water plugs like the High Roller Florida Special, Rapala Skitterwalk, or Storm Chug Bug. As the day heats up, change your focus to the deeper edges of the flats (2 to 3 feet deep) jigging with a RipTide 4” mullet on a ¼ ounce RipTide Screw Jig.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 94
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 3:46 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Reflecting back on past fishing adventures, April stand out as one of the finest months to experience the true diversity of the fishery existing along the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. April serves as a transitional period where the winds of March give way to the heat and humidity of summer. As spring progresses and water temperatures rise, fishing opportunities abound with the influx of bait moving north within the lagoon and closer to the shoreline along the beaches.
April marks the beginning of the fishing season for many blue water anglers, representing the start of the northern migration of dolphin in deeper water, 120’ and beyond. This first wave of dolphin is usually credited with some of the largest bulls taken all year. It also marks the beginning of the spring kingfish run on the near-shore reefs and wrecks off of Port Canaveral. Traditionally, April is the time of year when the larger kingfish, 30 to 50 pounds, are caught off of 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats.
As we move into the near-shore waters, we can only hope the cobia are still around. The cobia run was going on last month with some great catches reported in between passing fronts. On flotsam and along the Canaveral buoy line, tripletail should become more dependable throughout the month. Along the beaches, pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) have been showing up south of the Cocoa Beach Pier, and the arrival of these bait pods is a sure sign of predators lurking in their shadows. Look for tarpon, jumbo redfish and jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, blacktip sharks, cobia, and smoker kingfish to begin showing up in the vicinity of these bait pods.
Inside Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet, look for a good number of sheepshead and black drum to be holding around structure such as jetties and docks and look for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and jack crevalle in deeper water areas. Also look for nighttime snook and tarpon action to begin heating up in both the Port and in Sebastian Inlet as we move deeper into the month.
On the Lagoon flats, it’s time to start fishing the early morning and late evening bite with your favorite top water plugs for extreme sea trout and redfish action. During midday periods, work the deeper areas, 2 to 3 feet, with your favorite soft plastics, jerk baits, or jigs. Remember, April is one of the months where the larger sea trout (all females) become egg laden for the spawn, so it’s very important to handle and release these larger fish with extreme care. Sea trout have one of the highest mortality rates of catch and release game fish on the Lagoon.
Last but not least, look for the large mouth bass action to heat up on the St. Johns River. Look for schooling bass at first light feeding on menhaden from the Osteen Bridge to the Econ Creek. Some of my favorite places to look are the river bends between Lemmon Bluff and Lake Harney, and the south end of Lake Harney where the river dumps in. To locate the areas of schooling fish, I simply look for congregations of white pelicans and other wading birds lined up along the riverbanks waiting for an easy meal when the hungry bass push the bait to the surface along the shore. When in the feeding mood, these fish will eat just about anything, but the heavy bite usually only last from first light to the point where the sun crosses the eastern horizon, so an early start is essential.
Seminars and Events
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida, Angler’s Improvement Clinics Sponsored by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, RipTide Soft Plastics, Woodie’s Rattles, TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, and D.O.A. Lures
Future Hook Kids on Fishing! Program Dates
April 19 - Melbourne: To register contact the Melbourne Leisure Services 321-255-4608.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to my mailing list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 93
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 12:20 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
In angling terms, March on the east central coast of Florida means, cobia, cobia, and more cobia. Yes, the brown clowns are the jesters of the sea on the Space Coast, and their court consist of the monster jacks (jack carvalle), smoker kings (large kingfish), and the silver kings (tarpon) to name just a few.
As spring progresses and the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degrees, the migration of baits schools bring, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), bay anchovies (glass minnows) and black and silver mullet into the near-shore waters bringing the cobia and other predators with them. Warmer waters will also draw manta rays into the shallows as they migrate north shadowed by pods of cobia. Other distinguished species are tripletail around the buoys and under flotsam, and large redfish and blacktip sharks following bait schools along the beach. Currently, both the cobia and the manta rays have been showing up in our near-shore waters ahead of schedule. When targeting cobia out of Port Canaveral, my strategy is to concentrate on filling my bait well with live pogies in the morning, and then run south to a point off of Melbourne beach. Then I return slowly using a zigzag pattern (shallow to deep and back shallow) with the afternoon sun to my back until I locate fish, and then I mark and maintain the same depth and water temperature. Also, if I locate bait schools pushed to the surface, I stop and drop a live bait through the school targeting the predators below.
Moving out into deeper water, the spring kingfish run should begin with the smaller kings showing up around the middle of March, followed by the smokers, 30 to 50 pounds near the beginning of April on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Pelican Flats and 8A reef, 60 to 90 feet of water. If the bait moves in close to the beach, look for the larger kingfish to follow them. Also, the beginning of April marks the start of the fishing season for many of the blue water anglers with the start of the April/May northern migration of dolphin in 120 feet of water and beyond, and the first part of the run usually includes some of the largest bulls taken all year. Again, good reports of dolphin have been coming in, also ahead of schedule.
Fishing in and around the inlets and along the beaches will produce, whiting, pompano, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel, with sheepshead and black drum holding on jetties and rock piles. As we move into April, watch for the snook and tarpon action to heat up in Sebastian Inlet, and then move north to Port Canaveral and Ponce De Leon Inlet following the bait progression.
On the lagoon, rising water levels will draw the slot size redfish schools up onto the shallow flats, with the larger breeder schools forming up and holding along the deeper edges and sandy shoals. On the cooler days, focus your attention on sand pockets or potholes, and once the afternoon sun warms the water, look for tailing fish on the shallow flats. Also, mid March signals the return of finger mullet into the estuary, and the beginning early morning and late evening top water sea trout and redfish action. Remember, spring is the season when sea trout become egg laden for the spawn, happening just before the full and new moons, so it is very important to handle and release the large females with extreme care; fore their survival is essential for the proliferation of the species.
Seminars and Events
Anyone who is interested in volunteering to assist in the March 8th Kids Fishing Day at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, please contact me. Thank You
March 8th, 9am-3pm, Woman in the Outdoors presents a Kids Fishing Day. Event includes a full day of activities and lunch, and the cost is $25 per child. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464-2000.
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida, Angler’s Improvement Clinics Sponsored by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, RipTide Soft Plastics, Woodie’s Rattles, TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, and D.O.A. Lures
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 5:41 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors Apopka, Florida
Well those Anglers not familiar to Florida may believe fishing opportunities in February are few but far between, but that thought could not be further from the truth. In reality, angling during the winter on the Indian River Lagoon Coast produces outstanding catches if the right tactics and strategies are employed.
As always, understanding the cycle of passing cold fronts is essential selecting the proper weather day and having the flexibility to get out on the water while the getting is good will add to one’s success. Passing cold fronts are notorious for delivering several days nasty windy conditions followed by a short window of gorgeous weather, and a prudent angler will focus there attention on boat and tackle maintenance and honey dos during periods on ugly weather and call in sick when conditions are right.
With sea trout, black drum, and redfish serving as the primary targets on the inshore flats, water temperature serves as the most critical element in locating and catching fish. On colder days, sea trout will search out and congregate in the warmest water they can find, so focus your attention in deeper holes and pockets adjacent to shallow flats. Another critical element is the fact fish are cold blooded, so during colder periods their metabolic rate slows way down and they eat less, so concentrate your efforts on dredge holes, troughs, depressions, and canals located next to expansive flats, and slow down your presentation to a crawl. My preferred lure in this situation is a Nite Glow Riptide realistic Shrimp rigged on a 1/16 ounce Screw Lock Jig. My tactic is to locate a deeper canal adjacent to an expanse of shallow flats and then cast to the edges and let the jig sink all the way to the bottom before retrieving it very slowly. After the cold snap passes and the weather starts warming up, focus your attention on sandy potholes where both sea trout and redfish like basking in the warming sun. Also, let us not forget the tailing black drum and redfish on the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. There are very few thing in life that get the heart pumping better than the sight of a huge black tail raising slowly out of the water within casting range, and one of those is the first long run of a big black drum in shallow water. Remember, an early start is not necessary if the weather gets cold, so sleep in and hit the water when sun has warmed the flats a bit.
Moving offshore, kingfish will still be consistent along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on bottom structure in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Live bait is often tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.
Also look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral, and let us not forget the excellent grouper and snapper experienced in February as these fish have a tendency to move in on shallow bottom structure and wrecks. Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties.
February is also a great time for shore anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties. As the water temperatures cool, the pompano should move out of the lagoon and gather in the troughs along the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food source.
Last but not least, February is a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River, and inshore lakes. Currently some good catches of American shad, speckled perch, and largemouth bass are being reported.
February 9th Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Woman in the Outdoors presents the Ladies Social Angler Seminar and Wine Tasting, from 9am-2pm. Cost to attend is $40 per person and includes one-year membership and subscription to The Woman in the Outdoors. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors (407) 464-2000.
March 1st, 2nd, and 8th 9th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida
March 8th Woman in the Outdoors presents a Kids Fishing Day. Event includes a full day of activities and lunch, and the cost is $25 per child. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464-2000.
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 91
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 5:27 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, January 5, 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
With the holiday season behind us, it is time to greet the New Year with some serious fishing. We are fortunate to live in the sunshine state where angling is a year round sport, and although we received some of the coldest weather experienced in years this past week, conditions are all ready showing improvement.
Even though angling conditions over the holidays were excellent, the catching for the most part was slow under the full moon and continued to improve as the moon waned. During the first part of the week water levels on the Mosquito Lagoon increased to a point where the redfish dispersed and then regrouped into small nervous schools spread out across the flats. At one point we counted 8 different schools of redfish, and our best success came when we change our tactics from chasing the schools to wait for them to come to us. But, as I check the most recent water levels are falling again, so look for the schools to bunch up in the deeper troughs of the flats.
My first three trips last week on the Mosquito Lagoon involving more chasing then catching. As the moon waned, the bite slowly improved to the point where the fish were more receptive and we even managed to catch a few nice redfish.
On Saturday the 29th, I exchanged the kicker for a paddle venturing up into the Banana River No-Motor Zone with my good friends Larry Carter and JT Thompson, and we ended up locating and catching some bigger redfish. The weather was as good as it gets, and the flat calm and sunny conditions providing excellent sight fishing. As we work our way up the flat, we soon located a sizable school of large redfish tailing in three feet of water. JT was the first to score catching a handsome redfish in the 20-pound range on half a blue crab. After landing, photographing, and releasing his fish, the tails soon popped up again and both JT and I were hooked up with a double, and my fish exceeded the 30-pound mark. After landing the last two redfish the school spooked out into deeper water, and we elected to move on in search of some black drum which never materialized in good numbers.
On the 1st, I elected to ring in the New Year fishing with my good friend Mike Murray, and we opted to check the St. Johns River for American shad. We launched at the east State Road 46 ramp, and we covered the river from Lake Harney to Puzzle Lake. Our plan was for a quick reconnaissance mission and then to be home for football, and although we did not catch any shad, we did see shad caught by other anglers. Combined we caught 7 speckled perch, and Mike managed to catch a hefty 7-pound large mouth bass on chartreuse ¼ ounce Road Runner. The speck bite was on and the shad are here, so hopefully this cold weather will kick the run into full swing.
In closing, I think I will distribute this message and then go fishing.
Seminar and Event Schedule:
January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.
January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.
March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 90
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 6:05 pm: | |
East Central Florida Fishing Outlook for January 2008
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
First, both myself and the good folks at Mosquito Creek Outdoors would like to wish all of you a safe and happy New Year in 2008.
With the exception of a few additional gray hairs, I eagerly embrace the arrival of the New Year to Florida’s Space Coast along with the many exceptional angling opportunities winter brings to the Indian River Lagoon coast.
Last year my resolution was to enlighten new anglers on the many attributes angling and the outdoors provide, and during the summer of 2007 I was elected president of the board of directors of Anglers For Conservation. The AFC is a new nonprofit organization with a mission to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration, and applied conservation science. Our primary educational tool is a program called Hook Kids on Fishing, where kids and parents alike learn basic fishing skills, safety, and conservation, encouraging them to use not abuse our priceless resources by putting conservation first. With eleven events scheduled in 2008, we hope to reach about 1200 kids this year, and to begin developing regional chapters throughout the state. The AFC is only in its incipient stage so stay
tuned for more details.
