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Fishing Reports

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	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-02-2012
Fishing Area: Central Florida
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2012 By Captain Tom Van Horn December Fishing Outlook 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 in 2013. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2013 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 need more information or have questions please contact me. Good luck and good fishing and happy holidays, Captain Tom Van Horn Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-416-1187 Cell For all of your outdoor needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com, it's where your adventure begin.
	Posted By:	David Zsak	Date Posted:	01-27-2011
Fishing out of Fort Lauderdale allows us to target a wide variety of species of fish. The different types of fishing can range from fishing offshore in 1,000 feet of water for Swordfish, to 6 miles offshore in 700 feet of water for Mahi- Mahi and Wahoo or head inshore and fish one or two miles off the beach and target fish which are situated in the depths of 90' to 175' of water and live above the reef line. The best part of how we can arrange a fishing charter is based on a couple factors, for example, are there any bait coming along the reef, what direction is the current (North or South) and is the wind out of the N,S,E,West and or is there a cold front coming down the coast line from the New England area. Also what time of the year are we coming into, the winter months or the summer months. Currently now in late January we are starting out our trips targeting Sailfish by live and dead bait fishing in 150 feet of water. The bite has been good and the charter fleet are seeing the similar bites. The Sails migrate good from end of November and travel South until April. We do catch resident Sails that mill and stick aournd the South Florida waters, however the major packs of Sailfish move through during the winter months caused by the low pressure systems generated from up North. There is kite fishing with baits out of the riggers as well as slow trolling ballyhoo with a dredge to attract the Sailfish. We are very accomodating in a charters desire to catch a certain species, for example if we have kids on the boat, we would stop and catch live bait and for kids, they love it. Or if a couple would like to bring some fresh fish home to eat, we head offshore and deep sea fish for Mahi- Mahi. Also we can hit the wrecks off Ft. Lauderdale and use drop rigs to target Grouper, Amberjack and Snapper. If interested in a fishing charter, please let us know and we can arrange a fishing trip. Thanks and looking forward to an exciting and fun filled day of catching fish aboard the "Happy Day Today" Capt. Zsak (954) 439-8106 cell www.topshotfishing.com
	Posted By:	Mike Oyler	Date Posted:	10-25-2010
10-22-2010 Fishing out of Sebastian Inlet on the "Wired Up", seas 2-3' heavy chop. Trolling was slow, strikes would come all at the same time, with sailfish being the culprits. Bottom fishing in close, 60', was excellent with grouper and sea bass on every drop. Went the next day to Fort Pierce. 10-23-2101 Fishing out of Fort Pierce on the "High Sea Era", seas BIG 4-6', heavy crop. Dolphing were very active in 90' landed 3 in the 15-17 pound range on swimming mullet. There were flying fish "showers" and lots of weeds. Bite lasted only 1.5 hours before we headed back to port. Capt. Mike Oyler
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-31-2010
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2010 by Captain Tom Van Horn I can't help but get excited about the many different angling prospects spring delivers to the Indian River Coast of Florida. I'm always thankful for the chance to live, breath, and fish on these waters, and with the windy rainy March behind us, I'm ready to set the hook. Some of highlights of fishing on Florida's east central coast during the spring are 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 ups 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. 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 the month when trout become egg laden for the spawn, so it's very important to handle and release the larger females with great care. Also, with the hard freeze killing so many fish, it is wise to simply release them all. If you are looking for snook and tarpon action inside, the Sebastian River will be the place to go, and remember both these species are catch and release only. 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; 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. In the freshwater lakes and rivers, 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 Lemon 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, several years back we caught southern flounder in Lake Harney fishing pilchards on the bottom under the schooling bass. The bass bite was weak last year after the high water delivered by tropical storm Fay and we have high water again this year, so we can only hope the schooling bass are more cooperative this year. Also, spring is the time of year the larger catfish move up the river and into the creeks following the rising water. I know to most, their not a glamour species, by try telling my good friend Mike Murray that. Lastly, the bluegill and brim will be spawning soon on the lakes, so look for some popping bug fly fishing to heat up in our local Central Florida lakes. 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 For all of your outdoor supplies and fishing tackle needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-27-2010
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Outlook, March 2010 Up Coming Events March 7th, Paddle Fishing the Banana River Lagoon No-Motor Zone, Central Florida Boat Show, 2 pm at the Orange County Convention Center. March 27th, Free Cobia and Tripletail seminar from 10 am to noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida, 170 South Washington Avenue. For more details visit www.mosquitocreek.com/fishing. April 24th, Free Hook Kids on Fishing seminar from 10 am to noon at the Apopka Foliage Festival. After completing the five learning stations, each child will receive a free fishing rod, reel and tackle box. To register your children, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida at 170 South Washington Avenue or contact them at (407) 464-2000. April 25th, Free Certified Conservation Angler seminar from 10 am to noon at the Apopka Foliage Festival. Learn from the Coastal Angler Magazine Pro Tour and Anglers for Conservation how to lighten your footprint while enjoying the sport of fishing. Take the pledge to but the resource first. To register visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida at 170 South Washington Avenue or contact them at (407) 464-2000. March Fishing Outlook Reflecting back on my past years here on the Space Coast, I can't remember a colder winter and as I sit here composing the forecast another cold front is passing through Central Florida. Although it's been a challenging winter for anglers, March is around the corner and with warmer weather comes improved fishing on all fronts along the Lagoon Coast. As the days grow longer and the ocean begins its continuing 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 the predator species we love to catch. 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 shortly, and both the bait pods and cobia will be showing up soon on the near-shore wrecks and reefs outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. Other near-shore options in March consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure and weeds and large redfish and sharks shadowing bait pods along the beaches and inlets around mid month. When site fishing for cobia and tripletail, consider fishing in the latter part of the day when the sun is high as the water is warmer and visibility is better. Also, always keep a chartreuse colored buck tail in the ready position to cast at any brown clowns that wonder into range. As the water warms up and the silver 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, 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. Water levels are higher this spring on the St. Johns River, so please be careful when navigating the river and creeks as the water is above the banks in some areas. Spring is one of the best times to fish the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. So if you are planning to visit the area, 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 are polite and considerate with other anglers, because we are all on the water for the same reasons, to have fun. 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 Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com/fishing for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-02-2010
Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Lagoon Fishing Forecast, February 2010 By Captain Tom Van Horn As winters go here in Central Florida, the 10 day freeze we experienced last month was the coldest weather we’ve seen since 1977. The prolonged period of cold dropped lagoon water temperatures into the 40’s. These extreme cold conditions killed a large number of fish both in saltwater and freshwater, but all is not lost. As the water temperatures warmed up surviving species began to return to the flats, and it appears redfish and black drum were not lost to the arctic chill. Additionally, despite notable loses, a good number of sea trout and some snook managed to find warm enough water to survive. On the freshwater side, only exotic species like tilapia and armored catfish subsided to the freeze, which doesn’t hurt my feelings too much. Inshore on the saltwater flats of the Mosquito Lagoon, good numbers of redfish and black drum have been easy to locate when conditions are calm and sunny, but getting them to eat has been challenging. On the sunny mornings, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sandy potholes within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise faster. 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, 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". As we move further away from the extreme cold event, the redfish and drum should begin to feed more readily. Offshore, kingfish are still available along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperatures are favorable. When targeting kingfish this month focus your efforts on the areas of 8A Reef, Pelican Flats and Bethel Shoals to the south for best results. 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 tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup. Near-shore, tripletail concentrations should improve along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structures, and cobia will move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. Now is also the time for beach anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf. On those windy days in February it is a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River. Currently, the American shad run has yet to materialize with only sporadic catches being reported. The shad run has yet to kick off this year, but my best fishing last year was on the 15th of February, so it’s too soon to judge the magnitude of the run this year. This past week, the best reports of shad came from the Marina Isles to Mullet Lake section of the St. Johns River, as well as a good number shad being taken north of Lake Harney. As the run progresses the shad should be moving into the shallows flats south of Hwy 46, so if you haven’t signed up for the Shad Derby yet, there is still plenty of time left. 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 questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water For all you outdoor shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-02-2010
Mosquito Creek Outdoor’s Central Florida Fishing Outlook for January 2010 By Captain Tom Van Horn Reflecting back on 2009, recreational anglers across America have been faced with challenges threatening to limit or even shut down our fisheries. Snapper, grouper and amberjack closures in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, new marine protection areas or no take zones on both coasts on America, and in Florida, sea grass protection areas for manatees just to name a few. The troops are mustering and the battle lines are being drawn on both sides, but who holds the middle ground? For the past several New Years, I’ve resolved to enlighten anglers on the many attributes angling and life in the outdoors, and as a director for Anglers for Conservation I believe recreational anglers are our own worst enemies in many ways. The majority of us know the value of our angling resources and since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, recreational anglers have lead the way in conservation and resource protection, but in light of recent developments, we are looked upon as the bad guys in our quest to preserve our heritage and rights to fish. The AFC is a nonprofit 501C3 organization with a mission to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration, habitat preservation 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, encouraging them to use not abuse our priceless resources. We reached out to thousands kids across Florida last year, and in December of 2009 we introduced our newest program, Conservation Angler Certification. The certified Conservation Angler upon completion of a free three hour class will have not only learned and demonstrated the skills necessary to leave a lighter footprint while on the water, but also voluntarily taken a pledge to practice good conservation and good ethics both on and off the water. The AFC is still in its incipient stage so stay tuned for more details. As water levels and temperatures drop, clear and shallow conditions on the inshore flats will make sight fishing the best we will see all year. Mullet and other finfish have migrated out of the area for the winter, so anglers should switch to smaller shrimp and crabs and a slower presentation. When targeting inshore species during the colder months, I like to downsize my lures and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation baits like the DOA Shrimp and Crab combined with a Woodie’s Rattle Hook or Rattle Jig. Also, January and February are key months for targeting tailing black drum on the exclusive Banana River No-Motor Zone. For the past several years the black drum populations have expanded on our lagoons, so I’m eager to see how they show up in the NMZ and to catch a few nice ones on fly. 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 surf anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting off of the beaches and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral and Sebastian. Lastly and my all-time favorite, the American shad run on the upper St. Johns River should be swinging into full gear by mid January. I have already caught my first American shad of the season on Christmas Eve, and she was a magnificent fish in the four pound range. And if this years run is anything close to what we had last year, look out for Captain Tom and Three Quarter Time when you are passing through shad alley. Also, if you enjoy a fresh fish dinner once in a while, the specked perch (crappie) bite has been and will continue to improve in all of the big lakes, rivers and creeks in Central Florida. Oh by the way, there is a free shad and crappie seminar on Saturday January 23rd from 10 a.m. until noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoor in Apopka Florida. Learn how to target and catch shad and crappie from Central Florida angling veterans Charlie McCullough, Captain Chris Myers and myself. For more details on this class and others, visit http://mosquitocreek.com/fishing. Catch-um-up, and reward yourself by taking a kid fishing, and taking the class and pledge to be a Conservation Angler. Our numbers with help draw all concerned about our resources up on to the middle ground. Tight lines and good fishing for generations to come and Happy New Year, Captain Tom Van Horn Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters and Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando Cell (407) 416-1187 http://www.irl-fishing.com
