News from Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters 1-11

[Fishing Report]

This Week's Fishing Report



Well folk, just in time for the Shad and Crappie Derby, the American shad run has begun with good reports of shad being caught from the I-4 Bridge in Lake Monroe to Puzzle Lake.




Captain Tom with his first American shad of the 2011 Derby



Yesterday I fished the stretch of water from Lake Harney to the Jolly Gator Fish Camp with my good friends Becky, Mike and Fred, and we ended the day with 10 American shad and one speckled perch (crappie). The bite was consistent, but not heavy, and all fish were caught slow trolling darts, spoons and crappie jigs. The hot lures were gold and silver spoons and a white curly tail crappie grub on a 16th ounce red jig head. I also took the grand champion prize with the super trashcan slam consisting of a dead armored catfish, an old beer can, a rather large gar and a needle fish.




Fred's first 17 inch American Shad of the Derby



In another shad report, Bill Eury from BMC Boats in Longwood reported catching 20 American shad yesterday between Mullet Lake Park and the old Lemmon Bluff Fish Camp. All of Bill fish were caught slow trolling shad rigs as well.



Lastly, Charlie McCullough reported catching a 16 inch American shad on a Road Runner while crappie fishing down stream fro the I-4 Bridge in Lake Monroe.





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, Florida. For more details, visit http://www.mosquitocreek. always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.As


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.



Saturday, January 22nd Crappie Rally


11:00 am - 1 pm Crappie Rally at Boat Tree Marina at the Port of Sanford, "Free Seminar" Fishing with the Pros instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, Basic fishing open forum, followed by "Preparing for the Shad Run & Crappie Season" www.cfshadderby.com.



Saturday, February 5th



10: 00 - 12:00 Winter Lagoon Fishing Tactics "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, "Winter Tactics for Redfish, Black Drum and Sea Trout", located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.


Saturday, February 12th Shad Rally


11:00 - 2 PM Shad Rally at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp next to CS Lee Park in Geneva, "Free Seminar" Fishing with the Pros instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, Basic fishing open forum, followed by "Shad Fishing Tactics" www.cfshadderby.com.



Saturday February 15th 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

March 12th 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, 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.



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


Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2011


by Captain Tom Van Horn



Upcoming Seminars and Events

January 1, 2011 Shad and Crappie 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.



January's Fishing Outlook





First, let me start this forecast by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

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 DOA Shrimp or 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 in January, focus your attention on bottom structure (wrecks) in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals and the Pines to the south. Also look for cobia 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.



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. Water levels on the St Johns are extremely low this year, so please be careful when operating your boat








Happy New Year 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

Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!






Tight Lines and Let's Go Fishing,

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