As always, angling opportunities in the winter are influenced by strength of passing cold fronts as they cycle through Florida, typically highlighted by a few days of strong easterly breezes followed by several really nice days. It’s just a matter of keeping in touch with the weather, and being prepared to take advantage of the nice days, no
excuses.
As water levels and temperatures drop, clear and shallow conditions on the Mosquito, Indian River Lagoon, and Banana River Lagoon flats facilitate some of the best sight fishing experienced all year. On clear sunny days, successful anglers’ focus on quietly polling the flats is search of redfish and sea trout holding in the sandy potholes soaking up the suns warmth. An early start is not necessary, so read the paper and have an extra cup of coffee before heading to the lagoon. Additionally, mullet and other finfish have migrated out of the area for the winter, so as the predators feeding habits switch to smaller shrimp and crabs, and anglers should switch to smaller baits and a slower presentation. When targeting redfish, black drum, and sea trout during the colder months, I like to downsize my bait and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation baits like the Rip/Tide Realistic Shrimp and Realistic Crab on a Woodie’s Rattle Hook. January and February are also key months for targeting tailing black drum on the exclusive Banana River No-Motor Zone. The zone is one of the only locations I know of where a well-presented black Clouser fly can land you a 25-pound drum on the flats.
Offshore, kingfish will still be consistent along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on bottom structure in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Also look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is sometimes tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.
Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. If we expedience an extended period of warm weather, mid-winter thaw, look for a mid-winter cobia run to commence.
Now is also the time for shore anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties. As the water temperatures cool, the pompano will move out of the lagoon and gather in the troughs along the beach in search of mole crabs, sand fleas, and their favorite winter food source.
In addition to the saltwater bite, the American shad run will be improving on the St Johns River as we progress into the New Year. These aerobatic fish are great fun on fly rod or light tackle spinning gear, and they are easily targeted on blustery days when coastal fishing is tough.
Seminar and Event Schedule:
January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.
January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.
March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 89
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 6:08 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, December 22, 2007
Compliments on Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida
The holiday season has arrived, and more than ever families and friends are gathering to celebrate life and living. It is again time to count our many blessings and thank those who sacrifice their time and lives to defend our freedom. It is also time to relax and enjoy life with those within our circle and there is no better place than the outdoors to do this very thing. The weather this weekend shows improvement, so plan some time on the water and enjoy.
Currently, the sea state offshore is expected to reach 5 to 7 feet, so I don’t think anyone will be venturing out until the seas settle around the middle of the week. Once conditions wane, look for snapper, grouper, and amberjack to be concentrated on the deeper reefs and wrecks from 120 to 240-feet. Also look for cobia holding on the near-shore wrecks from 90 to 160 feet of water. If trolling is your preference, there are still some dolphin and wahoo possible outside the 120-foot mark with an occasional sailfish mixed in, and plenty of kingfish on near-shore structure.
Along the beaches the red tide is letting up, so consider pompano, whiting, sheepshead, bluefish and Spanish mackerel off the beach, ocean piers, and in the inlets, with sand fleas, cut clams, and fresh shrimp serving as choice baits. As the temperatures on the flats warm up, look for slot redfish and sea trout to return to the shallows, and small dark colored soft plastics and cut mullet and ladyfish should produce best for them. Also, remember sea trout season is closed until January first, so please handle and release them with extreme care.
This past week, I ventured out on the freshwater side, and spent some time on the St. John’s River, and although I didn’t catch any, I heard of several hickory and American shad being caught. Also, as the moon grows full, look for speckle perch spawning activity to increase, and schooling bass to be feeding on small surface minnows in the confluences of small sloughs and creeks flowing off of the pastures.
Remember, fishing and boating activity will be at an elevated level this week, so please be kind and courteous to each other and the environment.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2007, you are all truly a blessing, and I’m looking forward to a glorious 2008.
Seminar and Event Schedule:
January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.
January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.
March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida
April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck, good fishing, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Book a charter today, and let’s go fishing.
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 88
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 10:31 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2007
Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida
It is hard to fathom the thought of how quickly the holiday season has arrived. Life on the lagoon coast of Florida definitely has its advantages in regards to the outdoors and fishing, warmer weather, year round angling, quality fish, and oh yes, quality times on the water enjoying life. It is once again time to reflect back on our many blessings, and to look forward to what December has to offer.
Like November, December is a great month for fishing, but the impact of passing cold fronts on water temperatures and sea conditions can be the difference between going fishing, and raking the yard. The influence and intensity of winter fronts is unpredictable, so break out your winter shorts in preparation of cooler days to come, and keep you boat and tackle in top shape ready to take advantage of the nice days between fronts.
Around and in the inlet passes of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian, concentrations of breeder redfish will remain, steady feeding during periods of slack and falling tide. At both Sebastian and Ponce inlets, target these fish outside the inlet passes on the falling tide in areas of bird and bait activity. In Port Canaveral, work the edges of the buoy line bouncing bait off the bottom. These over sized redfish will hit on artificial baits, but I find live pinfish, pigfish or finger mullet to be a more productive. Remember, these oversized reds are exciting to catch, but they are breeders, so please step up your tackle size and handle and release them with care.
Snook fishing will also remain steady as long as the water temperatures stay warm, with Sebastian Inlet proving to be the prime location. It is best to target inlet linesiders during periods of slack tide drift fishing live pigfish, pinfish, or croakers at night in the channel under the A1A Bridge. This style of angling can be quite rewarding when the bite is on, but it can also be very challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same action. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy those tasty filets, your time is limited.
Flounder is another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing. Depending on surf and lagoon temperatures, the flounder migration can stretch into December, with stragglers filtering through the passes all month.
Along the beaches, look for pompano to begin moving off the inshore flats to the deeper troughs along the beach is search of sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food. Also look for schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel shadowing pods of glass minnows and other bait is the surf. To target both blues and Spanish, watch for birds working bait pods, and through small jigs like the RipTide Swimming Mullet and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs.
When the seas permit it, look for solid concentrations of kings holding on the shallow reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target kings in December are the north end of Pelican Flats and 8A reef. The kingfish bite should remain steady as long as the water temperature stays above 74 degrees. To target these fish, slow troll live bait if you can find it, or troll dead Spanish sardines or cigar minnows. When near-shore water temperatures approach the 70-degree mark, look for tripletail and cobia to begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and the near-shore water off the beaches and the bight of the Cape. These fish normally hold to structure such as floating weeds and other debris, but they also have a tendency to free swim on the surface once the sun warms the water.
Offshore, December is one of the best times to catch grouper, snapper, and amberjacks, targeting bottom structure in the 21 to 27 fathom range. Additionally, dolphin, wahoo, and an occasional sailfish are quality targets in areas of color changes, rips, and weed lines.
Inshore, both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay in the 70-degree range. Inshore fishing is best once the sun warms the water a bit, so sleep in and enjoy a good cup of coffee before heading to the ramp. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets until the sun gets overhead. Now is also the time of year to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. If you have never seen black drum tailing on the shallow flats before, it is worth the long hard paddle into the No-Motor Zone.
Last but not lease, look for the American and hickory shad runs to commence on the upper Saint Johns River near the end of the month, and intensifying in January and February. Shad fishing is one of the most overlooked fisheries in Florida, and a fun fish to catch on both fly and light tackle gear.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2007 for your business and friendship, and I am looking forward to spending more time on the water with you in 2008. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2008 gift certificates at and receive 50.00 dollars off of the standard rate by either replying to this news letter or calling my toll free number at 866-790-8081, so purchase a charter in advance for yourself or that certain someone close to your heart, and go fishing with them.
Man I love this job!
As always, if you have any questions or just need information, please contact me.
Happy Holidays, and good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 87
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 4:48 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
As the fall bait run continues, hordes of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) flee for their live as they move south in search of a warmer climate. This migration signals the end of summer, and the beginning of some of the best fishing experienced on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida.
Weather permitting, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf will continue to improve as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to increase bringing larger Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon with them.
In and around the inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian look for flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. My preferred method of targeting the inlet redfish is to drift the inlet bouncing live mullet or pinfish on the bottom on a falling tide. Easterly swells, falling tides, and aggressive anglers can make conditions dangerous, so please pay attention, be patient, and catch-um-up.
Inshore, look for slot redfish in close to the grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet, and for the larger redfish staged in deeper water ambush sites where migrating mullet are forced to venture out from the safety of the shallow flats. Also watch for snook to be tucked in close to the shoreline, ambushing pods of finger mullet as they pass by.
In deeper water areas, look for ladyfish, spotted sea trout, jacks, and tarpon feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools of fish are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. Once located, these schools will produce explosive action on small top water plugs, or popping bug flies. Also, if you locate a school of the larger black mullet, try fishing spoons or soft plastic baits deep under the school. Even though, mullet are vegetarians, redfish and sea trout will often mingle in feeding on shrimp and crabs kicked up from the bottom by larger mullet.
Seminars and Events
October 13th, Braided Line Applications, Andy Thornal Company Fly Fishing Expo located under the Water Tower in Winter Haven, Florida. Call 863-299-9999 for more details.
October 23rd, Orlando Kayak Club meets at 7pm Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, and Captain Rodney Smith is the guest speaker.
November 16th, 17th, and 18th, Coastal Angler Magazines Boating and Fishing Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds with a full program of speakers and seminars.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 86
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 6:51 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 6, 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Let the Feeding Frenzy Commence
Yesterday as the sun settled in the west, I found myself at the ocean’s edge. My quest was not to catch fish for I carried no tackle, but to simply observe conditions in anticipation of the arrival of the mullet. With a low-pressure system building in the Atlantic northeast of Florida and the northeasterly breezes and seas building, conditions are right for the commencement of the mullet run.
As I sat there scanning the water with my toes burred in the sand, I caught a glimpse of a large splash out of the corner of my eye. Was it a large tarpon or maybe a spinner shark? My anticipation grew. Soon I spotted what I was hoping to see as another large tarpon exploded on a school of silver mullet pushing south about 100 yards offshore. As the darkness grew more and more bait pods pushed to the surface hounded by hungry tarpon and spinner sharks. Further out I watch as terns feverishly worked schools of glass minnows pushed to the surface by Spanish mackerel. Clearly the bait run has started, and soon the beach and inlets will be teaming with bait and hungry fish. Currently, heavy ocean conditions will make fishing from a boat challenging, but once the seas begin to settle the bite should be on fire.
On the inside today I spent the better part of the afternoon poling my Old Town canoe along the western shoreline of the Banana River No-Motor Zone looking for signs of the fall bait run. Gusty winds and recent rainfall have muddied the water making sight fishing difficult.
As I poled along the flat I would run over the fish before I’d see them, so I adjusted my strategy with a decision to try a new soft plastic bait. In the distance I could see redfish pushing and moving about, so I decided to try retrieving the new Exude 2 ½ inch Fan Tailed Shrimp in the Golden Bream color across the surface of the water. I would make a long cast well past my target, and with my rod tip raised high, I would reel the bait at a steady speed just fast enough to keep it fluttering on top. The fan Tail Shrimp comes with a glass rattle, which inserts into a pocket in the tail of the bait, but the rattle was gone after the first fish. I have done well using this tactic before, and once again it rewarded me with 8 redfish and about a dozen missed fish. After my pack of Exudes were gone, I switched to my trusted RipTide frog, and again received explosive results from I believe to be snook at the very edge of the matted widgeon grass. If you try this tactic, keep your rod tip high, and at the moment of the strike, through your rod tip forward giving the fish some slack and a chance to take the bait. The hook I was using was a #3 Daiichi Copper Head with the barb smashed.
Tip of the Week
A recent study showed a thirty percent mortality for catch and release sea trout. These fish expire after release from injuries and miss handling. With this thought in mind, it is extremely important keep you fish in the water as much as possible, touch them as little as possible, and mash the barbs on your hooks, especially gang hooks, Mashed barbs will facilitate an easy release with less injury. Barbs on hook do not catch fish; tight lines catch fish.