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-29-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-29-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-01-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-02-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-02-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-04-2009
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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-29-2009
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-02-2009
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.mosquitocreek.com for all your outdoor needs, it's where the adventure begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-28-2009
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2009 by Captain Tom Van Horn For those who have followed my fishing reports over the years, you’ve grown to appreciate the same signals I anticipate and look forward to every spring. The sweet fragrance of orange blossoms 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 hardwoods and cypress trees all signals springs arrival and the beginning of the fishing season for blue water anglers. The Indian River Lagoon’s unique diversity has established it as an estuary of national significance. Consisting of three distinct inshore lagoons, five ocean inlets, and 156 miles of inshore, near-shore and offshore reefs all nurtured by warmth and richness of the Gulf Stream distinguishes the IRL as one of the three most diversified biomasses in the world. Transitioning from tropical to temperate climate zones, the IRL system both inshore and offshore supports over 700 species of fish, and some of the best angling in the world. As the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degrees, watch for the progression of baits schools (Atlantic menhaden and silver mullet) from warmer waters into the near-shore waters bringing the cobia and other predators with them. The warmer waters will also 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 shadowing bait schools. Currently, both the cobia and the rays are a bit behind schedule due to a colder than normal spring. 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 early part of the run usually includes some of the largest bulls taken all year. Again, colder water may delay this migration a bit. 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 improve 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 silver mullet to 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. 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 407-416-1187 on the water 407-366-8085 office www.irl-fishing.com Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-28-2008
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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-30-2008
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-31-2008
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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-30-2008
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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-16-2008
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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-29-2008
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, 120Ã 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, itÃs 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 itÃs 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, AnglerÃs Improvement Clinics Sponsored by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, RipTide Soft Plastics, WoodieÃs 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 letÃs 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-31-2008
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 oneÃs 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 letÃs go fishing. Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-29-2007
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 FloridaÃs 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. ItÃs 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 anglersÃ 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 WoodieÃs 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 letÃs go fishing. Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-23-2007
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 donÃt 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. JohnÃs River, and although I didnÃt 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 IÃm 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 letÃs go fishing. Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-29-2007
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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-29-2007
FloridaÃs East Coast Fishing Outlook for November 2007 Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida November on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida With the exception of a few more gray hairs that havenÃt fallen out yet, I welcome the arrival of fall and the changing seasons brought forth by falling temperatures on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. The cool crisp morning air in my lungs and on my cheeks is a refreshing change from our hot dry summer and our rainy humid October. As the sun rises and sets further to the south, both anglers and game fish celebrate the tail end of the bait run; gathering in the inlet passes on the falling tides to fulfill their natural gratifications, one of indulgence, the other contentment. As the steady migration of mullet, pilchards, threadfin herring, and other baitfish pack into the IRLÃs inlets, an overabundance of hungry gamefish lay in waiting. When tide is right, the inlets explode in a flurry of feeding gamefish, fleeing baitfish, and aggressive anglers. Although November is notorious for greeting us with howling easterly winds as our first significant cold fronts pass, fishing in and around the inlets will remain outstanding until water temperature drop below 70 degrees. In the inlets of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral and Sebastian, snook fishing will remain excellent during low light periods and at night as the remaining baitfish traveling down the beach are forced in close to the jetties and other structure with the best action occurring during slack tidal periods, especially the end of high tide. During these periods hungry gamefish take advantage of slow currents and feed heavily. As the tide begins to fall, gamefish move into their ambush locations to finish off their frenzy. Breeder Redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and tarpon all share in the fury, so step up your tackle size and hold on. My favored technique is to cast net live mullet, and drift them through the passes on a sliding sinker rig. Look for areas of feeding activity, birds diving and fish busting, and adjust the size of your weight based of current. The rig I use starts out with a Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook proportionate to your bait size to allow a natural swimming appearance. In simple terms, small bait small hook, large bait large hook. Next, I attach a 30-inch section of 30 to 40 pound test fluorocarbon leader to a 20-pound test braided mainline. If large tarpon are your target, step your leader size up to 60-pound test. Before I tie on my hook, I slide my slip sinker on to the leader, then attach the hook, and finish the rig off by using a split shot located between the barrel sinker and the hook adjusted to keep the weight off of the hook. As I drift through the passes, I like to cast parallel to my drift with just enough weight to keep the bait in the feeding zone, and increase the barrel sinker size as the current picks up. Additionally, as we near the end of November and finger mullet diminish, switch to pinfish on pigfish as bait. Finally and most important, pass fishing in November can be dangerous, so as I drift through the inlet, I keep the helm manned with my engine running, keeping a close eye on boat traffic and sea conditions, and always be prepared for evasive action if needed. As the first significant cold front passes and surf temperatures reach the 68-degree mark, flounder slide into the inlets on their annual spawning migration out to sea. The exodus usually begins with the arrival of the smaller 1 to 3-poung gulf flounder (three spot), which are later joined by the doormat size 2 to 14-pound southern flounder. Many anglers prefer to anchor up and fish live finfish on the bottom, but I favor drifting the lagoon side of the passes bouncing a RipTide Mud Minnow Jig on the bottom. IÃve also learned adding the element of sound to my jig by inserting a WoodieÃs Rattle Capsule improves my catch. This vertical jigging technique allows me to cover more area and catch a wider assortment of species. Likewise, as lagoon temperatures cool, pompano are another likely target as they congregate on the lagoon side of the passes before moving out to their winter haunts along the beaches to feed on sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food. Cobia and tripletail fishing can be very good this time of year depending on ocean temperatures (71 to 74 degrees is best) and winter weather conditions. To target them, head east out of Port Canaveral or Sebastian Inlet looking for rips, sargassum and flotsam pushed in by the easterly fetch. Once you have located the floating structure, work the rip with the sun to your back looking for fish suspended underneath, and catch then on spinning tackle or fly, and a live jumbo shrimp on a jig works best. Inside the lagoons, falling water levels and cleaner conditions will facilitate increased sight fishing prospects for both redfish and sea trout. Also remember spotted sea trout are out of season in our region of the state for both November and December, so please handle and release them with extreme care. Seminars and Events November 17th 9am Ã± 11am, Anglers for Conservation presents the Hook Kids on Fishing program at the Volusia County Fair Grounds, Coastal Angler Magazine's Boat Show & Fishing Expo. The first 100 kids will receive a new fishing rod, reel and tackle box on completion of the program. November 16th, 17th, and 18th, Coastal Angler Magazines Boating and Fishing Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, the event features a full program of speakers and seminars. Hands on Angler Improvement Clinic presented by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, learn to rig soft plastic baits and utilized braided fishing line, knots, and leaders for inshore applications, and participants will receive free samples from RipTide, D.O.A, Woodies Rattles, and coupons redeemable at Mosquito Creek Outdoors while supplies last. Call now to purchase your holiday charter gift certificate for the 2008 fishing season. 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 Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-30-2007
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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-06-2007
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 oceanÃs 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 IÃd 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 Î© 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 Ã± 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida Information and directions 407-464-2000 September 29th 10am Ã± 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-30-2007
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. IÃm often asked the question, Ã¬When is the best time to fish on the east coast of Florida?Ã® 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 winterÃs 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 youÃve 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 24Ã® 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 donÃt 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 Âº 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 Ã±12pm Rodney SmithÃs Surf Fishing Tour Port Canaveral to Satellite Beach www.coastalanglermagazine.com September 8th 10am Ã± 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida Information and directions 407-464-2000 September 22nd 2pm to 6pm Rodney SmithÃs Fishing Land Tour Longpoint to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge www.coastalanglermagazine.com September 29th 10am Ã± 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-24-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, August 24, 2007 Complements of Mosquito Coast Outdoors, Apopka Florida As Labor Day weekend approaches, itÃs safe to say summer is losing itÃs 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 havenÃt 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 FloridaÃs 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, itÃs 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 itÃs 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, FloridaÃs 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 DehookerÃs website at http://www.dehooker4arc.com or visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida to purchase one. Ladies, donÃt 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-01-2007
