Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report 12-23

[Fishing Report]

Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, December 21, 2010

By Captain Tom Van Horn



Upcoming Seminars and Events


January 1, 2011 Derby starts at safe light. (Both shad and crappie derbies)

Saturday, December 11th - 10: 00 - 12:00 PM, Shad & Crappie Derby Anglers Registration Meeting at Mosquito Creek Outdoors. "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Preparing for the Shad Run & Crappie Season", anglers giveaways and more, located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, http://www.mosquitocreek.com.

This Week's Fishing Report



First, let me start this report by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. I would also like to thank each and every one of you who fished with me in 2010 and supported Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando events for you assistance and friendship, God bless.

As everyone knows, the weather has been making headlines around the world, and although we are blesses with sunny skies most of the time, Central Florida has not been left out. Already this year we have experienced three different freezes, but thank goodness there have had warm ups in between fronts and during these warm-ups, the fishing has been great. The cold water has resulted in some fish kills in both fresh and saltwater, but most of what I've seen has been limited to catfish, jacks, ladyfish in the lagoons, and tilapia on the St. Johns River.

On the lagoon, the flats have been loaded with both redfish and black drum. Most of the fish this past week were holding in around the two foot depth in areas of sandy broken bottom and potholes. The water temperature is cold and the fish have been sluggish, but they have been willing to eat if you get your offering in front of their nose. The water is crystal clear, so sight fishing is at its best.

On my last trip, I had the honor of fishing with repeat clients Bob and Mary Lynn from up-state New York, and although fishing was slow at first, once the water warmed up they boated three redfish over 20 pounds each and a nice black drum. Today, it's off to the Banana River No-Motor Zone for some paddle fishing, so I'll let you know how that went in my next report. Until then, stay warm and enjoy the holidays.

As always, if you need information or have any questions, 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 holiday shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka where everything in the fishing department is 25% off through Christmas. For more details, visit http://www.mosquitocreek.com.


Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2010


by Captain Tom Van Horn



Upcoming Seminars and Events


Saturday, December 11th - 10: 00 - 12:00 PM, Shad & Crappie Derby Anglers Registration Meeting at Mosquito Creek Outdoors. "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Preparing for the Shad Run & Crappie Season", anglers giveaways and more, located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, http://www.mosquitocreek.com.


January 1, 2011 Derby starts at safe light. (Both shad and crappie derbies)


Saturday, January 22nd 11:00 - 2:00 PM, Free Crappie Rally at Boat Tree Marina Sanford, "Free Seminar" Instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Catching American Shad & Crappie". Event includes sponsor displays, giveaways and a raffle with all proceeds going to Anglers for Conservation (AFC), Hook Kids on Fishing Program.

Saturday, February 12th 11:00 - 2:00 PM, Free Shad Rally at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp adjacent to CS Lee Park in Geneva, Florida - "Free Seminar" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Shad Fishing Tactics" Event includes sponsor displays, giveaways and a raffle with all proceeds going to Anglers for conservation (AFC), Hook Kids on Fishing Program.



February 28th 2011 Derby ends at sunset. (Both shad and crappie derbies)


Saturday, March 5th at 12 Noon: Shad and Crappie Derby Awards Ceremony at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida.



For more details on the 2011 Central Florida Shad Derby, go to http://www.cfshadderby.com.



December's Fishing Outlook


When the weather is nice and the seas are fishable offshore, 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.




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.

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.



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.


Remember, sea trout are out of season from November 1st through January 1st on Florida's east coast, so if you catch one, please handle and release it with extreme care.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me this past year for your business and friendship, and I am looking forward to spending more time on the water with you. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2011 gift certificates at and receive 50.00 dollars off of the standard rate by either replying to this news letter or by 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!






Mosquito Creek Outdoors Angler Improvement Clinics


Free Fishing Classes


To be successful, learn from the best.

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.






Captain Tom Van Horn: Captain Tom is a lifelong Central Florida native with over 45 years experience fishing Florida's waters and over 10 years experience guiding anglers to the catch of their lives on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. His fishing experience covers all aspects of angling, including freshwater lakes and rivers, saltwater flats, and near-shore Atlantic coastal fishing. Captain Tom is also owner and publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando and an accomplished outdoor writer with over 100 articles published. Captain Tom currently serves on the pro staffs of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Evolution Rods, Daiwa, DOA Lures, TTI Blakemore and Daiichi Hooks, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Woodies Rattles, Frog Toggs, and Kaynoe Paddle Products.

Saturday, December 11th - 10: 00 - 12:00 PM, Shad & Crappie Derby Anglers Registration Meeting at Mosquito Creek Outdoors. "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Preparing for the Shad Run & Crappie Season", anglers giveaways and more, located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, http://www.mosquitocreek.com.

For more information on the above scheduled classes, contact Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando at 407-416-1187 or online, mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com.




Tight Lines and Let's Go Fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
407-416-1187
http://www.irl-fishing.com