Seminars and Events:
September 8th 10am – 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Information and directions 407-464-2000
September 29th 10am – 3pm Ladies Social Angler Seminar
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Registration is limited call 407-464-2000 or go to
www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com
As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
CaptainIDS (Captainids)
New member
Username: Captainids
Post Number: 14
Registered: 9-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 10:01 am: | |
Are you a Licensed Coast Guard Captain?
This is for you
http://www.captainids.com/ |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 85
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 1:43 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida
Season of the Mullet
As the tropical storm season wanes along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, we welcome the arrival of September with hot and humid days, and than say good by to the summer as September exits on the shoulders of a prevailing northeast wind. Shorter days, longer nights and the prevailing shift is the winds and swells signal the end of summer, and the beginning of the season of the mullet.
I’m often asked the question, “When is the best time to fish on the east coast of Florida?” and the answer has arrived with the season of the mullet. Like many of the 700 plus species of fish that frequent the IRL throughout the year, silver mullet gradually return to our estuary in the spring, and then form up for a mass exodus once the water begins to cool. As the bait schools begin to form up, larger predators know it is once again time to fatten up for winter’s arrival.
As schools of bait move out of the inlets and south down the beach, they move in pulses rather than a continuous flow, so as always, locating bait is the key to success.
Bait pods are easily located by watching for diving birds and fish working them on the surface just inside the breakers. Look for snook, tarpon, redfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and large kingfish crushing and shadowing bait pods all along the beach. Once you’ve located the bait concentration, simply determine its direction of movement, usually south, and set up in front of it and let them come to you. This is also my preferred time of year to target tarpon and snook in the surf.
The beach snook run has already started with a few fish being reported, and it will pick up substantially, just in time for the opening of snook season on September 1st. When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, matching the run. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait drift along in the direction of tidal flow. My rig consist of a #3 Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook, a one ounce barrel sinker, and a 24” section of 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader. I also prefer to use 20-pound test braided high-vis Courtland line to improve sensitivity and avoid line twist. First, slide the barrel sinker onto the terminal end of your braided line, and then splice in the leader, the knot will allow the sinker to slide freely up the braided line, keeping it off of the leader and the hook. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Make sure your reel has the strength and line capacity to handle a large fish, so you don’t get spooled.
Outside in the deeper water, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish my preferred method is slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless steel stinger rigs. Also as the water temperatures cool, look for the large manta rays to move into shallower water bringing cobia with them. In Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet look for flounder, mangrove snapper, large redfish and snook around the jetties and other structures, and tripletail, barracuda, and cobia under the Canaveral buoy cans.
Inshore, the sea trout bite on top water plugs will increase along the deeper edges of the grass flats, with the best bite happening at first light and sunset. Also look for ladyfish, tarpon, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working ¼ ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored RipTide Realistic Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule inserted. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets into the near shore waters along the beach. Also watch for the larger redfish to begin forming up just outside Sebastian and Ponce De Leon Inlets to spawn, and feeding on small baitfish, mullet, and small blue crabs washing out with the tide.
Seminars and Events:
September 2nd 8am –12pm Rodney Smith’s Surf Fishing Tour
Port Canaveral to Satellite Beach
www.coastalanglermagazine.com
September 8th 10am – 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Information and directions 407-464-2000
September 22nd 2pm to 6pm Rodney Smith’s Fishing Land Tour
Longpoint to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
www.coastalanglermagazine.com
September 29th 10am – 3pm Ladies Social Angler Seminar
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Registration and Information 407-464-2000 or
www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com
As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 84
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 4:43 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, August 24, 2007
Complements of Mosquito Coast Outdoors, Apopka Florida
As Labor Day weekend approaches, it’s safe to say summer is losing it’s grip on us, which was evident this past week when a high pressure system pushed in from the Atlantic replacing our normal summer doldrums with some steady easterly breezes. These breezes kicked up the seas a bit and made sight fishing on the flats a bit challenging, but the fishing was good nonetheless.
Out in the big blue, the wave height reached as high as 5 feet, but as the high-pressure system shifted towards the Gulf of Mexico, the winds settled down and the wave interval spread out. Soon, these easterly breezes will become more consistent, and the mullet run will commence.
My adventures outside last week consisted of some exceptional days of catching, but finding live bait is still a challenge. They started on Saturday, when Larry Carter, JT Thompson and his son Jason joined me with the simple challenge of just finding something to pull drag. As we exited Port Canaveral we turned left (north) in search of bait, and soon found ourselves casting jigs and top water plugs in the surf north of the bight of the Cape. For those of you who haven’t heard, NASA and the Air Force have lifted the closure of the restricted zone off of the Space Center, reopening some of the best fishing grounds on Florida’s east coast. As we worked the edge, we found ourselves in the mists of a feeding frenzy consisting of jack cravelle, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish, with some tarpon and big blacktip sharks showing themselves occasionally.
Our choice in lures was Rapala Skitter Walks, Rip Roller by High Roller, D.O.A. Bait Busters, and RipTide 4-inch Mullet on and 1/4 ounce Screw Jig. When you find yourself in a situation involving so many toothy critters, it’s important to retrieve your lures very fast to avoid cut offs. If the presentation is fast, the fish are forced to chase the lure down and strike below the leader. As we progress into the mullet run, this beach fishing will only heat up, and snook in the surf will become more prevalent.
After playing with the beach fish a while, we decided to resume our search for live bait, and we left them chewing. We followed the beach north past the Shuttle Pads and I have to say it’s a great feeling cruising just off of the shoreline in a place where I never thought I would be able to fish again. We stuck close to the beach hoping to locate a stray school of pogies, but none were found, so I turned east for deeper water, and we finally located a school of threadfin (greenies) in about 50 feet of water. After we acquired about two dozen live baits, we did some trolling in the area of Pitman Rock managing one a few bonito and sharks.
Soon the east wing started to build, so I decided it was time to make the run back south towards the Port, and during the run home, we ran by a nice sailfish in 40 feet of water.
When we arrived at the buoy line, I dropped in two live baits on stinger rigs, and before we could get settled, we had kingfish smoking line off of both reels. Again the bite was hot and heavy, and we ended up catching five kingfish, several bonito, barracuda, and blacktip sharks before running out of bait and calling it a day.
Also, the Mac Attack Kingfish Tournament is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday out of Port Canaveral, so be prepared for a busy weekend at the Port.
Tip of the Week:
In the past decade, Florida’s fisheries have experienced a significant increased in the number of anglers. This increased pressure has had a direct impact on fish populations, and if we are to continue to enjoy our sport, conservation of our fishery is critical. Therefore, I encourage all anglers to acquire and utilize a catch and release tool. 80 percent of the fish we catch we release, and with a dehooker tool we can release them without touching them. To learn more about dehookers, visit ARC Dehooker’s website at http://www.dehooker4arc.com or visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida to purchase one.
Ladies, don’t forget to register for the Mosquito Creek Outdoor Ladies Social Angler Seminar and Wine Tasting scheduled for September 29th from 10am to 3pm, positions are limited. This free event is designed to teach the ladies the basic fundaments needed to enjoy fishing with their family and friends. Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Woman in The Outdoors, and Coastal Angler Magazine sponsor the event and it features speakers like Robin (Fish Girl) Folsom and Captain Rodney Smith of Coastal Angler Magazine, Captain Chris Myers D.O.A. Pro Staff, Captain Keith Kalbfleisch, and Captain Tom Van Horn RipTide Pro Staff. For more details contact me or go to www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com.
As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 83
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 2:38 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida
As the mid-summer doldrums settle in on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, summer weather patterns dominate and angling success requires a shift in tactics to beat the heat and afternoon thunderstorm. An early morning predawn start allows anglers to enjoy cooler conditions and magnificent sunrises, and have the boat trailered and home in time for a snooze in the Lazy-Boy while the afternoon storms brew outside. Once the storms have past, the window of opportunity reopens for some excellent angling conditions as the sun settles below the horizon, and after dark.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller top-water plugs. Once the sun starts to grow hot and the top-water bite will shut down, bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish close to docks and other structures adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Look for pompano schools to become more prevalent in the shadows of the causeway bridges and on the flats. Fish small pink jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs and in areas of skipping fish. Lagoon water levels are typically low, so please use caution when accessing skinny water.
Offshore, the Labrador currents have pushed in on queue, cooling down bottom temperatures and the bottom fishing a bit, which is normal this time of year. If bottom water temperature drops into the sixties, finding warmer water is the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Bite of the Cape, bringing us a mid-summer cobia run. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer making tuna a possibility for smaller boats, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running to the other side of the stream isn’t out of the question.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structures. If snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
Last but not least, I would like to inform all of the ladies about the Mosquito Creek Outdoor Ladies Social Angler Seminar and Wine Tasting scheduled for September 29th from 10am to 3pm. This free event is designed to teach the ladies the basic fundaments needed to enjoy fishing with their family and friends. Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Woman in The Outdoors, and Coastal Angler Magazine sponsors the event and it features speakers like Robin (Fish Girl) Folsom and Captain Rodney Smith of Coastal Angler Magazine, Captain Chris Myers D.O.A. Pro Staff, and Captain Tom Van Horn RipTide Pro Staff. For more details contact me or go to www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com.
As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 82
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 3:43 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors
Like the early summer sunshine, fishing opportunities are heating up in all areas along Florida’s Lagoon coast. Catch the last month of snook season on the Lagoon flats, inlets, and Beaches
On the Lagoon flats: Redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of action for light tackle and fly anglers. The water has warmed to the point where jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon are showing up in good numbers. Target these species at first light or at dusk, with top water plugs like the High Roller Florida Special or the Rapala Skitterwalk. As the day heats up, focus your attention on the deeper edges of the flats (2 to 3 feet deep) with a RipTide 4” mullet on a ¼ ounce RipTide Screw Jig.
At the inlets and beaches: Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are just some of the species available in the Lagoon inlets and beaches this month. As the baitfish migration moves north, this type of fishing will only get better.
In the ocean: Inshore, the bait pods, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), have shown up along the beach, and now is the best time to target the ocean predator shadowing these schools. It’s not uncommon to catch large redfish, jack crevalle, blacktip sharks, cobia, and tarpon from within these pods of bait. To locate bait pods, simply look for feeding birds, flipping and jumping bait, and busting fish.
Blue water: Dolphin fishing will be the focus of blue water anglers this month. This is the time of year when the big bulls are taken off the Florida space coast. The early season dolphin bite has already yielded fish in excess of 60 pounds. Also, as a bonus, the potential of taking a blue marlin or sailfish is good. Near-shore, the kingfish bite has heated up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks and cobia are still commonplace.
Fresh water: Bass fishing on the Stick Marsh and Farm 13 will be hot this month. These lakes are some of the best catch and release bass lakes in the world.
As Always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good Luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 On the Water
407-366-8085 Office
866-790-8081 Toll Free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 81
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 4:00 pm: | |
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors
One of best things about fishing is it provides us with a forced mind flush. Once we are on the water, fishing eases our mind’s tensions by forcing us to concentrate on the task at hand. Fresh air in our lungs, sunshine on our skin, and screaming drags, all serve as escapes from reality. So flush away, because spring delivers some of the hottest fishing experienced on Florida’s Indian Lagoon coast all year.
In the inlets, look for good numbers of sheepshead and black drum around structures such as jetties and docks, and Spanish mackerel, blues, and large jacks in open water. Also look for the nighttime snook and tarpon action to heat up in the Sebastian Inlet.
Offshore, April marks the beginning of the fishing season for most blue water anglers. It represents the start of the April/May northern migration of dolphin in deeper water, 120 feet and beyond, and usually brings in some of the largest bulls taken all year. April also marks the beginning of the Easter kingfish run on the near-shore reef outside Port Canaveral. It’s the time of year when most of the larger kings, 30 to 50 pounds, are taken off 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats. Additionally, look for bottom fishing to improve as the mangrove snapper begin their spring aggregation for the spawn on or near the full moon.