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 isnÃt 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-29-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July 2007 Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida Summertime has officially arrived on the Space Coast of Florida, and the mid summer doldrums are currently amongst us. ItÃs also the time of year when tropical weather systems and offshore water temperatures are as predictable as Mother Nature herself. Just when you think youÃve got the fishing figured out, a summer squall (tropical system) will blow in and kick up the seas, or the cold water Labrador Current will chill bottom water temperatures and shut down the seaward bite. Setting all these possibilities aside, many opportunities for angling adventures exist for us both inside and outside on the lagoon coast in July. Near-shore, kingfish will be the staple on the reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water, with a mixed bag of three, wahoo, dolphin, and an occasional sailfish, thrown in. My preferred method for targeting these species is slow trolling live bait (pogies) on steel stinger rigs in the areas of the Chris Benson, 8A, and Pelican Flats reefs. On the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches when the water is clean, an assorted beach bag is available with smoker kings (large king mackerel), silver kings (tarpon), sharks, and colossal jacks (school buses) all available at any given time. To target these species, focus your attention in areas of bait concentrations. This past week, pods of large tarpon and sharks were located between Patrick AFB and Satellite Beach. As the month progresses, these fish should begin moving north along the beach to their favorite summertime haunt in the forbidden zone off the bight of the Kennedy Space Center. In the Port and inlets, Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snapper number should remain steady. To target the flounder and snapper, try using RipTideÃs Realistic Shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig head or a RipTide Mud Minnow Jig in the areas of structure and along sandy drop-offs. For flounder or snapper cast the jig as close to the structure as possible without getting snagged, and let it sink to the bottom. Once its reached the bottom, slowly drag it back letting it rest every foot or so. When jigging for Spanish mackerel or other toothy critters, use the same jigs, but retrieve it quickly to avoid getting cut off by not allowing the fish to strike the line. Inshore, July is one of the best times of the year to catch redfish in shallow water. Schools have already started forming up, and the sight of a feeding school of redfish is incredible. Once youÃve finished drooling over redfish, look for snook, and top water snapper along mangrove edges, and juvenile tarpon in the creeks, canals and backwaters. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and small trout to be shadowing schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) under clouds of feeding terns. These feeding frenzies are great fun, especially when fly fishing using a top water popping bug. Additionally, Calm conditions are ideal for paddlers wishing to venture back into the No-Motor Zone, where tailing redfish make great targets for both fly and spin anglers. Remember, as the water levels increase, dissolved oxygen levels decrease, so it is important to step up your tackle and line size to facilitate a shorter battle, and to revive your catch completely before release. 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 www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 Land line 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-29-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2007 Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida Yep, the heat and humidity are rising, and so are fishing prospects along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Hot summer days can be brutal, so the wise angler and the fish will take advantage of the cooler nights and early morning and late evening hours to feed and stock their prey, and then they snooze in the shade and deeper areas once the heat turns up. So adjust your routine in June, July, and August, by fishing at night, during the predawn hours, and in the late afternoon after work and reap the rewards of the summertime fishing bonanza. Look for the tarpon and shark numbers to increase along the beach, and letÃs not forget about the schools of large jack carvalle and the tripletail as both of these fisheries are cranking up. Remember, snook season closes this week, so lets give them a chance to relax and get jiggie. Try not to target them, and if you do happen to catch one, please handle it gently and release it with extreme care. When the summer doldrums set in, the waters clear, and the seas flatten out, the window of opportunity opens for smaller boats, so near-shore opportunities are typically the best youÃll see all year along the beach. June is the time of year when the kingfish move in close shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) along the beach and in the Port Canaveral buoy line, and slow trolling live pogies can result in some outstanding catches. Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out. The kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats, so again 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. On the flats, focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Night fishing will also produce descent 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 WoodieÃs Rattle Capsule inserted. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target the docks with deepwater access. In the early morning look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. 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. 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. In closing, I would like to inform everyone about the Mosquito Creek Outdoors FatherÃs Day Celebration scheduled for Saturday June 16th in Apopka, Florida. Besides having great sales and gift ideas for Dad, activities for the entire family and free fishing and outdoor seminars are planned. Seminar Schedule: 12pm to 2pm, Fishing basics for the entire family Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn 2pm to 3pm Fly Casting with Captain Chris Myers 3pm to 4 pm Kayak Fishing with Captain Tom Van Horn 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!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-24-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 23, 2007 Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida Well I was hoping to publish this report on Friday, but after two quality days on the water, the east beast started howling again and 20-knot winds forced cancellations of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday charters. Hopefully, this weather pattern will shift by Saturday, allowing us fishable conditions, at least inshore, for the holiday weekend. My week starter on Sunday when repeat clients Craig Welch and his son Max and his grandfather graced the deck of Three Quarter Time for a day of fishing on the Indian River Lagoon. Although the east wind of 15 plus knots was challenging, it was the nicest day we had all week, and my goal was to put Max on some serious fish like the trip before. We starter out working the FPL discharge in hopes of a snook, but Max was pleasantly surprised when his line tightened, and his first tarpon tail walked next to the boat. Our next stop included fast and furious action as we located a heard of ladyfish, sea trout and gaff top sail catfish working over a school of bay anchovies (glass minnows) in deeper water. To locate these schools, simply watch for diving pelicans accompanied by small terns dipping into the water. If the pelicans hold their heads down into the water after they surface from their dive they are straining small baitfish from the water before swallowing, and youÃre in the right spot. The action is fast, and small jigs and flies, spoons, and top water popping bugs work well. Although the feeding frenzy was hot and heavy, the crew had big redfish on their minds, so we were off to leeward shoreline and the quest was on. I poled at least a two miles of shoreline loaded we thousands of finger mullet to no avail, and we ended the day with only one slot redfish, and a wet ride back to the dock. On Monday, I was joined Frank King form Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, and his lifelong hunting buddy Mike Mason from Orlando, with the same game plan as the day before but with much better results, sorry Craig, Max and Granddad. The weather was much nicer, but still windy. Mike had a little experience fishing for redfish on the west coast, but this was Franks first attempt at fishing for FloridaÃs coastal species, so the challenge was on. I started the dual with some top water plug fishing on a lee shoreline with limited results, and we quickly shifted to jig fishing the glass minnow school, with the same results as the day before. As the wind gained and conditions deteriorated, I opted to chunking ladyfish on a lee shoreline, and we stumbled into a redfish chew fest. For the next two hours, the redfish bite was going off, and I spoiled both Frank and Mike with 21 redfish, 2 over slot sea trout, and believe it or not, a five pound bluefish. You know you are in a serious redfish feed when you are trying to land a hefty redfish, and several others follow it up to the boat trying to steal the bait. Out of the 21 fish landed, only two were upper slot fish, and the rest were over slot up to 36-inches. In Closing, both myself and Captain Chris Myers, will be conducting free angling seminars on Saturday June 16th at the Mosquito Creek Outdoors FatherÃs Day Event in Apopka, Florida, so stop in and check out their newly renovated angling and outdoor adventure training facility and sign up for future classes. Stay tuned for more details, as we get closer to the event. So, with that said, I leave you with hopes on calm seas, and for the next three to four days, itÃs boat and equipment maintenance, and honey doÃs for me. As always, if you have any questions, or need any 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, ItÃs Where the Adventure Begins!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-30-2007
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 FloridaÃs 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 4Ã® mullet on a Âº 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. ItÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-30-2007
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 mindÃs 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 FloridaÃs 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. ItÃs 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 itÃs 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 yearÃs 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 AnglerÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-01-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2007 Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors As the days grow longer and warmer natureÃs subtle changes signal the demise of winter and the commencement of spring on FloridaÃs 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 LagoonÃs 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 Ã± 12pm First 100 kids receive a new fishing rod and reel. Free fishing seminars from 12pm Ã±3pm. Coastal Angler MagazineÃs 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-29-2007
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2007 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As I sit down to write this fishing forecast, I am puzzled and mystified by our current weather patterns. In first part of January, a northerly shift in the jet stream brought about by El Nino, delivered spring like conditions to Central Florida. This warmer and windier weather not only confused the fish, but also the anglers. Our typical winter fishing patterns experienced in January failed to develop completely, and now back to back cold fronts could shift conditions again, so who knows what lies ahead for us this spring. Taking into consideration how this phenomena has effected our January fishing, we can only hope fishing pattern will continue to shift more to spring like, unless Mother Nature has other plans. 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. As of this writing, the cobia and rays have been plentiful near-shore, but high seas have kept most anglers off of the water. As water temperatures drop, the cobia will most likely move south or back to the wrecks, but we will have to wait for the winds and seas to settle down before we can find out. 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 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. Moving inshore, the redfish schools will continue to develop with slot size fish, 19 to 27 inches, holding in the shallow flats, and the larger breeder redfish along the deeper edges, 2 to 3 feet. When targeting these schooling redfish, approach the school as quietly as possible, and make your presentation to an area on the outside edge of the school. If possible, I like to try to pick off fish ranging outside the main group to prevent spooking the entire school. These schools are super spooky, so if you can keep the school from running, you will continue to catch fish. With redfish, it is important to get your bait in front of the fish, and either soft plastics or small weedless spoons will work. Also, when casting artificial, remember to downsize your baits in the winter. If the weather gets cold, an early start is not necessary, so sleep in and hit the water when sun has warmed the flats a bit. The larger sea trout will often lay in the sandy pot holes seeking the warmest water they can find, so target these sandy spots with small shrimp imitations baits like the Riptide Realistic shrimp fished very slow. Also, letÃs not forget the tailing black drum and redfish on the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. This past week I had the extreme pleasure of fishing the Zone with my good friends Captain Rodney Smith and Rusty Chinnis, and even with overcast and windy conditions, Rusty accomplished his goal of his first hefty black drum on fly, with two slot size redfish to boot. Rodney also managed three snooklets caught in a small feeder creek, and he missed a big black drum, and me, well I did manage to catch three fearsome puffer fish in a row on my secret magic puffer fly. 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 9,10,11, 17, and 18th; Bass Pro Shop Spring Classic Orlando Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth 10 Saltwater kayak seminars, seminar times have yet to be scheduled. February 19, 2007 Gander Mountain Lake Mary, Saltwater Kayak Fishing on FloridaÃs Space Coast, 7 to 8pm. March 10, 2007 Mosquito Creek Outdoors Conservation Day Event Apopka Florida Hook Kids on Fishing Program 10am Ã± 12pm Free fishing seminars from 12pm Ã±3pm. Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth 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 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 landline 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-28-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2007 Captain Tom Van Horn The New Year is upon us, and this year I resolve to challenge every Floridian new and old to take at least one additional measure in 2007 to promote the wise use of resources we love so much. It is as simple as joining a conservation organization like the Coastal Conservation Association, assisting in a local clean up, taking someone who has never fished fishing for their first time, and encouraging those within our circle of influence to do the same. Together we can make a huge difference by expanding the awareness of others, and our legacy will be a healthy fishery for generations to come. Winter has settled in on the Lagoon coast of Florida, and as always, weather and temperature play a prominent roll in determining our tactics and success. Tropical species like snook, tarpon, jacks, and mullet, have either traveled south for the winter or migrated upstream into the creeks and rivers seeking the warmest water they can find. As water temperatures drop, so do the metabolisms of many species, so it is important to seek out warm water locations and slow down your bait presentation. Additionally, feeding patterns of many species change as their available forage changes. With these thoughts in mind, fishing gets better as the day warms up, so an early morning start is not necessary. On the flats of Mosquito Lagoon and other non-tidal estuaries, falling temperatures and water levels set the stage for some of the best sight fishing experienced all year. The water is shallow and clear and the fish are spooky, so a stealth presentation and long cast are critical. As the sun begins to warm the water, target sandy potholes within the expansive grass flats where both redfish and sea trout lay seeking the warmth of the sunÃs reflection on sand. On colder days, target areas of deeper locations where the water is a few degrees warmer, and slow down your presentation. Some other warm water refuges are concrete structures that hold heat longer like seawalls, ramps and bridges, and deeper holes with black muck bottoms that absorb heat. As the day grows longer and the flats heat up, the feeding and tailing activity redfish and black drum improve as the shallow water warms up faster. Another very important part of the equation is to match the hatch. Remember as stated earlier, mullet are tropical fish, so during the winter the primary forage on the lagoon switches from finfish to crustaceans like shrimp and crabs. When targeting redfish, black drum, and sea trout during the colder months, I like to downsize my bait, slow down my presentation, and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation baits like the Rip/Tide Realistic Shrimp and Crab on a WoodieÃs Rattle Hook. If fly-fishing is your game and large inshore game fish are your desire, nothing beats the Banana River LagoonÃs No-Motor Zone in the winter, and nothing gets your heart pumping like the sight of a huge black drum or redfish tailing in your direction. In 1994, the federal government set aside 10,500 acres of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to serve as a manatee refuge, restricting the use of motorized vessels of any kind. In an effort to protect the then endangered species, the government established a marine sanctuary accessible only by paddle or sail with very little angling pressure at all. The NMZÃs undeveloped shoreline and pristine sea grass beds are as close to old Florida as it gets. It is one of the only places I know of where forty pound black drum tail on the flats, and a well-presented black Clouser Minnow will reward you with the fight of your life. Also, the American shad fishing on the upper Saint Johns River south of Lake Harney should be in fill swing by mid January. The American shad are the largest species of herring, and they migrate up the river from the ocean to spawn. This activity is prevalent along the entire Atlantic seaboard, but we are the first to experience the spawn, as our waters are the first to warm up. Shad are great fun on a fly rod and light spinning gear, and try throwing a Crazy Charlie fly or small jig. In closing, I encourage all of you who live for the sport of fishing to visit the AnglerÃs Legacy website at http://www.anglerslegacy.com and take the pledge to take someone fishing for their first time. 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 If you would like to be added to my mailing list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-19-2006
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? IÃve heard things like itÃs too windy, itÃs too cold, or the fish are dormant and they donÃt 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. IÃve 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. ArtÃs 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 couldnÃt 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 BoudreauxÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-01-2006
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As winter settles in on the northern two thirds of America, many anglers can only dream about a location where stretching line is a year round endeavor. They long for a setting occupied by happy fish tailing in the shallows as the mid afternoon sun warms the flat. Such is the life of anglers in many parts of our country, and thank God we live on the Lagoon coast of Florida where catching is a winter sport. Like November, December is a month filled with outstanding fishing opportunities. The only significant difference is the impact cooler water temperatures have on the fishery, which is influenced by passing cold fronts. Fluctuations in water temperatures affect both fish behavior and angling tactics, so an understanding of where and how to fish can result is some memorable catches. Inlet Redfish Near-shore and in the inlets, large redfish were consistent outside Ponce Inlet, Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet last month, and they should remain steady through December. At both Ponce and Sebastian, look for redfish chasing bait on the surface during periods of slack tide, or feeding along the bottom during periods of falling tidal flow. At Port Canaveral, work the bottom in deeper water just outside the buoy line along the channel ledges. These fish will hit artificial baits, but live pinfish, pigfish, and finger mullet are more productive. Remember, these are large oversized reds, so step up your tackle and handle and release them with extreme care. Snook Snook fishing will remain steady in the surf and inlets, with Sebastian Inlet proving to be the most productive location. It is best to target inlet snook at night by drifting live pigfish and pinfish through the channel, or fishing bucktail jigs or large swimming plugs from the rocks and catwalks. This type of fishing can be quite challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same fish and impatient and discourteous anglers, so please pay attention, be courteous, stay safe, and enjoy the rewards. Also, remember snook season closest on December 15th, so if you plan on keeping one, you need to get busy. Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel Large schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel have been feeding on glass minnows (bay anchovies) along the beaches and outside the Inlets. When targeting these fish watch for bird activity and work small jigs or spoons very fast to avoid cut offs. A small trace of wire can be added ahead of your bait to reduce cut offs, but in some cases the keen vision of the toothy mackerel will reduce the number of strikes. Also, if you see pelicans diving on bait and then holding their bills down in the water in an effort to strain the water from the smaller baitfish before swallowing, you are in the right spot. Flounder The Flounder run is on with good catches being reported from both Port Canaveral and Sebastian. Anglers utilizing either jigs or live finger mullet fished on the bottom are experiencing the best results. My favorite technique is to slow drift the Inlet passes, bouncing jigs like the new Riptide Mud Minnow on the bottom. This tactic allows you to cover more ground, and once you have located a hot spot, you can anchor your boat and concentrate on the area. Tarpon and Kingfish Further off of the beach, tarpon and kingfish can be found shadowing bait pods outside the Inlets. Either slow troll live baits on steel stinger rigs, or try dropping live baits into schools of bait in deeper water. This bite should continue as long as water temperatures remain above 74 degrees. Tripletail and Cobia December is also the month when tripletail begins to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line, and as the water cools the bite should improve. When water temperatures drop below 70 degrees, look for cobia on weed-lines, near-shore wrecks, buoys, and other structure. Once the water temperatures drop below 68 degrees, target cobia on the deeper wrecks and hard bottom where the water is a bit warmer. Inshore Trout, Redfish and Black Drum On the inshore flats, both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay in the seventies. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots on cooler days, and look for fish to be holding in sand spots (potholes) until the sun gets overhead. Now is also the time to target tailing black drum in the Banana LagoonÃs No Motor Zone. If youÃve never seen black drum tailing, it is worth the paddle into the NMZ. Try fishing with natural baits like shrimp and crabs, or shrimp and crab imitation baits. Also, a well-presented black Clouser Minnow Fly works well for all three species. American Shad and Speckled Perch (Black Crappie) Good numbers of speckled perch (black crappie) are showing up in the upper St Johns River south of lake Harney. Fish structure or slow troll jigs or live minnows near the bottom. Also, look for the American shad to begin showing up near the end of the month on their winter spawning run. The American shad is an incredible species to catch on light tackle and fly, and if you have never experienced this fishery, you are missing the boat. In closing, I would like to thank all of you for your support this past year. 2006 was an incredible year of catching, with too many great memories to mention. Guiding anglers on the Space Coast is a great job, and IÃm looking forward to our next adventure in 2007. Also, if you are looking for a special gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, contact me about a charter gift certificate for 2007. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing and happy holidays, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com 407-416-1187 on the water 407-366-8085 landline 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-15-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 15, 2006 Captain Tom Van Horn, Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Have you ever heard the adage, Ã¬fishing is fishing, catching is catching, and they both are funÃ®? 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 yearÃs 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 IÃve 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-29-2006
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 TomÃs mailing list, reply to this message at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-22-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, October 22, 2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Well folks, this weekÃs 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 whoÃs efforts were rewarded with four nice flounder and a chunky redfish. We returned to the back of the Port for some after hourÃs 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 IÃve 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-28-2006
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 FloridaÃs 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 AlzheimerÃs 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=article&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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-20-2006
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. Ed HadlyÃs Top-Water Redfish On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked the HenryÃs Fishing Tackle Show in Orlando in support of Evolution Rods. Several yearsÃ 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-01-2006
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. ItÃs 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 youÃve 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 Âº 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-14-2006
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 donÃt 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 NatureÃs 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 thatÃs 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 youÃve 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 MagazineÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-31-2006
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 FloridaÃs 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 isnÃt 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 FloridaÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-30-2006
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, donÃt 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 anyoneÃs 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 WoodieÃs 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-27-2006
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 doesnÃt mean the fish arenÃt 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 cloudÃs 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 havenÃt heard the final count, but IÃm 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. ItÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-29-2006
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. DonÃt 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 wasnÃt 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, KentÃs 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 couldnÃt 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 couldnÃt 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 KimÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-10-2006
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 SteveÃs 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-02-2006
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters There may be some truth in the saying Ã¬the one who dies with the most toys winsÃ®, but lifeÃs 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 IÃm already looking forward to next yearÃs event. Longer days and increasing water temperatures both set the stage for increasing fishing opportunities experienced in May on FloridaÃs Indian River lagoon Coast. May is one of the best months to fish FloridaÃs 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, donÃt 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 3Ã® 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 FloridaÃs east coast, so donÃt 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=article&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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-11-2006
