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Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, March 8, 2011
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, March 8, 2011
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Upcoming Seminars and Events
Saturday, March 19th 10: 00 - 12:00 Cobia and Dolphin
"Free Seminars" instructed by Rapala Pro Staffer Rodney Sahr, "Spring Tactics for Cobia and Dolphin", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
This Weeks Fishing Report
The Brown Clowns are in Town
If you haven't heard, the brown clowns (cobia) are in town. Fishing conditions this past week have shown significant improvement, especially for March. Yesterday was a chamber of commerce day with blue bird skies, low winds and calm seas, and the cobia and manta rays have moved offshore of Port Canaveral schedule.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of fishing with my longtime client 82 year old Roland Van Arsdale and good friend Captain Rodney Smith. Over the years I've had many memorable fishing trips with both Roland and Rodney, and I was very enthusiastic about our opportunities. We loaded the boat and departed the Port around 10 am and headed south. When looking for cobia and rays in the spring, I like to head south, and then return in the afternoon when the sun in high and to my back, which affords the best visibility for sight fishing.
Roland and Rodney
Well, yesterday we did just that, traveling south to just offshore of Melbourne, and began working our way back. Although we did see a lot of rays jumping out of the water, we didn't find any on the surface until about 3pm. We knew the rays and cobia were there, so we waited them out and were rewarded when several giant manta rays popped up with big cobia all over them. Within an hour we had triple hook-ups landing two big fish in the 40 pound range with Roland catching the largest one. Between the two cobia we kept, we couldn't zip up my fish bag, so we headed back to the port with enough fish to feed three families. We located the rays offshore of Patrick AFB in 70 feet of water, so if you like cobia fishing you might want to take a day off and join the circus while the getting is good and the clowns are in town.
Inshore on the flats, the redfish bite has been good on calmer days when the wind lets you find fish, and then very tough on those windy cloudy days. The water levels in the lagoon are up making navigation and access better. Most of the redfish have been schooled up, so you will need to cover a large area looking for fish.
On the freshwater scene, the American shad run is still producing some fish, so if you are still interested in catching a few shad, try fishing in the backwaters of the Econ and south of Puzzle Lake.
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
(407) 416-1187 on the water
http://www.irl-fishing.com
For all of your outdoor shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Florida. For more details, visit http://www.mosquitocreek.
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast
March 2011
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Saturday March 12th 10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing
10: 00 - 12:00 Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, March 19th Cobia and Dolphin
10: 00 - 12:00 Cobia and Dolphin "Free Seminars" instructed by Rapala Pro Staffer Rodney Sahr, "Spring Tactics for Cobia and Dolphin", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
March Fishing Outlook
Spring is just around the corner, and fishing opportunities on the Indian River Lagoon coast have begun to heat up. Spring in Florida is not defined by any specific dates, but more so by temperature and weather patterns. I have also learned over the years to watch for subtle changes in the local flora which signal spring's arrival. These changes can be slight or quite dramatic, they're easy to recognize, and they correspond with the activities and migration patterns of fish. As an example, I always watch for the bloom of my lavender Formosa azaleas as a signal of the beginning of the spring cobia run along the beaches and near-shore waters of the Space Coast. Another example is the fragrance of orange blossoms drifting across the Lagoon, which hint to the formation of redfish schools on the flats and beginning of the spring bait migration northward.
By the way, my azaleas are loaded buds, and good catches of cobia have been reported offshore of Stuart and Sebastian. It won't be long before these fish arrive in the Port Canaveral area as long as the warmer weather pattern holds. Also look for tripletail hanging on flotsam, weeds, and around buoys, and for heavy weight jacks, oversized redfish, tarpon, and sharks shadowing bait pods near the beaches and inlets close to the end of the month.