As we move in near-shore, tripletail should become more dependable, and look for a late season cobia run. The cobia run thus far has been one of the best experienced in years. Also look for the bait pods (pogies) to become more dependable along the beach bringing Spanish mackerel, blues, reds, mongo jacks, sharks, and smoker kingfish with them.
On the lagoon flats, fish the early morning and late evening with your favorite top water plugs for extreme trout and redfish action, and soft plastics and jigs in deeper water, 2 to 3 feet, midday. April is one of the months when trout are egg laden for the spawn, so it’s very important to handle and release the larger females with extreme care. If you are looking for snook and tarpon action, the Sebastian River will be the place to go, and as the water warms up, look for these gamesters to become more prevalent along the beaches and in the north IRL as well.
Last but not least, freshwater largemouth and striper bass action will be heating up on the St Johns River. Look for schooling bass at first light feeding on menhaden from the Osteen Bridge to Lake Harney. My favorite locations are in the river bends near the power lines at Lemmon Bluff, and at the south end of Lake Harney where the River dumps into the lake. A good way to locate these schooling fish is to look for white pelicans and other wading birds congregating along the shore. When in the feeding mode, these fish will take most swim plugs, and small live shiners. Like everywhere else this year, the water levels are extremely low, so please be careful.
In closing, I would like to thank those of you who facilitate my reports by providing me with current information and incite, and also my readers for your responses and inspiration. April is shaping up to be a very busy month for me, and between events and my charters scheduled, I only have six day left open. So if you have been thinking of booking a spring fishing adventure, give me a call before my availability is consumed.
Events Scheduled:
I am very excited about my involvement in Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo scheduled for April 20, 21, and 22, at the Melbourne Auditorium. At this year’s event, I have teamed up with Chris Myers, Ron Neff, Bill Stewart, John Kumiski, Dave Haviland, Jerry Goldsmith, and Mosquito Creek Outdoors to present our Angler’s Skill Improvement Clinics. These clinics are hands on learning opportunities where you can learn the basics or hone just your skills by learning how the seasoned anglers rig and use their tackle. The clinic schedule is listed below:
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Anglers Skill Improvement Clinics
Friday April 20th:
10:30am Rigging for Offshore Trolling, Captain Ron Neff
11:30am Rigging for Offshore Bottom Fishing, Captain Bill Stewart
12:30pm Fly Casting, Dave Haviland
1:30pm Knots Lines and Leaders, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
2:30pm Braid Line Applications, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
3:30pm Rigging Soft Plastics, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
4:30pm Kayak Fishing and Rigging, Tom Van Horn and Jerry Goldsmith
Saturday April 21st;
10:30am Rigging for Offshore Trolling, Captain Ron Neff
11:30am Rigging for Offshore Bottom Fishing, Captain Bill Stewart
12:30pm Fly Casting, Fly tying continuous John Kumiski,
1:30pm Knots Lines and Leaders, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
2:30pm Braid Line Applications, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
3:30pm Rigging Soft Plastics, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
4:30pm Kayak Fishing and Rigging, Tom Van Horn and Jerry Goldsmith
Sunday April 22nd:
10:30am Knots Lines and Leaders, Captain Chris Myers
11:30am Rigging Soft Plastic Baits, Captain Chris Myers
12:30pm Fly Casting, Dave Haviland
1:30pm Braid Line Applications, Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn
2:30pm Rigging for Offshore Trolling, Captain Ron Neff
3:30pm Rigging for Offshore Bottom Fishing, Captain Bill Stewart
On the Stage Presentations
Mark Nichols Friday, April 20 12:00 DOA
Jerry Goldsmith Friday, April 20 1:00 Kayak Fishing
Capt. Mark Wright Friday, April 20 2:00 Live Pigfish for Summertime Trout
Rob Branaugh Friday, April 20 3:00 Maintaining Your Outboard
Capt. Ron Neff Friday, April 20 4:00 Deep Jigging
Capt. Keith Kalbfleisch Friday, April 20 5:00 Near shore Fishing
Capt. Brian Clancy Saturday, April 21 11:00 Fishing the North End of Mosquito Lagoon
Capt. Budd Neviaser Saturday, April 21 12:00 Offshore for Dolphin
Capt. Jim Ross Saturday, April 21 1:00 Light-Tackle Flats 101
Capt. John Kumiski Saturday, April 21 2:00 Fly fishing for Redfish
Capt. Troy Perez Saturday, April 21 3:00 Redfish and Sea trout in Mosquito Lagoon
Capt Rodney Smith Saturday, April 21 4:00 TBD
Mark Nichols Saturday, April 21 5:00 DOA
Capt. Bill Stewart Saturday, April 21 6:00 Bottom Fishing out of Sebastian
Capt Ron Neff Sunday, April 22 11:00 Tuna
Capt. Budd Neviaser Sunday, April 22 12:00 Offshore for Dolphin
Capt. Shawn Foster Sunday, April 22 1:00 World Records, TV, and Celebrities--Stories
Capt Russ Rivers Sunday, April 22 2:00 River of Abundance--Fishing the Indian River Lagoon
Capt Tom Van Horn Sunday, April 22 3:00 Kayak Fishing
Capt. Chris Myers Sunday, April 22 4:00 East Central Coast Tarpon
For more information on the CAM Expo and to acquire a discount coupon, visit the following link: http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com/docs/flyer2CAM.pdf
As always, if you have questions or need information please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 land line
866-790-8081 toll free
407-416-1187 on the water |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 80
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 9:14 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2007
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors
As the days grow longer and warmer nature’s subtle changes signal the demise of winter and the commencement of spring on Florida’s east central coast. The sweet fragrance of citrus carried across the lagoon on the shoulders of a west wind, the magnificent bloom of the azaleas and camellias, and the brightly colored pristine buds on the maples and the cypress all signal springs arrival and the beginning of the fishing season.
The Indian River Lagoon’s unique diversity is renowned as an estuary consisting of three distinct inshore lagoons, five ocean inlets, and 156 miles of near-shore and offshore reefs all nurtured by warmth and richness Gulf Stream. Transitioning from tropical to temperate climate zones, the IRL system supports over 700 species of fish, and some of the best angling in the world, and blessed are we who live and breath the IRL.
As the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degrees, watch for the progression of baits schools (Atlantic menhaden and mullet) from deeper waters into the near-shore waters bringing the cobia and other predators with them. Additionally, warmer waters will draw manta rays into the shallows shadowed by pods of cobia. Other notable species are tripletail around the buoys and under flotsam, heavy weight jack carvalle, large redfish, and sharks following bait schools. Currently, both the cobia and the ray are concentrated in our near-shore waters ahead of schedule.
Moving out into deeper water, the spring kingfish run should begin with the smaller kings showing up around the middle of March, followed by the smokers, 30 to 50 pounds, in April on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Pelican Flats and 8A reef. If the bait moves in close to the beach, look for the larger kingfish to follow them. Also, April marks the beginning of the fishing season for many of the blue water anglers with the start of the April/May northern migration of dolphin in 120 feet of water and beyond, and the run usually includes some of the largest bulls taken all year. Again, good reports of dolphin have been coming in, also ahead of schedule.
In the inlets and along the beaches, whiting, pompano, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel should remain a staple with sheepshead and black drum holding on jetties and rock piles. As we move into the later part of April, watch for the snook and tarpon action to heat up in Sebastian Inlet, and then move north following the bait progression.
On the lagoon, rising water levels will draw the slot size redfish schools up onto the shallow flats, with the larger breeder schools holding along the deeper edges and sand bars. On the cooler days, focus your attention on sand pockets or potholes, and once the afternoon sun warms the water, look for tailing fish on the shallow flats. Also, April signals the return of finger mullet into the estuary, and the beginning early morning and late evening top water sea trout and redfish action. Remember, April is the month when sea trout become egg laden for the spawn, which happens just before the full and new moons, so it is very important to release the large females with extreme care, fore their survival is essential for the proliferation of the species.
Seminars and Events
March 10, 2007 Mosquito Creek Outdoors Conservation Day Event
Apopka Florida
Hook Kids on Fishing Program 10am – 12pm
First 100 kids receive a new fishing rod and reel.
Free fishing seminars from 12pm –3pm.
Coastal Angler Magazine’s Traveling Lagoon Booth
For a complete list of exhibitors and seminar schedule, visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com
April 19, 20, 21st Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo.
Melbourne, Florida
New Products Showcase throughout the event
Braided Fishing Line Tying Clinic
New Products Seminars
As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me,
Good luck, good fishing, and stay warm,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
If you would like to be added to this mailing list, please contact Captain Tom at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 79
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 5:28 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, December 17, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
How many times have you heard local anglers say the fishing is awful during the winter in east central Florida? I’ve heard things like it’s too windy, it’s too cold, or the fish are dormant and they don’t eat. Well you keep on believing what your hearing, and I will continue to enjoy the empty boat ramps, unpressured fish, and quality catches experienced in December and January. I have to admit rough weather conditions do make it trying at times, but if you are willing to suck it up a little, dress for the occasion, and be cautious during rough conditions, the rewards can be memorable.
The winds finally began to settle down this past week, and some great catching reports have been coming from all areas of the lagoon coast. In the Mosquito Lagoon, I received good reports of slot redfish schooling on just about every major flat from Georges Bar all the way to Whale Tail. I’ve also heard the same from other anglers and guides fishing in the North Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River Lagoon. The redfish have started to school up, and they have been holding in super skinny water. I have also heard reports of large sea trout in the same waters. As always, stealth presentation will greatly improve your numbers, and when the weather kicks up be prepared to switch tactics.
The past week, my adventures led me in three completely different directions with mixed results and some quality catches.
On Tuesday I was scheduled to remove a large hurricane damaged water oak from my front yard but rainy conditions forced a postponement, so I opted to hook up Three Quarter Time and scout the upper St Johns River south of Lake Harney for signs of early American Shad. Like the Lagoon, the water levels on the river are extremely low this year and there were no shad located. I did manage a half dozed speckled perch and a brim taken on a hot pink crazy charley fly. I did receive one report of a nice shad taken by a local angler, so they are starting to arrive. When I hear more I will let you know.
My next oppertuinty was on Friday where I ventured into the No-Motor Zone with my good friend Art Roseberry and his friend Harold Hollis. Both men are world-class anglers and Alaska residents with homes on the Kenai River. Art and I have been trying to fish the NMZ for the past several years, but every time we plan a trip, the wind blew 20 knots or better or the Zone was closed for a shuttle launch.
This time the winds were east at 10 to 15 knots with a 70% chance of rain, so we decided to suck it up and break out the Frogg Toggs. As it turned out, the wind was fishable at first, and Art was the first to score with a nice 20-pound redfish taken on a nite glow/pink tail RipTide Realistic Shrimp on a Daiichi Bleeding Bait Copperhead hook with a Woodies Rattle capsule. Art’s next fish was a nice upper slot size red, but before we knew it the wind kicked up and our sight fishing opportunities were over. Both Art and Harold have tackled king salmon over 50 pounds, and both were eager to tackle such a fish in Florida, so on my way to the lagoon I made it a point to stop by Skeeter Lagoons Bait and Tackle in Titusville and purchase 8 live blue crabs, and in this case I was glad I did. After the wind picked up, we staked out on the deeper edge of the flat and started chunking blue crab, and in the next two hours we landed five over slot redfish up to 54 inches and a nice 25-pound black drum.
On Saturday both the wind and seas were up a bit, but I couldn’t decline the offer to join my good friend Scott Bradford aboard the Afternoon Delight on an early season cobia exploration out of Port Canaveral. To add icing to the cake, Captain Rodney Smith and Scott Ashmore joined us. Scott Bradford had a hunch we would find cobia holding on the near-shore wrecks in 60 to 80 feet of water, and he was right. At our first stop, we brought five cobia to the boat with two keepers going into the icebox. The technique we were using was to drop a one-ounce Fair Water Big Bend Cobia jig tipped with squid to the bottom and then jig it back to the surface. After the bite slowed at our first stop, we headed offshore to check some other wrecks, but between the increasing winds, seas, current, and overcast skis, we were unsuccessful in locating any more fish. Another positive note was that every stop was loaded with bait, and we sighted several sky rocketing kingfish, so the fish are there.