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 10, 2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Just the other morning, I found myself once again perched along the LagoonÃs edge to observe the sunrise. The sky was deep blue with the exception of the sunÃs fiery orange fingers, which reached up through the darkness and glistened across the lagoonÃs 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 IÃve 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 WoodieÃs Rattle Insert or WoodieÃs 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=article&sid=69 Sports Fishing MagazineÃs FishStock 2006 in New Smyrna Beach on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27th, 28th. I will be conducting a new tackle clinic called Ã¬New Gear, New ApplicationsÃ®. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-30-2006
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As I reflect on my forecast for April, I cant help but get excited about the many different angling prospects spring delivers to the Indian River Coast of Florida. IÃm 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 FloridaÃs east central coast in 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 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. ItÃs 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 a late season cobia run. The cobia run thus far has been hot; with hordes of bait pods (Atlantic menhaden or pogies) working inshore bring the cobia with them. Also included within the bait pods are 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 game fish 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 itÃs 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 striper bass action has been hot 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 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 down south in the Stick Marsh and Farm 13, the largemouth bass fishing has been extremely hot, with one guide reporting catching over one hundred bass on a two-day charter. In closing, I would like to thank those of you who facilitate my reports by providing me with current information and insite, and also the readers for your responses and inspiration. 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 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-24-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, 3-24-06 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Fishing on the Indian River Lagoon Coast this past week was difficult for the most part, due to our typical spring weather patterns. On the nice days, fishing opportunities abound, and on the blustery ones, fishing is tough. In March, the tough angling days generally out number the nice ones, 2 to 1. The major story this past few weeks has been the cobia and tripletail run near-shore. On Monday the sea conditions were fishable in the morning, and good number of cobia and tripletail were taken between 40 and 50 feet of water along the lagoon coast between Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. I was honored to once again join my good friend Scott Bradford aboard the Afternoon Delight, accompanied by Captain Butch McCoy and Mark Blythe who boated his first cobia in the 35 to 40-pound range. Most of the fish were concentrated within bait pods (pogies), and as the wind and sea conditions progressively increased, catching opportunities decreased. On a positive note, the number of concentrated bait pods seems to have increased this year, which should make for a good early summer near-shore kingfish run, and good tarpon bite during the summer.. Today, we wisely postponed my charter for tomorrow (northwest 15 to 20), as another front has again kicked up the seas and eliminated offshore opportunities for the next few days. Once conditions improve, anglers shouldnÃt hesitate to take advantage remaining run of cobia before they move north. I also spotted sizable bait pods moving north this afternoon from the south end of Playlinda Beach, so those of you who fish from Ponce Inlet, get ready. On the inside, redfish schools have and will continue to form up and move into the skinny water, but again choppy water conditions have made sight fishing difficult. Additionally, the trout bite has shown improvement with several quality fish finding their way into my boat last week, so look for some larger sea trout to begin forming up for the spawn in April. Also, the new troll/poll zone has been implement on Tiger Shoals in the Mosquito Lagoon, and be aware that the north marker in the running channel was installed in the wrong location, missing the Mail Box cut by 50 feet. In addition, the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge has renewed their commitment to enforcement of the fishing permits required by all anglers fishing within the boundaries of the refuge, so go online or stop by any of the informational signs at the entrance of the refuge and fill one out. In closing, it is time to mark your calendars for the Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Boating and Fishing Expo, to be held in Melbourne on May 19th , 20th, and 21st. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-28-2006
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 itÃs 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 weÃll 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 JohnÃs 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 youÃve 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-13-2006
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 IÃve 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 couldnÃt 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 werenÃt 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 40Ã® 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. IÃve 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-31-2006
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. IÃm 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 Ã¬No Motor ZoneÃ®. 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 RiptideÃs Realistic Shrimp, DOA Shrimp, or BerkleyÃs 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 ShopÃs 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 TomÃs mailing list reply to captain@irl-fishing.com
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-26-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, 1/26/2006 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Despite windy conditions, this weeks fishing expeditions have produced respectable results, and a sore back from paddling in the wind. The long range forecast has blustery conditions through the upcoming weekend, so we will just have to live with a bit of breeze if we want to fish. My first day on the water was scouting trip in the Mosquito Lagoon with my good friend Captain John Kumiski, and we found happy fish on the first flat we checked. The wind was from the east at 10 to 15 knots with overcast skies, so we started on the east shore and drifted the flat blindly throwing DOA Cals, RipTide Flats Chubs, and Stanley Wedge Tail Jigs combined with WoodieÃs Rattles and we ended up with 10 slot redfish within the first hour. Next, we fished our way to the north end of Mosquito Lagoon only to catch a dozen or so small sea trout. We ended the day with a blast by watching the launch of the New Horizons space mission to Pluto. My second adventure was a trip to the No-Motor Zone on Friday the 20th accompanied again by my good friend Captain John Kumiski. The weatherman missed the mark once more, and a northeast 5 to 10 turned into a 15 to 20 with overcast skies, not a nice day for fly fishing from kayaks. In spite of the tough conditions John still managed 6 redfish, with 2 pushing the 20-pound mark, all caught on black clouser minnow. As for me, I spent most of my efforts keeping my kayak from spinning in circles as the wind blow me across the lagoon. On Monday the 23rd, I returned to the No-Motor Zone, this time in my Old Town canoe joined by Captain Chris Myers. Again, we faced a stiff 15-knot south wind, but through hard work and determination we managed to locate a school of large black drum. Due to the windy conditions, cloudy skies, and dirty water, we decided use spin tackle, and Chris was the first to hook-up throwing a green Exude crab, only to pull hook on the fish after a short skirmish. It was my turn next when a huge black drum picked up a Gulp Crab I had chunked out from my stern position as Chris stood in the front trying to spot the school. I knew this was a big fish by the way it pulled drag, so my thoughts were, even pressure, take your time, and donÃt palm the spool, but after about 10 minutes of not turning the fish, impatiens got the best of me, and I began to palm the spool. Well, you know the end to that story. My 20-pound fluorocarbon leader separated from the hook, right where my loop knot was tied. With the wind beginning to howl, we lost the battle to stay with the fish, and we started working our way back. Soon Chris spotted a large redfish less than 10 feet from the boat. He flipped his green Exude Crab out and let it flutter to the bottom, and to our surprise, the big fish ate. Chris ended up landing and releasing a nice 30-pound plus redfish, which would be our only fish for the day. Today, due to the windy conditions, I decided to head to the St. Johns River and see if the American shad had arriver, and to my delight, I can tell you they have. I launched at Hwy 46 south of Lake Harney, and from there I headed south towards Puzzle Lake. I ended the day catching 7 shad. Five of the shad were caught on a pink Crazy Charlie fly, and the others were caught on a green Hal Fly jig. I also managed six other species of fish, including at least twenty 3 to 8 inch largemouth bass, all caught on a pink Crazy Charlie fly. By no means where the shad jumping into the boat, but they are there. As always, if you need more information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-20-2006
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, 1/19/2006 As usual, January cold fronts have held the upper hand on anglers these past few weeks. Gusty post and prefrontal breezes have blown out most opportunities creating rough conditions and increased turbidity. ItÃs funny how the worst weather always seems to arrive on the weekends and when you have trips planned in advance, and on the days you canÃt fish, the winds die down and the sun appears. Seasonal conditions have dropped water levels on the Mosquito Lagoon even lower this past week, and finding clean water has been the trick to locating fish. The north end of the Mosquito Lagoon has the cleanest water for the most part, with several large schools of slot reds reported north of Shotgun and around Tiger Shoals. Also, on warmer days, good numbers of upper slot sea trout have been holding in the shallow water potholes, where a stealth presentation of a fly or small shrimp imitation bait like RipTideÃs Realistic Shrimp, or DOA Shrimp in natural colors are your best bet for a hook-up. Furthermore, the addition of sound and sent will improve your chances of a hook-up when the water turbid, so be sure to include a Woodies Rattle Hook, and shrimp scented Lunker Sauce to arsenal. Fishing in the No-Motor Zone this past week has also been tough due to cold windy conditions, and launch security closures. Now that the New Horizons Spacecraft has launched, the Zone should reopen soon. On the upper Saint JohnÃs River, the water levels are about 20 inches above the level experienced this time last year, and the American shad have yet to arrive in any significant numbers. I scouted the area south of Hwy 46 Bridge near the Econ Creek on two occasions last week, only to catch an assortment of speckled perch, small bass, and a buzz at the Jolly GatorÃs Fish Camp. Today I fished with Captain John Kumiski on the Mosquito Lagoon, and the overcast and windy conditions made sight fishing difficult. Despite the less than perfect conditions, we still managed a dozen slot redfish between us, and a number of small sea trout. All fish were taken on DOA shrimp and CAL baits with Woodies rattles inserted. Hopefully, weather conditions will improve by this weekend, and if they donÃt, it is a good time to catch up on the boat and tackle maintenance. In Closing, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Website at www.coastalanglermagazine.com. 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 office Seminar Schedule: January 28, 2006 ISAA Annual BQ at River Breeze Park in Oak Hill February 11th and 12th Bass Pro Spring Classic in Orlando February 28th FSFA Meeting on Merritt Island