As the days grow longer and the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degrees, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian River Lagoon coast commences. Increasing water temperatures facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden and mullet) from the deeper waters into the near-shore waters bringing predators we love so much with them. Additionally, warmer waters will draw manta rays near-shore with cobia shadowing them. As always, weather, water clarity, and sea conditions will determine the number of fishable days we will experience in March. This is especially true for those of us who target deep-water species in skinny water boats.
Moving out into deeper water, the spring kingfish run is just around the corner, and it should hold solid for the next six months. Look for the kingfish to begin showing up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks around the middle of the month, and then move in close to shore following bait pods. Most anglers, including myself, prefer slow trolling live pogies, but spoons and frozen Spanish sardines dressed with king buster skirts will also work if live bait is hard to find.
Inshore, the water levels should be on the rise, and schools of slot size redfish have formed up ahead of schedule on the shallow flats, with schools of larger redfish holding along the deeper edges of bars. Also look for the larger sea trout to be holding in sand pockets on the skinny flats.
Last but not least, now is the time to target American shad in the upper waters of the St Johns River. Good reports of shad have been coming from the area south of the Highway 46 Bridge near Geneva and areas south of Hatbill Park. The Second Annual American shad and Crappie Derby ends on Monday February 28th at sunset after two fun filled months of fishing, so stay tuned for my next report and the winners of this years event.
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
(407) 416-1187 on the water
http://www.irl-fishing.com
For all of your outdoor shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Florida. For more details, visit http://www.mosquitocreek.
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Angler Improvement Clinics
2011 Clinic Schedule
Free Spin & Fly Fishing Classes
Become a better angler by learning from the pros.
Veteran lagoon fishing guides Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn will provide instruction on the skills and techniques necessary to become a more successful angler through free seminars, provided as a service to you by Mosquito Creek Outdoors and Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando. Would you like to learn what it takes to be a successful Angler? Here is your chance and all it will cost you is your time.
April 9th Free Fly Fishing Class
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, April 16th
10: 00 - 12:00 Freshwater Bluegill and Panfish "Free Seminars" instructed by Captain Beau Osborne of Beau Tyed Charters, "Spring Bluegill and Panfish", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday April 30th Free Hook Kids on Fishing Program
10:00 - 12:00 Hook Kids on Fishing Program
Mosquito Creek Outdoors and Anglers for Conservation presents a free fishing kids seminar. After completing five learning stations all kid will receive a free fishing rod and tackle box (limited to the first 100 kids registered. Located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, http://www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, May 21st Near-shore Tarpon Fishing
10: 00 - 12:00 "Free Seminars", instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers," Summer Tarpon and Beach Fishing Tactics ", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, June 4th Summer Kingfish
10: 00 - 12:00 "Free Seminars" instructed by Rapala Pro Staffer Rodney Sahr, "Summer Kingfish", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, June 11th Introduction to Fly Fishing
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, July 2nd Summer Lagoon Tactics
10: 00 - 12:00 Summer Lagoon Fishing Tactics "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Summer Tactics for Redfish and Sea Trout", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, August 13th Introduction to Fly Fishing
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, August 20th Snook Fishing
10: 00 - 12:00 Snook Fishing Tactics "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Snook Fishing Tactics ", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, September 10th Introduction to Fly Fishing
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday, September 24th Fishing the Mullet Run
10: 00 - 12:00 "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Preparing for the Fall Mullet Run", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, October 8th Introduction to Fly Fishing
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.
Saturday, October 22nd Fall Lagoon Tactics
10: 00 - 12:00 Fall Lagoon Fishing Tactics "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Fall Tactics for Redfish and Sea Trout", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, November 5th, Flounder and Pompano
10: 00 - 12:00 Flounder and Pompano "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Fall Tactics for Flounder and Pompano", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday, November 12th Introduction to Fly Fishing
10:00 - 12 Noon, Free Introduction to Fly Fishing Class instructed by FFF Certified Instructor and veteran Mosquito lagoon Fishing Guide Captain Chris Myers. Located in the Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Tight Lines and Let's Go Fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
407-416-1187
http://www.irl-fishing.com
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