Last but not least, Captain Rodney Smith and I have been asked to cover for Boudreaux so he can visit his momma for Christmas in Louisiana, so be sure to tune in to WQTM 740 AM Saturday morning December 23rd from 5 to 7am for the Boudreaux’s Boondocks Hunting and Fishing Radio Show, and call in and talk to us about fishing, hunting, and the outdoors.
Have a safe and happy holiday, and as always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 78
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 5:09 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 15, 2006
Captain Tom Van Horn, Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Have you ever heard the adage, “fishing is fishing, catching is catching, and they both are fun”? Well, that saying best sums up my fishing adventures this past week both on and off of the water.
After losing my fourth charter opportunity in a row to windy conditions, I was eager to begin a week of what I thought would be outstanding fishing. When my Wednesday charter canceled on me, I was determined to go fishing nevertheless. So I made a few calls and assembled a crew consisting of my good friends Don Schrier and Captain Chris Myers, and we were off to Ponce Inlet on a tip received from the Ponce Inlet fishing master Captain Fred Roberts. In the fall the large redfish typically school up in the inlet passes of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian, and they feed heavily on baitfish as they wash out of the inlet on the falling tide. As reported by Captain Fred, I knew the redfish were there, and it was just a matter of hitting the tide right.
After meeting at the ramp and launching, we tied on a couple of Sabiki rigs tipped with squid, loaded the bait well with pigfish and pinfish, and we headed to the Inlet. On arrival, we still had a couple of hours of incoming tide, and our efforts went unrewarded until the tide turned around. Shortly after the tide change, the redfish started chewing, and within two hours, we had landed ten big reds ranging from 15 to 27-pounds.
The technique we were using was a simple slip sinker rig consisting of a one-ounce barrel sinker, a split shot, and a large circle hook. I like to slide the sinker onto my line first, and then tie on a short section of 40# test fluorocarbon leader. Next, I tie on a large circle hook, and then I use the split shot to keep the barrel sinker about a foot above the hook. Once the rig is complete, hook the live bait through the nose, and simply drift through the inlet bouncing the live bait off of the bottom. This technique works well in all three inlets, the only difference is in Port Canaveral where the tidal flow is limited by the locks. At the Port, fish the area just outside the inlet working the edges of the shipping channel.
On Friday, I met with Bob Wilson and his friend Jack from Orlando, and we were off to the Troll-Poll Zone in the Mosquito Lagoon where our goal was to put Jack on his first redfish using artificial. We launch around 6am, and we were on tailing fish before the sun cleared the horizon. The only problem was the redfish thumbed their noses at our offerings, and we were off of the water by 11am, with only two fish caught. By the way, Jack did manage his first redfish caught on a RipTide Gulf Chub, Space Guppy color on a Woodies Rattle Hook, so the trip was still a successful one.
On Saturday and Sunday, I manned the Coastal Anger Magazine Traveling Lagoon Booth at the Florida Sportsman Show in Orlando. I always love working that show, and this year’s event was no disappointment. The seminar speakers were great, the attendance was good, and it was great seeing all of my old friends and making new ones at the show.
Now that I’ve covered the catching part mentioned in my opening statement, I will cover the fishing portion. On Monday, I met Sam and Judy Ferlita from the Tampa area, who were celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary at the Night Swan Bed and Breakfast in New Smyrna. I knew the tide was wrong for the inlet, so we opted to try the Mosquito Lagoon. We launched around 7am, and fished in the south end of the Lagoon for about two hours with no success. Sam was hoping to tangle with one of our legendary breeder redfish. The windy conditions were a hindrance, so after a couple of hours we loaded the skiff and headed off to the Inlet. After acquiring bait, we arrived at the Inlet just as the tide started in and although the weather was gorgeous, we called it quits around 4pm without ever getting a decent bite. I dislike reporting the tough days like this one, but I feel it is important to be as honest as I can because they do happen from time to time, and although the day was tough, we fished hard and we had a great time...
In closing, the weather for tomorrow looks ominous, but the front is predicted to pass through quickly with a good stretch of favorable conditions forecasted for the weekend, just in time for my 22nd annual week long Sebastian Inlet escape. So stay tuned for my next episode, and if you are fishing in Sebastian next week, keep an eye out for the Three Quarter Time and swing by and say hello.
Also, for those of you who are interested in holiday gift certificates, I am offering a $50.00 discount for 2007 certificates paid in advance.
As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good Luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 77
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 2:54 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, November 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
November on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida sets the stage for some of the best fishing experienced all year by Florida east coast anglers. Record cold temperatures have already dropped water temperatures into the seventies along the beach and offshore, and falling water temperatures will increase the feeding activity of larger species. Shorter days, northeast swells, cooler waters, all act as a dinner bell for larger fish preparing for the onset of winter.
As water temperatures cool, look for cobia and tripletail to begin showing up on the Port Canaveral Buoy line and on flotsam, both near-shore and offshore. When you find weeds and other debris, look for tripletail to be hanging just below the floating structure. Live shrimp and small jigs tipped with shrimp work well when targeting these brim on steroids. It is also important to keep the sun to your back to improve your range of sight, and to keep a medium heavy rod rigged with a one-ounce chartreuse or white buck tail jig ready to throw to any cruising cobia. Also, look for the fall kingfish run to commence as well and an occasional sailfish or black fin tuna on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like 8A and Pelican Flats.
November is one of the best months to target snook at Sebastian Inlet. In addition, large flounder and oversized redfish have begun to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets of Ponce De Leon and Sebastian, and their numbers will increase as the flounder begin their seaward migration out of the lagoon. Also, lets not forget the influx of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and black tip sharks shadowing schools of finger mullet and glass minnows along the beach.
On the inside, look for pompano to begin to form up and move off of the lagoon flats thought the inlets, and invade the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food. Currently, reports of pompano skipping have been coming from anglers working the flats in various locations within the Lagoon. Also look for large schools of ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and sea trout to be feeding on the migrating schools of glass minnows as they move south through the Lagoon.
Sight fishing this past month for redfish has was tough due to higher water levels and tons of finger mullet, but water levels have begun to drop and the early arrival of cold air and cooling water has the redfish schooling up again, and the large sea trout showing up on the skinny flats. Additionally, a good numbers of quality black drum and some gag grouper will begin to occupy the deeper channels of the ICW and areas around bridges and power structures throughout the lagoon.
Last but not least, the tailing black drum and redfish have shown up early on the flats of the Banana River No-Motor Zone. If you have never experienced black drum tailing in a foot of water, it is worth the long paddle. When targeting black drum in the zone, concentrate your efforts on the deeper side on the sandbars that parallel the west shore. When you locate tailing black drum and redfish, try throwing crab or shrimp imitation artificial baits or a black Clouser fly, and chunks of blue crab or live shrimp work well for natural baits.
As always, if you need more information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 land line
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
If you would like to be added to Captain Tom’s mailing list, reply to this message at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 76
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 5:56 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, October 22, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Well folks, this week’s fishing adventures picked up right where they left off with hungry fish chewing in all areas of the Lagoon Coast. The mullet run is in full swing, and predator species were happy and hungry.
My adventures started on Monday where Mark Blythe joined me for what we hoped would be a day of kayak fishing in the No-Motor Zone. When we arrived at our planned launch site stiff easterly breezes swayed our strategy, and with the yaks still strapped to the roof of the truck we headed to the beach. Operating on good information, I knew the bait was thick in the surf, and our chance for some serious action was good.
When we arrived at the beach, the mullet schools were heavy and tight to the shoreline and hungry bluefish and jacks were busting them as far as the eye could see. Both Mark and I selected various top water plugs, and we were rewarded with continuous action for the next six hours. When it was all said and done, our best estimate was at least 50 fish, and at least 50.00 worth of Storm Chug Bugs, Rapala Skitter Walks, Top Dogs, DOA Bait Busters, and anything else in the tackle box that floated and had hooks.
During the mullet run, bait schools move south along the beach in waves or pulses, so it is important to focus on areas with active bait schools. If you arrive at your planned location and the bait schools are slim, keep moving. Also, heavy surf tackle is not a must, because most of the action is in close and you never know what species you will encounter, so beef up your line size and leader.
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of fishing Port Canaveral in the morning with Captain Chris Myers, and our strategy was to scout the area for my planned afternoon charter. We located heavy bait schools on the sandbar east of the drawbridge, and Chris filled the bait well in two casts. Although we found heavy bait concentrations in the back of the port, we found little or no finger mullet around the jetties or along the beach. In the past, mid October has produced flounder and redfish in along the deeper channel ledges, and we managed seven keeper flounder up to three pounds dragging live finger mullet along the bottom.
At 3pm, John and Justin from Orlando joined me and with plenty of choice mullet still in the live well, we headed back out to the ship channel for another swing at the flounder. On our arrival both the wind and tide had gained momentum, but both John and Justin were seasoned anglers who’s efforts were rewarded with four nice flounder and a chunky redfish. We returned to the back of the Port for some after hour’s snook action, but although the mullet schools were thick and being worked over by predators, we only managed one hefty ladyfish.
On Friday I had an inshore charter on the north Indian River Lagoon where I was joined by Dusty McClung, and his friends Shadd and Rick. As we motored away from the launch at 7am, we immediately located a school of hungry ladyfish, and the top water plug action was fast and furious for the first hour. Next, we motored to a nearby shoreline and we commenced to catching slot size redfish using chunked ladyfish for bait.
The majority of the redfish I’ve encountered this past few weeks have been mixed in with mullet schools very close to the shoreline. Most of our fish were taken in the area of the smaller mullet, and they were not concentrated in schools. Also, the fish seem to be following bait schools parallel with the shoreline, and we experienced our best results by shutting down the engine about 500 feet from the shore, and the poling into our spot very quietly.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line
886-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 75
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 12:51 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Shorter days and cooler nights are a sure sign fall is in the air along Florida’s east central coast. Another sure sign of fall is the waves of baitfish working their way south through the lagoon and along the beach as the fall bait run commences. Hordes of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) have begun their southerly migration in search of warmer waters. This migration creates a smorgasbord of yummy little baitfish, shadowed by a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter.
Weather permitting, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf will improve as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up bringing larger Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon with them.
In and around the inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian look for flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. Easterly swells, falling tides, and aggressive anglers can make for sporty angling conditions, so please pay attention, be patient, and enjoy the rewards.
In the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, higher water levels will allow anglers to venture into areas normally inaccessible during the spring and summer months. Look for slot redfish in close to the grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet, and for the larger redfish staged in deeper water ambush sites where migrating mullet are forced to venture out from the safety of the shallow flats. In deeper water areas, look for ladyfish, spotted sea trout, jacks, and tarpon feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools of fish are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. Once located, these schools will produce explosive action on small top water plugs, or popping bug flies. Also, if you locate a school of the larger black mullet, try fishing spoons of soft plastic baits deep under the school. Even though, mullet are vegetarians, redfish and sea trout will often mingle in feeding on shrimp and crabs kicked up from the bottom by feeding mullet.
In closing, October is one of the best months to fish on the IRL coast, and I would like to mention several worthy and fun fishing events scheduled in October. The first is the Hunt for Reds Tournament held in Titusville on October 7th & 8th, with proceeds going to the Central Florida Arthritis Foundation and subscriptions to Florida Sportsmen Magazine going to serviceman overseas. On Saturday starting at 12pm, local lagoon experts will conduct free fishing seminars on how to target and catch those slot size redfish, and yours truly will be kicking off the classes covering natural bait techniques. The hunt is a slot redfish spot tournament, and for information on how to sign up, visit http://www.huntforreds.com.
The second event is the Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic CPR Tournament sponsored by Coastal Angler Magazine and Chowders Restaurant, which is scheduled on October 20th and 21st. The IRL Fall Classic is a fun family catch-photograph-release tournament where anglers target six different species of fish, and all proceeds go to Central Florida kids fishing programs and Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation. For information on this event pick up an October issue of Coastal Angler Magazine or visit the following link at: http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com/modules.php?name=News&file=articl e&sid=162.