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-30-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2006 As we ring in the New Year, it is once again time to reflect back on the events and accomplishments of 2005, and to count our many blessings. We are truly fortunate to live on the east central coast of Florida where enjoying the lagoon and angling are year round endeavors. I am also thankful for another great year of fishing with my clients and friends on the precious waters of the Indian River Lagoon estuary. Thank you all for a year filled with adventure on the water. 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. While seeking input for this report, my good friend Captain Rodney Smith suggested that 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 IRL. 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 will make a difference in promoting the use, and not the abuse of resources we love and respect. With these thoughts in mind, I would like to inform every one of some changes in the Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Reports format. I realize that change is not always a good thing, but do not fret. Instead, this report will be the first of many to come as I step into the arena of senior editor and moderator of the new Coastal Angler Magazine.com Fishing Report Page. Those of you on my mailing list will still receive my reports as you have in the past, with detailed fishing reports from throughout Florida as an added resource by visiting www.coastalanglermagazine.com. For the past 8 years, Coastal AnglerÃs in print magazine has served as the only magazine exclusively covering fishing, boating, and the conservation of the IRL, and IÃm very excited to be part of their new online expansion. Scheduled to be activated on January 1, 2006, the new CAM website will be loaded with detailed information about the resource. 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 50Ãs in the morning to around the 70Ãs by afternoon. Likewise, water temperatures average in the upper 60Ãs, but they can drop as low as the 50Ãs during extended cold periods. On warm sunny days, water temperatures can increase as much as four degrees on the shallow flats and sandbars. All of these factors greatly affect species targeted and methods used. Last January as an example, a two-week warm-up brought ocean water temperatures up to the 70 degree mark, and a number of large tripletail and cobia moved inshore off the bight of the Cape resulting in some of the best fishing experienced all year. 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 of 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 jumbo reds move in and feed in the mouth of the inlets during the last part of the falling tide. 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. Additionally, both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets Ã¬potholesÃ® 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 RipTide, DOA, or GULP shrimp in the clear or nightglow colors fished extremely slow. I also like to add the element of sound to the bait by inserting a WoodieÃs 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 Ã¬ No Motor ZoneÃ®. Both live shrimp and clams 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 Saint Johns River. Last year, I started catching shad on January 13th, and the run remained heavy through February. Start watching for the shad to arrive in the Marina Isle and Lemmon Bluff areas first, and than moving upstream past Lake Harney and the Little Big Econ later on in the month. Currently, the water levels are still a little higher the last year, but if this yearÃs run is anything close to last year, look out. Seminar Schedule: January 13th, Daytona Boat Show 7pm, Braided Lines for Light Tackle Applications January 14th, Daytona Boat Show, 12pm, Spring Cobia and Tripletail 4pm, Braided Lines for Light Tackle Applications February 11th and 12th, Bass Pro ShopÃs Spring Classic Orlando February 18th and 19th, Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic Orlando 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 www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my e-mail list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-15-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Passion for the sport of angling and the outdoors is what drives many diehard anglers like myself towards the ultimate goal of the perfect day on the water. Many of us only dream of such a day, and in my life, IÃve been blessed by more than my share. This was the case once more on Monday, as my good friend and lagoon mentor Captain John Kumiski joined me on a venture into the backwaters of the Banana River No-Motor Zone. With the goal of catching my first respectable redfish on fly, and hopefully taking a shot at the mystical black drum, John and I have been talking about this expedition all summer. You see, my specialty has always been light tackle spin fishing, and for years, my good friends and expert fly guides Captains John, and Rodney Smith have challenge me to take the next step up into the saltwater fly fishing arena. We started our endeavor at around 0930, as the cool 50-degree morning air deterred an early start. The skis were crystal clear with a 10-knot northwest wind, which is very manageable for winterÃs day on the lagoon. As we paddled into the zone, I had one of those feelings you get in the pit of my stomach. I knew the catching was going to be good, and in this case, and my intuition was dead on as my fly-fishing lesson soon began. Paddling into our first stop, we spooked a substantial school of large black drum and decided to stake out the canoe and wade with the hopes the school would settle down. The fish were still present as we waded back into the area, but the hip deep muddy water made site fishing tricky, and we soon gave up hopes of a clean shot. As we worked our way back to the canoe, John initiated my fishing lesson by scoring the first of what he called stupid redfish. I was next to have a good shot at a nice redfish, but I planted my fly squarely between his eyes, and as it bolted in the direction of John, John presented the perfect cast and the waking fish slammed on the brakes and devoured JohnÃs fly. Fish number two was on, and before we departed stop number one, Johns score was three respectable redfish and two hefty sea trout to my squat. Next, John polled me along the shore and we quickly spotted another stupid fish swimming straight at us, and I missed the strike four times before finally sticking the fat redfish. As I worked my redfish to the boat, three more redfish approached, and John hooked one for what would be the first of our four double hookups. The hot bite continued for the remainder of the trip, and at one point John asked me when I was planning on calling it a day. Together we agreed that this day would only end when the fish wised up or the sun set. We quickly lost count of the number of quality fish caught, but a conservative estimate would be about 30 redfish up to 20 pounds, and at least 25 sea trout up to 7 pounds. All with the exception of four fish were taken on clouser minnows, chartreuse and black, orange and black, and purple and black. Oh by the way, John ended the day catching another hefty redfish on his last cast only a couple hundred yards from the ramp, as the sun settled into the lagoon. Now, you may think this was the most unbelievable fishing story youÃve ever heard before, but today I returned to the Zone with both of my mentors, Captain John and Captain Rodney Smith, and the catching greatly improved over Monday. We pushed away from our launch site at about 0830 facing a gentle north breeze, and clear sunny skis. As the day grew longer, the air warmed up, the breeze lay down, and our catching bonanza commenced. Combined, we each caught double the amount of fish taken on Monday, with a number of triple hook-ups, and we each caught a slam, redfish, sea trout, and snook. Top hook for the day was Captain John, with a fat 30-pound plus redfish. The majority of the fish caught were top of the slot or larger, and again taken on various flies. Yes, I am convinced there are fish gods, and this week, they have been grinning from ear to ear. On a side note, only a few black drum were seen on the flat with none taken, so I still have a big black drum on fly on my list for later. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and great fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com 407-416-1187 on the water 407-366-8085 office 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-29-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters We are very fortunate to live in Central Florida and to fish on the waters along Indian River Lagoon Coast, for our angling adventures carry on year round. December on the lagoon coast marks a transitional period influenced greatly by changing water temperatures resulting from shorter days and passing cold fronts. The strength and duration of passing fronts are unpredictable, but both of these factors determine changes in water temperature, the number of fishable day between fronts, and fishing tactics. The comfort zones of many species of fish shift as the lagoon and coastal waters cool, and understanding how these changes influence specific species will help you locate and catch fish. A good reference for the temperature range for saltwater fish species is located on the Central Florida East Coast Fishing website and can be reviewed at http://home.cfl.rr.com/floridafishing/temp.htm. Many references suggest that fish are a cold-blooded animals, which is true to some degree, but realistically their body temperature is the same as the water surrounding them. As the water temperature nears the lower ranges of their comfort zone they become sluggish and require a lesser degree of energy to maintain their bodily functions; as a result they feed less. When this happens, most pelagic species will migrate to warmer waters, others species will seek warmer depths, and some species will succumb if extreme thermal changes occur quickly. Therefore, it is important to consider the temporal conditions when developing your fishing plan of attack. Inlet Fishing In and around the inlets of Ponce De Leon and Sebastian, I prefer to fish the incoming tide because the water in the ocean is typically a degree or two warmer than that of the Lagoon. Remember, as the water temperature increases, the fish will become more active and need more food. Also, our prevailing seas in the winter are from the northeast, so on the rising tide the seas are following to the current, and they are less threatening and safer. In December all of the inlets hold resident schools of large breeder redfish, and if the conditions are right, bright warm sunny afternoons and a slack to incoming tide, they will form up on the surface outside the inlets and actively feed on bait schools or anything else they can catch. When targeting these breeders, watch for heavy bird activity, and remember these are large brood redfish, so use medium heavy tackle to lessen the duration of the battle, circle hooks to reduce hook trauma, and practice CPR (catch-photo-release). Additionally, December is a prime month for snook fishing in the Sebastian Inlet as long as the water temperatures stay warm. The best snook action cranks up after dark around the slack periods of the tide, with the warmer incoming tide being the best. Also on the first and third quarters of the moon, the tidal flow is less, providing a larger window of slack currents to fish. A lot of anglers fish from the shoreline, jetties, and catwalks with bucktail jigs and large swimming hard baits like Wind Cheaters and Bombers. Others favor fishing from boats and drifting live pigfish or pinfish through the bridge channel. These styles of angling can be quite rewarding if your timing is right, but they can also be very challenging due to the large numbers of anglers competing for the same action. Also, as a reminder, snook season ends on December 15th, so if you enjoy those yummy linesider filets, your time is limited. Another notable species passing through the inlet on their way to deeper warmer water are the flounder. Good reports of flounder have surfaced from all of the inlets, but the current bite has slowed down a bit. As the water is cooled by passing fronts, waves of southern and gulf flounder will continue to migrate through the pass into deeper coastal waters. Currently the surf temperatures are in the lower 70Ãs, with 68 degrees being the key indicator for the migration. So, flounder pounders get ready, because the bulk of the flounder run has yet to come. Along the Beaches As the waters cool, look for the schools of inshore pompano to begin to move off of the shallow flats through the passes into the deeper warmer troughs along the beach. Good numbers of pompano have begun to show up, and the bite will improve as winter progresses. Besides clean water, pompano prefer deep water with easy access to sand fleas (mole crabs) small crabs and other crustaceans. Also, some locations traditionally hold greater numbers of fish due to deeper troughs, and some of these hotspots are: beaches north and south of the Sebastian Inlet, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach, Playalinda Beach, the Canaveral National Seashore south of New Smyrna Beach, and beaches north of Ponce Inlet. Pompano seem to feed best on the warmer incoming tide, but they often bite well at first light and dusk. To locate prime pompano hotspots, simply look for the hoards of local surf fisherman, and squeeze in. Other significant species along the beach in December are bluefish and Spanish mackerel. These two species will be aggressively feeding on schools of glass minnows, so look for diving birds and slicks on the water, and through small jigs and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs. Last but not least, letÃs not forget the tasty whiting. Whiting (southern kingfish) love cold water, and a freshly peeled shrimp or piece of squid, fished on a double dropper bottom rig (pompano rig) and both will do the trick. Whiting seem to prefer a heavy rolling surf, so they are a great species to target during rough days, if you are tough enough. Near-shore If the water stays warm and the seas permit it, look for kingfish, tarpon, and sharks to be cruising in the shallow water along the beaches working the remaining bait schools heading south. Also, solid concentrations of kings will be holding in 60 to 100 feet of water on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like 8A reef, north Pelican Flats. The kingfish bite should remain steady as long as the water temperatures stay above 74 degrees. To target kingfish, try slow trolling live bait if you can find them, or troll dead Spanish sardines or cigar minnows (spinning minnows) dressed with skirts. When the near-shore waters approach the 70-degree mark, look for tripletail and cobia to begin showing up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and the near-shore waters off of the beaches and the bight of the Cape. These fish normally hold on floating structure and weeds, but on bright sunny warm days you will find them free swimming on the surface searching for an easy meal. Offshore December is one of the best months to target grouper, snapper, and amberjacks. Again, if the seas allow it, target live bottom in the 21 to 27 fathom range with either live bait, dead bait, or deep jigging. Additionally, wahoo, dolphin and an occasional sailfish are still quality targets in areas of color change, rips, and weed lines. Inshore Flats Both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay in the 70-degree range. Fish in protected areas on windy days, sunny spots where the water is warmer, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets (potholes) until the sun gets overhead. In the fall the water levels begin to drop and clear up making winter one of the best times to sight fish, but when venturing into the skinny water, you better respect the limits of your boat. These extremely skinny waters hold fish, but it is best to hire a guide who specializes in backwater fishing, and save the wear and tear on your boat and the grass flats. If you need a skinny water backcountry guide, I can recommend several, just give me a call. Now, if the water cools off, look for the fish to find the warmest water possible. In this case, sea trout will move to deeper areas with soft muddy bottom, which hold heat, like dredge canals and hard structures, but IÃm hoping I can save this information until next months forecast. Also, if it does get cold, itÃs not necessary to get an early start, so stay in bed, let the sun warm the water, and fish in the afternoon. Also, remember spotted sea trout are out of season in December on FloridaÃs east central coast, so please handle them with care and return them to the water as quickly as possible. Now is also the time of year when the tailing black drum to begin to show up on the flats of the Banana River No-Motor Zone. These fish will eat live shrimp, clams, and secret bait, and they are also a favorite target fly anglers flipping small black clousers and other shrimp imitations. If you have never seen a 30-pound black drum tailing, it is worth the paddle, and the secret bait, well you will have to book me to learn the answer to that question. I understand this is an extremely long winded forecast, but in closing, I would like to mention that I have been selected to serve as the senior editor of the new Coastal Angler Magazine website scheduled to go on line soon, so stay tuned for more details as the become available. I will also be speaking at the Daytona Boat Show on the 13th and 14th of January, and the Bass Pro Shop Spring Classic on February 11th and 12th. Also, I would like to remind everyone that the ultimate holiday gift for the angler close to your heart is a relaxing guided day on the water in his or her favorite angling location, and Florida Guidelines offers gift certificates available with any one of our 27 affiliated inshore, near-shore and off shore charter guides. For more information on Florida Guidelines, visit our website at www.flguidelines.com or contact me. As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me. Happy Holidays, and good luck and goof fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com 407-416-1187 on the water 407-355-8085 office 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-23-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 22, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For starters, I would like to say happy Thanksgiving, and I wish the best for you and your family during the holiday season. Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to spend some time with family and friends, count our many blessings, and then go fishing. As many of you know, angling on the lagoon coast this past few weeks has been difficult to say the least. Small craft advisory has been the dominant theme over the weather radio, and for the first time in 24 years straight, I was reluctantly forced to cut my annual Thanksgiving Sebastian fishing vacation short. Each time we pushed the envelope, high winds, heavy seas, or driving rain frustrated us, or we were driven ashore by threatening conditions. To add insult to injury, a strong cold front finally managed to push in on Monday night bringing us clear skies, only to slap us around with gale force winds. All in all, it still beat the heck out of a week of work and was enjoyable nonetheless. When we first started going to the city of Sebastian, it was a quite little fishing village rolling up its streets at sundown. Sebastian has evolved into a booming island style seaside resort, loaded with after hour entertainment and fine seafood dining. As usual, we rented a boat slip from Captain HiramÃs resort, which features a beach bar, restaurant, lodging, and marina with boat rentals. The weather was so bad, Three Quarter Time stayed on the trailer most of the time, and the resort dock master refunded my weeks stall rent after being blown out weather wise for the week. The City of Sebastian is located on the mainland directly across from the Sebastian Inlet, and is also home to the Sebastian River and the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge. November is the prime time, weather permitting, for the flounder migration. Good catches of flounder were reported in advance of the bad weather, but we only managed a few, fishing the wrong tides under adverse conditions. Once this cold weather settles in and the water cools, another heavy wave of flatfish should pass through the inlet. We also manage to catch a good number of ladyfish, jacks, and large sailcats while targeting flatfish, so we did have some fun. All fish were caught by drifting the inlet bouncing RipTideÃs new Mud Minnow Jig on the bottom, tipped with a tiny chunk of fresh shrimp for flavor. On Saturday I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Rodney Smith, my good friend and Lagoon mentor, and we did manage to locate some respectable sea trout in the area of the clam lease near Black Point, south of the inlet. In spite of 15 to 20 knot winds, we caught some respectable trout drifting across the flat jigging with RipTide Realistic Shrimp on a Âº ounce jig, season with shrimp flavored Lunker Sauce. Remember, sea trout are out of season in November and December, so all trout must be released, but they are still fun to catch. Additionally, the inlet has been loaded with snook, but again the weather prohibited us from any attempts during the proper conditions. Good reports of snook were received from shore anglers I talked to, but we selected not to push the envelope of a nighttime lagoon crossing during difficult weather. If the current weather conditions settle down, the moon is right for an excellent snook bite this weekend. I like to target inlet snook at night, starting about an hour before tide change, and than fish through the slack tide until an hour or so after the change. This window of opportunity is wider during the first quarter moon, because the tidal flow is weaker. For bait selections, I like using large artificial hard baits like Bombers and Wind cheaters, one ounce bucktail jigs, and best of all, live pigfish and pinfish. Snook are ambush feeders, so you want to cast up current and let the bait swim natural with the tide just bumping the bottom every now and then. There is an art to catching snook at Sebastian Inlet, so if you chose to undertake this venture, watch the locals closely and be safe, because itÃs an intense style of fishing. As always, if you need more information or have any questions, please contact me. Happy Holidays and 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-09-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 7, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Fishing conditions on the IRL coast have shown significant improvement since the passing of Hurricane Wilma, with the bite improving as well. Water levels are still high and higher levels of tannic stained runoff (brown water) are still present, but in most areas of the lagoon, the water clarity is improving nicely. This past week a high-pressure system dominated our weather bringing magnificently sunny days, gentle northeast breezes, and mild temperatures, but the high pressure and turbid water made catching tough early in the week. As the week progressed, the bite improved. On Friday, I fish with a group of 40 guides supporting the Ring Power convention organized by Captain Tom Carver. The event was set up as a mini slot redfish tournament, and out of all those boats, Captain Mark Wright took top hook with five slot redfish. Our only slot fish was caught by working a green weed less Ribbit Frog made by Stanley Jigs early in the day on the edge of the mangroves. On Saturday, I fished a two-boat charter with Captain Kevin Mulligan. My anglers were John Kroger and his fishing buddy Mike from Denver. We started the day fly-fishing at the south power plant in Port Saint John, and we worked over the ladyfish for a good hour before John and Mike had enough. While on the subject of the power plants, they are currently loaded with ladyfish and jacks, but the manatee restrictions go in effect on November 15th, so if you enjoy the continues action of fishing the outflows, you only have a few days left. After we departed the power plant, we headed to the east shore where we ended up catching eight slot redfish and several nice sea trout between us. Sight fishing was tough due to the water conditions, so we opted to soaking ladyfish chunks in areas of bait schools in about two feet of water. On Sunday, I fished a four hour charter with Steve Smith and his good friend Jim, and we started the morning working jigs with RipTide 4Ã® Swimming Mullet at the power plant, and they warmed up on the fast and furious action of the ladyfish. Once Jim and Steve grew tired of the slaughter, we moved to the east shore for some top-water trout action. While polling into the flat, I spotted school of sizable reds in deeper water, but before we could poll into position, a lagoonoramus in a johnboat blew across the school sounding them. For the next hour we quietly waited for their return, but again before we could get within casting range another boat buzzed the area. We finally staked out in the vicinity and chunked out ladyfish, and we ended the day with one break off, 15 hard heads, several sizable sea trout, and one nice 20-pound redfish. On a side note, remember that spotted sea trout are out of season in November and December, and you should have seen the look on the face of the unacquainted angler cleaning trout at the dock at Port Saint John, when the FWC Officer walked up and informed him of the regulations with a ticket. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-30-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, November 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters ItÃs hard to fathom the thought of how quickly fall has arrived, delivering cooler weather and exceptional fishing to the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. As I sit down to write this forecast, countless memories of outstanding fishing adventures in November come to mind. We are truly blessed to live in a location where angling is a year-round activity, and fall prevails as one of the most productive times to fish along FloridaÃs east central coast. This November marks the twentieth year of my familyÃs annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the city of Sebastian Florida were we celebrate our thankfulness for the many blessing weÃve received, and fish for an entire week straight. This year, IÃm just as excited about our odyssey as I was the first time I laid eyes on Sebastian Inlet. ItÃs the season of the mullet On the Space Coast, with waves of black and silver mullet working their way south through the lagoon and along the beach. This yearÃs bait run started early, and in some locations finger mullet schools have thinned out a bit, but good reports of heavy bait concentrations to the north around Ponce Inlet indicate more is yet to come. Along with the seasonal migration of bait come cooler temperatures and an influx of predator species seeking warmer waters and an easy meal. Large tarpon along the beach, snook, sharks, jumbo jack carvalle, and breeder redfish will all be present as the feeding frenzy commences. 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. In some cases migrating manta rays swing in close to the beach, each shadow harboring small pods of fish. Also, look for the fall kingfish run to commence as well as 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 should begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets and their numbers will increase as the flounder begin their seaward migration out of the lagoon near the end of the month. Also, letÃs 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 lagoon, look for schools of pompano to begin to form up and move off of the flats thought the inlets, and invade the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food. Currently, reports of skipping pompano have been coming from anglers working the flats in the north Indian River Lagoon, and the flats on the east shore of the Indian River Lagoon south of Titusville. Also, look for large schools of ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and small sea trout working the migrating schools of glass minnows as they move south through the lagoon in deeper water and along the beach. When looking for schools of glass minnows, watch for terns swooping down and touching the water. Terns prefer to eat live baitfish, and their activity is a sure sign to the presents of feeding fish. Another sign to look for are pelicans holding their bills in the water after diving on bait. With the small glass minnows, pelicans must take the time to separate the tiny bait from the water before tilting their head back to swallow. Last but not least, weather is always the determining factor in November. Passing cold fronts create a cycle of blustery winds, heavy seas offshore, and dirty water, and they can change a great day of fishing into a tough day of catching, So watch the weather, plan your trips accordingly, catch-um-up, and be safe. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me, Good fishing to all, 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-30-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Shorter days and cooler nights, acorns dropping from my live oak trees and the love bug hatch are all signs of fall on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Another sure sign of fall on the Lagoon Coast is the waves of baitfish working their way south on their fall migration through the lagoon and along the beach. We are currently in the middle of the fall bait run consisting primarily of silver mullet, a tropical species, with some Atlantic menhaden (pogies), bay anchovies (glass minnows) and black mullet mixed in. These tasty little baitfish create a smorgasbord for a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter. As the water cools, waves of bait move in pulses heading south, and locating bait concentrations is the key to catching fish. Also, October and November are notorious for blustery breezes and nasty weather, but theyÃre also one of the best times of year for angling on the Lagoon coast, so watch the weather, pick your days on the water, and catch-em up. 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, smoker kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks, lots of them. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up near the latter part of the month bringing larger Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon with them. In and around the inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian look for flounder, snook, tarpon, jack crevelle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties. Easterly swells and falling tides can make for sporty sea conditions when operating your boat in these inlets, so pay attention, stay focused, and enjoy the rewards. Currently, shore anglers working from the beach are catching some nice snook and redfish by pitching live finger mullet along edge of the surf, even in the dirty water. In the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, higher water levels will allow anglers to venture into areas that were inaccessible during the summer. Look for slot redfish in close to grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet and the larger breeder reds staging in deeper water ambush sites where migrating fingers are forced to venture out away from the safety of the shallow flats. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and sea trout feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. When fishing conditions are favorable, these schools will produce explosive action on top water plugs and popping flies. Another productive method is to target these fish by jigging with Rip-tideÃs Realistic Shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig with a WoodieÃs Rattle inserted. Also look for pompano skipping on the lagoon flats around the Titusville area, and black drum around the IRL Bridges. In closing, I would like to inform everyone of Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Third Annual Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic Catch-Photograph-Release Tournament to be held at ChowderÃs Restaurant in Melbourne on the 28th and 29th of October. With an entry fee of only 50 dollars, this tournament is open to all anglers regardless of where and how you fish, and the anglerÃs bags presented to the first 200 anglers registered are worth at least that. Features eight different species of fish, this is a fun event intended to promote the use, not the abuse of the IRL, with proceeds donated to Lagoon projects. To register, pick up a copy of Coastal Angler Magazine or call CAM at 321-777-2773. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Viking Fleet starship	Date Posted:	09-27-2005