Good luck and good Fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 74
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 4:34 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 20, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Well, the love bug hatch is in full swing, the goldenrods are blooming, and our first substantial cold front has moved through Central Florida dropping our nighttime temperatures into the sixties. All of these are signs of fall on the Indian River Lagoon Coast, and they are all indications that the fall mullet run is in full swing. Silver mullet are a tropical fish species spending their summers growing up in the backwaters of the estuaries, and then migrating south in schools for the winter.
My angling opportunities this past week were limited to only two days on the water, with three days of fishing shows mixed in. This report starts on the Monday the 11th where I had the pleasure to fish with Ed Hadly and his friend Joey from Orlando, and both are avid Lagoon anglers. A weak cool front was trying to push in, so we were faced with a brisk wind from the south. We started our day before daylight heading over to the east shore of the Mosquito Lagoon. Seeking shelter from the wind, we tucked behind an east-west point and quickly located some scattered slot size redfish, catching three on top-water plugs. When that bite slowed, we moved over to the Tiger Shoals Push Pole Zone, and finished our day sight fishing, catching three more slot fish on Gulp Shrimp and Bass Assassin jerk baits. Throughout the day, we located some nice schools of red, but the chop on the water made them difficult to locate between fish.
On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked the Henry’s Fishing Tackle Show in Orlando in support of Evolution Rods. Several years’ back, I was fortunate enough to join the pro staff of Evolution, and I can honestly say they are the strongest and most sensitive rods I have ever used. Evolution Rods are made of solid carbon fiber, which gives them a small diameter, extreme backbone, and supper sensitive feel (http://www.lippertools.com).
On Saturday, it was off to West Palm Beach to attend the Florida Sportsman Fishing Show in support of Freedom Hawk Kayaks (www.freedomhawkkayaks.com). The Freedom 14 is a new kayak designed specifically for fishing. The aft of the kayak is divided into two wings that spread out with the flip of a handle to create a stable platform for standing and sight fishing.
Yesterday, I ventured into the NMZ with my good friend Larry Carter, and despite a blustery south wind, we did fairly well. We launch our kayaks on the west shoreline around 8am, and before long, we located schools of mullet getting hammered on the outside edge of thickly matted floating widgeon grass. The grass was matted up from the shoreline to about a foot of water, and the larger fish would jet out from under the grass and bust the mullet as they passed by. We began working small top water plugs alone the edge of the floating grass, and we were rewarded by many explosive strikes. When it was all said and done, we ended the day with three snook to 30 inches, one slot redfish, several nice sea trout, and a hefty jack. At one point, I switch to weedless soft plastic bait, and as I would reel it across the surface of the grass, the larger fish would knock holes in the flotsam trying to get the bait, but I never managed to hook up.
Besides my adventures this week, I have heard nothing but good reports from other anglers and guides, so if you have been waiting for the fishing action to heat up, you need to break out the tackle and hit the water.
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Post Number: 73
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 3:20 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
As hurricane season progresses and the summer squalls move north in the Atlantic, the prevailing summer breezes will begin to switch from the southeast to the northeast. This transition signals the beginning of the fall migration of all critters preferring warmer climates. These gradual shifts also marks the beginning of the fall fishing season as hordes of baitfish, primarily silver mullet, and predatory species begin their southerly migration along the beach and through the Indian River Lagoon.
In my experience, baitfish move south in pulses or waves, rather than a continuous flow, so finding the bait is the key to catching fish. One day a particular location will be loaded with bait, and the next day they will be gone. It’s hard to predict the magnitude and duration of the run, but it recent indications prove true, this years run will start early, and like last year, progressing into October and November. Currently bait pods are forming up in all areas of the lagoon, and small concentration of baitfish have already made their presence known around the Port Canaveral jetty and along the beach in the Sebastian area.
Look for snook, tarpon, redfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and large kingfish crushing and shadowing bait pods all along the beach. The bait pods are easily located by watching for birds diving and fish working the bait on the surface. Once you’ve located the bait concentration, simply determine its direction of movement, usually south, and set up in front of it and let them come to you. This is also my preferred time of year to target tarpon and snook along the beach.
The beach snook run has already started with a few fish being reported, and it will begin to pick up substantially, just in time for the opening of snook season on September 1st. When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, match the hatch. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait drift along in the direction of tidal flow. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep your bait in the strike zone.
Near-shore, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish, slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless steel stinger rigs is the preferred method. Also as the water temperatures cool, look for the large rays to move into shallower water bringing cobia with them. In Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet look for flounder, mangrove snapper, redfish and snook around the jetties and other structures, and tripletail, barracuda, and cobia under the Canaveral buoy cans.
Inshore, sea trout are still plentiful on the deeper edges of the grass flats, with the best bite happening at first light and sunset. Also look for ladyfish, tarpon, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working ¼ ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored RipTide Realistic Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule inserted. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets into the near shore waters along the beach. Also watch for the larger redfish to begin forming up just outside Sebastian Inlet feeding on small baitfish and small blue crabs washing out with the tide.
As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 72
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 5:17 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, August 13, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The dog days of summer have settled in along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, and fishing is still first rate as long as you don’t mind the heat. Fish early in the day, late in the evening, at night, and drink lots of water. So far, thank goodness, Doctor Gray and all of the those fine scientist who make a living attempting to predict Mother Nature’s fury have missed the boat, and our hurricane season is off to a slow start. Correspondingly, the lack of tropical squalls has extended the summer doldrums creating ideal sea conditions for fishing along the beaches and further offshore.
Fishing near-shore alone the beach this week has been exceptional, as long as can find warmer water temperatures and bait concentrations. The coldwater Labrador Current has arrived dropping surface water temperatures into the 70-degree range, so keep moving until you find fish. Several areas reporting good catches this week were along the beach south of Patrick AFB, near the shoals north of buoys 2 and 4 out of Port Canaveral, and outside of Ponce De Leon Inlet, and the primary species taken have been kingfish, cobia, large jacks, sharks, and bonito.
Most anglers have been slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden), greenies (tread fin herring), and cigar minnows (Spanish Sardines). To catch live bait, look for bait flipping and birds diving in shallow water, and use a cast net. In deeper water and around the buoys, try jigging with a sabiki rig in visible bait pods. It is also important to keep your bait lively, so an adequate bait storage system will improve your results. Although live bait is preferred, paddlers trolling swimming plugs just outside the surf line have boated some quality kingfish this week, from a yak nonetheless!
Inside the Lagoon, water levels are extremely low. In many areas, heavy floating weed mat has made a top water presentation frustrating, but that’s not to say that the top water action is not good, it just requires some patience.
The hot bite this week has been the schools of ladyfish and jacks pounding schools of glass minnows (bay anchovies) out in deeper water. All you need to do is look for birds diving and dipping for bait, and target those areas. Once you’ve located the frenzy, throw small top-water plugs like the Storm Chug Bug or Rapala Twitching Shad, and hold on. If fly-fishing is your gig, any top-water popping bug will produce fast and furious action. Additionally, sea trout are always present underneath these schools of bait, so a jig with a shrimp or mullet imitation bait like the RipTide Realistic Shrimp or Swimmin Mullet with a Woodies Rattle capsule inserted will produce results equally as well.
With the low water levels, redfish have moved into the deeper pockets on and around the flats, and they are super spooky, so your best results will come in the early morning and late evening. Targeting them has been similar to winter pattern, where you find fish in concentrated area. Additionally, look for schools along the deeper edges of exposed shoals.
Last but not least, if you would like to introduce a child to fishing, or maybe just improve their skills, Coastal Angler Magazine’s Hook Kids on Fishing program will be conducting a free kids fishing clinic, on Saturday August 26th from 9 to 11am at Kelly Park on Merritt Island. This program is conducted with the support of lagoon volunteers, and sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and the Florida Guides Association. All kids must be accompanied by an adult, and if you need more information, visit the CAM website at www.coastalanglermagazine.com, or contact me and I will hook you up.
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 71
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 2:23 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. So far, the summer squalls have stayed away, and as long as they do, fishing along the beaches and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
The Labrador currents have pushed in on queue, cooling down bottom temperatures and the bottom fishing to a lesser degree than normal in some areas along Florida’s east coast. With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running to the other side of the stream isn’t out of the question.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller top-water plugs. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will shut down, and bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs. Lagoon water levels are extremely low, so please use caution when accessing skinny water.
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on Florida’s east central coast for your courteous and respectful treatment of the resource, other anglers, and the sport, and as always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 70
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 2:30 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
One of the major tribulations one encounters along the 156-mile stretch of the Indian River Lagoon coast during the summer is which one of the many angling prospects will I pursue. With over 700 documented species of fish calling the east coast of Florida home, this diversity can make for some tough decisions. Will I fish offshore in the blue water, near-shore along the reefs, in close off of the beach, inshore in the lagoon, decisions, decisions, decisions? Well, this is always a good problem to have, and whatever you decide, don’t miss the boat on some of the best fishing experienced all year.
As always, nature holds the upper hand in setting the stage for water conditions and fish behavior, and during the summer, two major phenomenons influence the extent of the bite. First, we have our beloved summer squalls ushered in on the shoulders of a tropical fetch, for which we have become too familiar. Secondly, an upwelling known as the Labrador Current pushes up from the depths of the sea, chilling down ocean temperatures from the bottom up. Both occurrences can have a major impact, but their duration and magnitude is anyone’s guess.
Offshore in the Gulf Stream, water temperatures are fairly consistent, with July and August being excellent months to target yellow fin tuna for those willing to make the long run east (70 to 150 miles). July also marks the beginning of the mid summer doldrums bring calmer seas, making the long ride to the other smoother.
Bottom fishing will remain good in July, but once the cold water begins to push in, many species will either move in closer to shore seeking warmer water, or hightail it south. Depending on the magnitude of the coldwater influx, some blue water species will move inshore along the reefs and wrecks like Chris Benson, 8A, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, and cobia serving as the primary species. Also, cooler water has the tendency to push manta rays up on to the sandy shoals off of Cape Canaveral, bringing cobia with them.
Along the beaches, look for silver kings (large tarpon), smoker kings (large kingfish), blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of pogies (Atlantic menhaden), greenies (thread fin herring), glass minnows (bay anchovies), in close to shore. Also, look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember, snook are out of season, so if you target them, please handle and release them with extreme care.
Angling in the inlets will continue to show improvement with the larger tarpon, large redfish, jacks and sharks working bait pods during periods of out going tide, and Spanish mackerel and bonita working the smaller glass minnows.
Moving in-shore into the lagoon, target sea trout and redfish on the flats in areas of mullet schools using top water plugs during the early morning late afternoon hours, and at night. Once the sun grows hot and the top water bite slows, switch to live bait (pigfish) or jigs fished on the deeper edges of the flats. Also, July and August is the time of year when large schools of ladyfish and smaller sea trout shadow the schools of glass minnows in the deeper water. Last but not least, look for the pompano schools to be moving into the shadows around the causeway bridges where a well placed Shrimp imitation jig like the RipTide Realistic Shrimp with a Woodie’s Rattle insert tipped with either sand fleas or fresh shrimp, will place one of the sweet tasting critters on the grill for supper.
During this holiday weekend, let us not forget those who have in the past, and are now defending our freedom, because without their sacrifice and commitment, our liberty would be challenged.
Good luck and good fishing and happy Independence Day,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 0ffice
866-790-8081 Toll free
If you would like to be added to my fishing report mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
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Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 69
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 3:36 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, June 26, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The summer rains have finally started to arrive with relative consistency here on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. A weak sub-tropical low-pressure system settled in just north of the Bahamas, answering our prayers by delivering some relief from the persistent drought we been experiencing this year. Over the last week, stormy conditions have prevailed, but that doesn’t mean the fish aren’t biting.
Although our afternoons have been occupied by the sounds of distant thunder, our mornings have been serene and calm. As the afternoon storms build, they quickly dissipate and move seaward. Their remnants are converted into a pre-dawn light show visible in the eastern sky over the Gulf Stream. During these predawn hours, unruffled winds turn the lagoon into a sheet of glass, perfect conditions for sight fishing. Additionally, the distant thunderheads over the Atlantic distort the suns rising rays fabricating magnificent sunrises, and cloud’s shadows extend the periods of low light, facilitating the top-water bite.
Such was the case last week, as I poled Three Quarter Time in the direction of a group of happy redfish, and my client MO was hooked up and landed a 42-inch 28-pound redfish before the sun cleared the horizon. The fish gods had certainly smiled upon us, as two more groups of tails become visible in the distance. At one point, the challenge was to decide which school to pursue, and before 9am, Mo had successfully boated and released 97-pounds of redfish. I know 97-pounds sounds like a lot of fish, but the interesting leg of the equation is that only four fish were caught. The first was caught on a chunk of fresh crab, the second on a live finger mullet, and the third and fourth were taken on chunks of mullet
On Saturday, I relinquished my charter time by volunteering to assist the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Sport Fish Association with the Port Canaveral Kids Fishing Day. I haven’t heard the final count, but I’m willing to guess that over a thousand kids attended the event, and all of the sweat bestow by the volunteers was well worth it. Saturday was the fourth time I assisted at the clinic, and each time the event grows larger. It’s extremely important to introduce the pleasures of fishing to these kids, because they are the future of the resource, and they will be the ones who will have to clean up our mess.
As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 68
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 9:23 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Charters, May 9, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
I always enjoy writing about my notable fishing adventures. I enjoy sharing my experiences, and I enjoy reading and hearing about the significant catches others talk and write about. There is much one can learn from these yarns, good and bad. For the most part, fishing stories are about the pleasant days on the water not tough ones. Well, if you are wondering where I’m going with this lead into my report, you can suffice to say that the fishing was great this past week; it was the catching that varied.
My week consisted of two charters in the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons, and a two day adventure to the other side, (Florida’s west coast) on a quest to add Megalops cyprinoids, (big eyed fish or silver king) to my fly catching conquest. Out of the four days, all were magnificent days of fishing, but only one significant fish was caught.
Out of the two days on the lagoon, the first was a challenge due to windy conditions, and after hours of polling into the wind and casting at schooling redfish, we returned to the dock stinking to high heavens. Don’t get me wrong, we were on fish, but between poor visibility and difficult conditions, our shots were limited. On several occasions, we had schooling redfish swim directly over both live shrimp and fresh blue crab, but apparently they were on a seafood diet. I once heard a wise angler say that any guide can but his clients on fish, but a good guide always puts his anglers on hungry and stupid fish. Well, I guess I fall into the any guide category, because these fish were anything but stupid or hungry.
Our luck was a little better on my second lagoon charter, but heavy weekend angling pressure closed the door on the bite shortly after it started. We were on the tailing fish at dawns first light and we landed and released a nice 25 pound redfish before the sun cleared the horizon, but before we could get a second shot at the fish, several enthusiastic anglers moved in and chased the fish from the flat with their electric trolling motors.
In my last report, I mentioned targeting and putting my clients on several of the larger trophy redfish for which the northern Indian River Lagoon is famous. Several readers questioned why I pursue these larger breeders. Well, in my defense, I am a fishing guide, and many of my clients book me specifically to catch a trophy redfish. In the name of customer service, I’m obliged to do so. You will never see me catch and release more than a few trophy fish from a school on any given day. My question to my critics is how do you catch trophy redfish (breeding size, 28-inches and larger) during the summer without targeting the schools? I see it as my job to meet the request of my clients to the best of my ability, and many of them travel a considerable distance at a considerable expense to catch a trophy. The tactics I utilize are to quietly poll into areas known to hold fish, catch a trophy for each of my clients, and then leave the fish for another day. I refuse to pound the breeder schools like many anglers do, and the vast majority of my clientele understand and agree with my tactics and my return business is testimony to that.
On my next two days of fishing, I was more than excited by the invitation to venture to the Pine Island Sound area to fly fish for monster tarpon by one of my fishing mentors and veteran fly guide Captain John Kumiski. Captain John normally guides anglers on the lagoon coast, but for the last seven years, he has shifted the mode of operation to the Pine Island and Captivia Island area during May and June to target the tarpon run. I was also fortunate to have the company of Captain Chris Myers, and together, you would thing that three professional guides fishing from the same boat would equal fish, not!!!
This was the first time I’ve ever targeted tarpon on the west coast, and the sight of 30 or more 100 plus pound fish just swimming in lazy circles in clear shallow water was breath taking. We fished both Tuesday and Wednesday, and on both days Captain John put us on one school of chaining tarpon after another, and we cast to hundreds of fish and still couldn’t get one fish to eat. We trough almost every fly in Captain John’s arsenal, and we couldn’t raise a fish. The highlight of the trip was when Captain Chris was casting into a large school not less than 30 feet from the boat, when he strip set what he thought was a substantial fish, and to his surprise and disappointment, a ladyfish tail walked across the water and the poons just kept chaining in front of us like nothing happened. Even though I was unsuccessful in accomplishing my goal this year, I was more than satisfied in just seeing those fish, learning from both John and Chris, and at least now I have something to look forward to next year. If any of you are interested in catching a giant tarpon, contact Captain John Kumiski at www.spottedtails.com.
As always, if you have any questions of need more information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 66
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:16 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 29th, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The heat is on, and I wish I could say the same for the catching last week on the Lagoon. Don’t get me wrong, every client who fished with me last week caught quality fish, but getting the fish to eat was tough to say the least. It wasn’t difficult locating schools of large redfish, but getting they to eat required several hours of poling and casting before we could find one without lockjaw.
My first charter was with Walt and Dwayne Simpson from the Homosassa area, and our mission was to target sea trout on top-water plugs. A few days earlier, the trout bite was hot, but as we approached the new moon, it had shut down considerable. We started out working a submerged island at first light, and between Dwayne and Walt, we managed a half a dozen slot size trout each on a red and white Papa Dog and chartreuse Chug Bug. The bite was slow for the remainder of the day, so we opted for the big fish, and ended up catching a nice 20-pound redfish before calling it a day.
On my next adventure I was once again honored to fish with repeat customers Kent and Brent Roberts, a father and son team from Orlando, and on this occasion, Kent’s sister Kim joined us with hopes of catching her first jumbo redfish in celebration of her birthday. I always love fishing with anglers like Kent, Brent, and Kim. They were so excited about catching fish; they couldn’t sleep, and they beat me to the launch at 5:15 in the morning.
I knew from the day before that the bite was going to be tough, and our first stop proved my thoughts true yielded no fish. The weather conditions were perfect, baitfish were everywhere, but I couldn’t locate the school. Next, we moved the sunken island where we found a decent trout bite earlier in the week, but still no fish. Finally, our persistence paid off when I located a school of large redfish in about four feet of water.
Although we had finally located the fish, they were swimming deep and hard to see. The school turned their noses to our offerings, but after an hour of shadowing them, Kim got her wish when she hooked and landed a nice 30-pound class redfish. Brent was next, followed by his father, and we ended the day with a double hook-up by Kent and his sister Kim. All in all, four redfish 25 to 30 pound class were caught and released, and Kim’s birthday wishes were granted.
Kent and Kim Roberts with a Hefty IRL Copper Queen
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 65
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 8:29 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 9, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
In celebration of my birthday and my 25th wedding anniversary, my adventures this past week led me away from the water and into the streets of St. Augustine.. Although this short vacation drew me away from the water, I still managed to sneak away to squeeze in a few days of fishing.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, I celebrated my birthday, accompanied by my longtime friend Larry Peterson, with a day of fishing on the St. Johns River. You see Larry and I started celebrating our birthdays together 33 years ago, with a standing tradition of fishing during the day and partying at night.
Our day started as we launched before daylight at the Hwy 46 ramp south of Lake Haney. We first headed north to the mouth of the lake where we found several small pods of menhaden pushing up and down the shoreline shadowed by groups of small largemouth bass, and we ended up catching a dozen or so on top water plugs. After the morning bite slowed, we move upstream just south of the 46 Bridge, and found fish again holding along the steep banks. Both of us were throwing old standbys, Dalton Special, and Bango-Lure, and the bass were eager to play. Together we landed 32 largemouth bass up to three pounds. One important note, like all areas of Central Florida, the water levels were extremely low, so some caution is need when navigating south of Lake Harney.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of fishing with my good friends Steve Chapman and Rodney Smith, and we started our day working jigs in the surf. Two day before our trip, Rodney fished the same area, and was successful in landing several snook up to 34-inches, a flounder, a redfish, a black drum, and several jacks. Although his success was noteworthy, the catching was not as good for us. The tide was low, and we ended up with only one sea trout each, with Steve’s being a nice 4 to 5 pound fish. We than moved to a small drainage creek, where we managed a large number of baby snook on fly and jigs.
Although I was off of the water most of the week, I did receive some good reports of large sea trout being taken on top-water plugs in the north Indian River Lagoon and the southern end of Mosquito Lagoon. The anglers I talked to, reported catching most of their fish working the larger plugs like the Top Dogs and Skitterwalks in the deeper areas of 3 to 4 feet. Also, I have good and bad news for you. The good news is the Max Brewer Bridge is scheduled reopening on May 15th, and the bad news is the FLW Redfish Tour will be back in town on the following weekend, May19th and 20th.
Offshore, good numbers of both kingfish and dolphin were reported between 95 to 150 feet of water, with some good weed lines present, but our typical May pattern of a hot bite one day and a slow bite the next is at hand. Also, many anglers are having difficulty catching live bait in the Port and along the beach this week, so be prepared to jig live bait off of the buoys and other hard bottom. In addition, there is another large tournament out of Port Canaveral this coming weekend, so please be patient and courteous when launching and fishing in these areas.
Last but not least, if the thought of fishing the lagoon with the FLW boys in town has you down, come visit me at the Coastal Angler Magazine Fishing and Boating Expo in Melbourne on May 19th, 29th, and 21st. I will be conducting a braided line clinic focusing on light tackle inshore applications and conducting seminars called New Tackle, New Applications. This event is a combination Boat Show and Tackle Show, with continuous seminars by prominent angling professionals, and the Get Kids Hooked On Fishing Clinic. For more information on the event, check out the following link: http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=8
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 64
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:25 pm: | |
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
There may be some truth in the saying “the one who dies with the most toys wins”, but life’s true successes are not measured by fiscal value. Instead, they are measured by the personal rewards one receives only through hard work, dedication, commitment, passion for life, and the love and respect of others. This past weekend, I was once again humbled and honored by the opportunity to guide a team of anglers in the 6th annual Mosquito Lagoon Redbone Celebrity Catch and Release Tournament to catch a cure for cystic fibrosis. Many young lives are challenged by this affliction, but many positive strides have and will continue to be made through research funded by the generous donation of anglers and guides fishing for a cure. This year, the fishing and weather was tough, but all who attended had a great time, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.
Longer days and increasing water temperatures both set the stage for increasing fishing opportunities experienced in May on Florida’s Indian River lagoon Coast. May is one of the best months to fish Florida’s east coast, with outstanding opportunities both inshore and offshore.
Near-shore along the beaches, focus your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (Atlantic menhaden or pogies). Pay close attention to concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface. Large game fish pressure these schools from underneath, and the level of feeding activity underneath is usually proportionate to the activity above the surface. Species feeding on these pods include silver kings (tarpon), reef donkeys (large jack cervalle), redfish, cobia, and sharks, and, near the end of the month, you can add smoker kings (large kingfish) into the mix. Also, tripletail and flounder numbers should be improving around the Port Canaveral buoys. At the inlets and beaches, Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum are just some of the species available this month.
Blue water trolling should be excellent in May, with the larger dolphin being the focus of most anglers. Also in the mix are tuna, wahoo, kingfish, sailfish, and an occasional marlin. When targeting these species, work areas of color and water temperature changes (lines) in 120 feet of water or deeper, and in areas of concentrated floating weeds and debris. In addition, don’t forget that kingfish and cobia are present on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Bethel Shoals, Pelican Flats, Chris Benson, and 8A reefs.
On the lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of the action for light tackle spin and fly anglers. For sea trout, fish your favorite top-water plugs at first light in about two feet of water concentrating in areas were you see active bait. After the morning top-water bite fades, switch to your favorite soft plastic jig, like the RipTide 3” swimming mullet with a Woodies rattle capsule inserted, fished in three to five feet of water alone the edges of flats or spoil islands. Additionally, the water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. Currently, the Port Canaveral Locks and the power plants in Port Saint John are loaded with jacks and ladyfish. May also marks the last month of snook season on Florida’s east coast, so don’t miss out on your last chance at putting a linesider in the boat.
In closing, be sure to mark your calendar for the Coastal Angler Magazine Fishing and Boating Expo, to be held at the Melbourne Auditorium may 19th, 20th, and 21st, and the FishStock event held in New Smyrna Beach on Memorial day weekend.
http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com/modules.php?name=News&file=articl e&sid=69
As always, if you need more information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 Toll free
If you would like to be added to my mailing list, just reply back to captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 63
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 1:55 pm: | |
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 10, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Just the other morning, I found myself once again perched along the Lagoon’s edge to observe the sunrise. The sky was deep blue with the exception of the sun’s fiery orange fingers, which reached up through the darkness and glistened across the lagoon’s surface like a million tiny mirrors. From my vantage point I watched a small school of nervous mullet fry drawn out of a backwater creek into the deeper flat by the diminishing water levels experienced in spring. On the deep side of the baitfish school a large redfish slowly herded them inward closer and closer to the shore. On the edge of the shoreline several happy reddish egret took advantage of the occasion as they drove the baitfish back out dipping and flaring their wings. Soon a school of jack crevelle and some more herons and egrets joined in, as the feeding frenzy intensified. Working together they feasted on the terrified mullet fry until the morning sun cleared the horizon.
For years I’ve observed the relationship between predators and pray and such is the cycle of life on the lagoon. When the April moon reaches it full phase in a few days, sow trout will be call in for the spawn by the smaller drumming males. This activity coincides with the hatch of the mullet and the higher salinity levels of the lagoon, and it signals the return of the top water plug action for trout and redfish.
Small surface plugs like the Chug-Bug, Pop-R, and Johnny Rattler fished, worked, as close to the edge of the shore will produce some explosive action. These fish are aggregated for the spawn, so they should be handled and released with extreme care to help maintain future populations. Once the top water bite diminishes, try working the deeper edges (two to three feet) using soft plastic jigs like the Riptide Realistic Shrimp with a Woodie’s Rattle Insert or Woodie’s Rattling Hook. Another positive sign for the fishery is the number of rat reds being caught and released in the Mosquito Lagoon this year. With a rapid growth rate, redfish reach the minimum slot size in just two years (18 inches), and the maximum slot size (27 inches) at three years when they become sexually mature. With this in mind, we should see a banner year for redfish in 2007.
In closing, I would like to wish everyone a happy Easter, and I hope to see you on the water soon. As always, if you have any questions on need further information, please contact me.
Upcoming events and seminars:
Coastal Angler Magazines Fishing and Boating Expo held at the Melbourne Civic Auditorium, May 19th, 20th, and 21st. I will be conducting a braided line clinic sponsored by Ande Line. Come learn the ins and outs of light tackle fishing with braided line. http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com/modules.php?name=News&file=articl e&sid=69
Sports Fishing Magazine’s FishStock 2006 in New Smyrna Beach on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27th, 28th. I will be conducting a new tackle clinic called “New Gear, New Applications”. Come visit me, and we will review what is new in the fishing tackle industry. http://www.fishstock.com/index.jsp
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 60
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 2:13 am: | |
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
For number of reasons, I always look forward to the glorious bloom of my lavender Formosa azaleas. Their brilliant colors are not only pleasing to the eye, but they also signal the end of winter and the beginning of the spring bait migration. As the days grow longer and the ocean begins it’s gradual warming phase, 68 to 72 degree range, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian Lagoon Coast kicks in. As usual, weather will serve as the determining factor in establishing the magnitude and progression of the bite, and forecasting Florida weather is left only to fools and Yankees. Also, like the bloom of the delicate azaleas, the bite will sometimes pass quickly before you have a chance to really experience it.
Water temperature increases will facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden or pogies) from the deeper water into the near-shore waters bringing the predators with them. Sea conditions will determine the number of fishable days we’ll experience in March. This is especially true for those of us who target deep-water species in shallow water boats. Good reports of cobia are starting to come in from offshore of Stuart. These fish should be moving into our area soon, and both the bait pods and cobia have begun to show up on the near-shore wrecks and reefs outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet.
Other near-shore options consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure and weeds and large redfish and sharks shadowing bait pods near the beaches and inlets. When site fishing for cobia, keep the sun to your back and consider fishing in the latter part of the day when the sun is high. Also, always keep a chartreuse colored buck tail in the ready position to cast.
As the water warms up and the mullet returns to the inshore lagoon flats, look for redfish schools to continue to form up in the skinny water. For the slot redfish, 18 to 27 inches, focus on areas of flipping and jumping baitfish (mullet) in water depths of 12 to 18 inches. For the larger redfish, concentrate your efforts along deeper edges of the flats and sandbars in 2 to 3 feet of water. Also, larger sea trout will continue to hold in the skinny water potholes, and the top-water sea trout bite will improve as the warmer water draws finger mullet back onto the central IRL flats. Additionally, schools of black drum will continue to inhabit the shallow water flats of the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and particularly the sandbars in the Banana River No-Motor-Zone.
Last but not least, the American shad run is developing on the upper St John’s River between the areas of Lake Harney and the SR 50 Bridge, but this years run has been slow thus far. Also, March is the month to start targeting schooling large mouth bass in the deeper bends of the river at first light feeding on schools of baitfish (menhaden). The indicator I use to locate these schooling bass, is to look for large numbers of white pelicans, herons, and egrets working the banks. Once you’ve located the schooling fish, try throwing a rattle-trap or other small subsurface swim bait.
Spring is one of the best times of year to fish the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. So if you are planning to visit the area for a fishing adventure, make sure you book your hotel and fishing guide early. Also, when the bite is on, the ramps fill up quickly, so arrive early, and be courteous and considerate with other anglers, because we are all on the water for the same reasons.
As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790- 8081 toll free
If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com. |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 8:43 am: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report 02-13-06
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
First, I would like to apologize for the delayed report, as I was off the water and away from my keyboard on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday teaching seminars at the Bass Pro Shop Spring Classic in Orlando. As always, it was a great show, and it was good talking fishing with so many old friends and meeting new ones at the event. Coastal Angler Magazine will also be supporting the event next weekend, and I will be in attendance on Sunday the 19th, so stop by the Traveling Lagoon Booth and say hi. Also, for those of you who were interested in the new Evolution Rods I’ve been using, they are now available at Bass Pro Shop in Orlando.
Fishing this past week was overflowing with bizarre weather and picky fish, and my escapades all required persistence and patience, but they still resulted in decent catches.
On Monday, Kieran Pusey from New York City, and his friend Scott from Houston joined me, and due to the cold nature of my Yamaha, and the fact that it was freezing outside, my engine failed to start and my battery died.
Determined to take these guys fishing, we loaded the boat and used the electric trolling motor to reach a nearby flat, and then began polling once we found shallow water. In this case, the weather conditions couldn’t be better, as sunny skies and glassy waters greeted us. My hopes of a great day of fishing were waning due to my engine problems, but the fish gods smiled on our misfortune as a mass of large redfish tails popped up on the flat. The school consisted of about 50 super spooky fish, and they weren’t interested in our offerings. They would spook, and we would quietly wait for them to settle down, we would quietly move into casting range, and they would fly again. We were on fish all morning, but only managed a 40” 22-pound red, before calling it a day at noon.
My next two charters carried me to the St. Johns River north of Lake Harney in pursuit of American Shad. On Tuesday, I met Michael Grant from the Washington DC area, and our goal was to target shad on fly. We started out working the mouth of the Econ Creek, and we soon found all the cows lying down and we could not raise a strike. I then decided we would check the Deep Creek area, and we ended up running all the way down to Marina Isles, and still no fish. Soon, a visible bank of dark clouds reached all the way across the sky to the northwest, and the race was on to beat the approaching cold front back to the dock. Once we reach our launch area and the front past, we continued to fish, and the bite finally kicked in around 2pm resulting only 4 shad and a dozen or so assorted pan fish and small bass, all caught trolling pink Culprit crappy jigs.
On Thursday, I returned to the Econ accompanied by David Gossett from Lakeland, Florida, and our goal was the same as before. Again, we were faced with windy conditions, so we elected to troll until we located fish, and then switch to the fly rod. Once more, the bite was dead to start with, and it was sporadic throughout the day resulting in only 4 shad and about 20 assorted pan fish and bass.
For some reason beyond my understanding, the shad run has yet to materialize. There are some fish present, but not in any numbers. I’ve experiences some of the same findings on the lagoon this season with both flounder and shrimp, and hopefully this new moon will kick things off.
As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
Captain Tom Van Horn (Mosquitocoast)
New member
Username: Mosquitocoast
Post Number: 58
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 5:34 pm: | |
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
So far, nothing has been routine about the weather this winter. Warmer and windier than normal conditions have only provided us with a few decent weather days in the last month, and the long range forecast for the beginning of February is not looking too favorable. Also, there is still the chance of freezing conditions returning this year, but your guess is as good as mine. I’m not complaining, just stating the facts, because even with the worst weather, we are still fishing and catching on the Indian River Lagoon Coast.
Normally, once the cold front pushes into the Atlantic and high pressure settles in, fishing conditions can shift from meager to magnificent overnight. One sign I watch for is the development of fog in the early morning hours. As high-pressure system moves off to the northeast, southeasterly wind shifts carry humid air off the Atlantic. Rising humidly levels are an indication of warmer temperatures, and a falling barometer. These factors provide ideal weather for fishing the flats and running offshore once the fog burns off. When the next approaching front moves closer, the winds will begin to back down to the south and eventually shift to the west just before the front hits. As a general rule, the stronger the front, the more intense the wind speed and shifts will be. All of this information falls in the nice to know category if you are one of the lucky people who can pick their days on the water, but for most of us, the best day to fish is whenever you have a chance.
Another important point to remember when fishing inshore is, falling water temperatures force most fish, bait included, to seek deeper locations in search the warmest water they can find, and they become very sluggish. As the sun warms the water, all it takes is a degree or two change, the fish will begin to move into the shallow flats to feed. On the sunny mornings, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sand pockets within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise quickly. Additionally, warming water temperatures combined with sunny spring days, and crystal clear water, make February one of the best months to site fish for redfish, large sea trout, and black drum on the lagoon flats. Also, now is the time to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon “No Motor Zone”. For larger sea trout, fish at first light, sunset, or at night with natural baits, and target areas where mangrove edges, docks, and other structure are adjacent to deep water dredge holes, sloughs, or canals. These same areas will also hold concentrations of small trout, which can be caught throughout the day on small jigs and shrimp imitation baits like Riptide’s Realistic Shrimp, DOA Shrimp, or Berkley’s Gulp Shrimp fished very slowly along the bottom. Also, when fishing in deeper darker water, try using nightglow baits with Woodies Rattles inserted in them.
Offshore, kingfish are still present along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.
Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structures, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. Now is also the time for shore fisherman to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties.
Last but not least, windy days in February are a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River. Currently good catches of American shad, speckled perch, warmouth perch, and largemouth bass are being reported. Like everything else this year, the shad run is behind schedule. This past week, good reports of shad came from the Marina Isles to Mullet Lake section of the St. Johns River, with only a few shad being taken south of Lake Harney. As the run progresses the shad should be moving into the shallows flats south of Hwy 46, so fly anglers get ready.
Remember when planning a fishing trip in February, keep a close eye on the weather, and fish whenever you have a chance.
Seminar Schedule in February:
Bass Pro Shop’s Spring Classic in Orlando, February 11th, 12th, 18th, &19th
Florida Sports Fishing Association, February 28th, 7pm
Also, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine website at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
As always, if you have questions on need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
If you would like to be added to Captain Tom’s mailing list reply to captain@irl-fishing.com |
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