We scheduled a 24 Hr maiden voyage aboard the new Viking Superstar. She has 350 new comfortable, custom seats from Australia. This vessel is super fast cutting thru the water at 26 knots. The Superstar will be departing the Tarpon Springs area on October 22nd, 2005 at 12pm and will return on October 23rd 2005. We anticipate this trip selling out and we don't want to see you miss the boat.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-18-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 17, 2005 Mosquito Coast fishing Charters Shorter days, westerly breezes , and cooler than normal nights were the weather theme this past week, and together they provided ideal conditions for venturing back into the pristine waters of the Banana River Lagoon No-Motor Zone. Combine this superlative situation with a heavy concentration of fleeing mullet and aggressively feeding fish, and you have the recipe for some of the best catching you will see all year. This scenario proved accurate this past week as my angling adventures carried me into the zone on two occasions. On Tuesday, I was accompanied by my good friend Captain Pat Murphy, and our plan was to spend the day enjoying fishing instead of guiding for a change. We were on the fish by 0730, and the bite remained consistent into the afternoon. We started and ended the day working top-water plugs, and with the exception of several fish taken on fly, we never changed our tactics. When it was all said and done, we ended up catching 20 sea trout up to 30 inches, including 16 over slot fish, 12 snook up to 28 inched, one fat 25 inch redfish, and several 15 to 20-pound class jacks, and Pat also completed his slam with the 30 inch sea trout, 28 inch snook, and a fat 7.5 pound 25 inch redfish. On Wednesday and Thursday, my focus was diverted away from the water to the HenryÃs fishing tackle show in Orlando, and as usual, I was highly impressed by the many new and innovative products on the market, and happy to see many of my old friends. I was also fortunate to gain the support of Lipper Tools and Evolution GT Fishing Rods as a sponsor of Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters. The Evolution Rods features solid graphite construction, and they are specifically designed to meet the demands of serious saltwater anglers. They will be a great addition for my anglers. On Friday, it was back to the Zone with my good friends Captain Pat and Lyle Roll. The weather was even nicer that Tuesday, but the bite had slowed a bit. There was still a ton of bait everywhere, and we still managed a good number of respectable fish, but not comparable to the frenzy experienced earlier in the week. Some of my highlights for the day were the completion of a baby grand slam, 3 slot redfish, 2 slot sea trout, 1 short snook, and 1 baby tarpon, and the extrication of the front set of hooks from my Chug Bug by a monster redfish. Most of the fish were taken on top-water Skitterwalks and Chug Bugs fished in areas of concentrated bait. Currently, the long-term Atlantic forecast is lined up with summer squalls moving east, so now is the time to take advantage of our pleasant weather and sea conditions before they blow up again. Also, Captain John Kumiski is still in need of a few Captains and Anglers with boats willing to support the Tenth Annual Kids Fishing Day in Titusville on Saturday September 24th. So if you are available and would like to become involved in a great event, contact Captain John at 407-977-5207 or me. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-06-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 6, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Fishing Eases a Tired Mind, Especially During Trying Times. Once again, Mother Nature has revealed her enormous power as Hurricane Katrina rolled into the Gulf States this past week, and once again, humanity was brought to their knees by her merciless fury. In her wake, her rage has confirmed the resolve of mankind, and together we will roll up our sleeves to assist those in need. With that said, in the name of the Mustard Seed of Florida, (www.mustardseedfla.org) I have donated a fishing charter to be auctioned off at the Charity for Charities event ( www.charityforcharities.org ) held at the Orlando Convention Center next Saturday, September 11, 2005. Please check out the links above, and help those in need, and letÃs go fishing. Additionally, many of you know me as a fishing guide and outdoor writer, but IÃm also privileged and honored to serve as a fire fighter with the Kennedy Space Center. Last week, I was notified by NASA that I was one of the first on the list to be dispatched to assist in Slidel Louisiana, but that assignment is pending. I will keep you informed. In many fisheries around the world, it is important to match the hatch. On the Lagoon Coast, the dredged fall hatch of the Plecia nearctica, better know as the love bug, serves only one useful purpose, it signals the beginning of the mullet run. This past week on the lagoon and along the beach, hordes of finger mullet have formed up and started moving south, and in spite of the blustery northeast wind, fishing in the areas on mullet schools produced outstanding catches. This past weekend I had the opportunity to fish both Saturday and Sunday on the Banana River Lagoon, and on both days, the bite was outstanding. On Saturday, I prefished a creek mouth on the west shore, and I found that the northeast wind had pushed thousands of finger mullet in close to the shoreline where a number of snook and tarpon were pounding them. Using a blue/silver Chug Bug, I caught ten shook up to 25 inches and one 20lb tarpon in a period of two hours. On Sunday, I returned to the same creek mouth accompanied by David Hopkins from Ohio, and the bite had settle down a bit, but David still managed to catch a Banana River grand slam. We started throwing Chug Bugs at first light catching several sea trout up to 26 inches. As daylight filled the sky and the northeast wind began to howl, we moved into the creek mouth to finish the slam catching a rat redfish, numerous snook up to 25 inches, and a few small tarpon in the 15 to 20 pound range. Although the fish were not all keepers, it was a fun day nonetheless. During the week, other notable reports of both snook and tarpon in the surf were received. Captain Rodney Smith reported large tarpon working bait pods in the Satelite Beach area, and my good friend Lyle Roles reported catching a 30-inch snook off the beach near the Cocoa Beach Pier on a Wind Cheater. It looks like we are in for a run of nasty weather, but once it passes and the sea settle the bite should fire up again. In closing, be generous and kind with donations of both money and time, and ease your mind by going fishing. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-28-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2005 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 shift 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) and greenies, and predatory species begin their southerly migration along the beach and through the Indian River Lagoon. Rather than a continuous flow, baitfish move 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. ItÃs hard to predict the magnitude and duration of the run, but it recent trends continue, this years 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 their presence 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 youÃve 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 also 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 Î© 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 24Ã® 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, I like Stren Super Braid, which greatly increases your spoon capacity over standard monofilament line. Once youÃre rigged and acquired bait, you 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 your bait in the strike zone. Also, if you are in to full contact fishing, Sebastian Inlet features some of the best snook action on FloridaÃs Indian River Coast, but its popularity attracts anglers from across the state. 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 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 Canveral 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, slot redfish, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working Âº ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored RipTide Realistic Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule insert. Additionally, late summer is the time of year when the breeder redfish schools have formed up for the spawn in the northern reaches of the IRL. 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. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-30-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters August is the time of year when the cold water upwelling known as the Labrador Currents move in cooling off bottom temperatures on the offshore reefs along the Indian River Lagoon Coast. The arrival of summertime cobia along the beach and mutton snapper in Sebastian Inlet are indicators of cooler bottom conditions moving in. Thus far, the cold water has begun to push in, but the current has not shown the same intensity as the same time last year. 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, 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 Gulf Stream isnÃt out of the question. Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. So far, the bait concentrations have been slim, but these conditions should start to show some improvement any day now. Currently, there is a hot kingfish bite occurring off of the Cocoa Beach Pier in 30 to 40 feet of water, with some tarpon and small sailfish mixed in. Also look for snook fishing in the surf and inlets 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. 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 small yellow and chartreuse 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 low, so please use caution when accessing skinny water. In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on FloridaÃs 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 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-09-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, July 9, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As I stood on the shoreline of the lagoon this morning before sunrise, I was once again captivated by the twilightÃs illumination of the high tropical cloud tops rolling ashore. The sky overhead remained clear, but the sense of the heavy-laden tropical air was invigorating, and it energized my soul. After 50 seasons of summer squalls, you would think one would grow accustom to the feeling of warm tropical air on your skin as it pushes across the lagoon, but each year as the storms begin to roll in, I fine myself on the shoreline foreseeing their arrival. Soon, the feeder band squalls feeding Hurricane Dennis will push through, and hopefully bring fair skies, calm seas, and hungry fish for the week to come. We should also take a moment to extend our thoughts and prayers for those facing the wrath of Dennis on FloridaÃs Gulf Coast. This past week on the Lagoon Coast the fishing was great, but the catching varied. As usual for this time of year, the focus of my adventures was near-shore out of Port Canaveral. Currently, you do not have to travel far to find fish. On the buoy line just outside of the Port, large schools of large jack cravelle are common. If you go a little farther out, small 10 to 15 pound kingfish have been widespread seaward of the buoy line and south off the Cocoa Beach Pier in about 40 feet of water. Other opportunities prevalent last week were giant tarpon, sharks, barracuda, and big jacks along the beach, and a good number of nice flounder inside the Port around structure. Also, anglers working the near-shore reefs of 8A and north Pelican flat reported good catches of kingfish, dolphin, a few cobias, and a ton of sharks and barracudas. As for myself, both trips from the Port last week yielded a decent kingfish up to 20 pounds, a bunch of barracudas and sharks, and a few hefty school buses (jack cervalle) in the 30 pound range. The bite was slow but steady, and my high-spirited anglers made up for the sluggish bite. All fish were taken slow trolling live pogies, and the heaviest concentration of bait was just inside the Port between the submarine basin and the Sterling dock. 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 407-417-1187 on the water 407-366-8085 office 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-29-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters The mid summer doldrums are currently upon us and there is no mistaking, summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. July is also the time of year when summer squalls (tropical weather systems) and offshore water temperatures are unpredictable. Just when the bite is on and you think youÃve got things figured out, a summer squall will blow in and kick up the seas, or the cold water Labrador Current will move in and shut down the seaward bite. Setting all these possibilities aside, many opportunities for angling adventures exist for us both inshore and offshore on the lagoon coast in July. For those who are equipped and willing to venture offshore into the Gulf Stream and beyond, the yellow fin tuna bite has been and will continue be exceptional trolling with cider plugs. These expeditions require dependable equipment, a sea worthy vessel, and a knowledgeable and skillful skipper, and itÃs prudent to make sure all of your safety equipment is in order before even considering a tuna trip. Near-shore, kingfish will be the staple on the reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water, with a mixed bag of three, wahoo, dolphin, and an occasional sailfish, thrown in. My preferred method for targeting these species is slow trolling live bait (pogies) on steel stinger rigs. On the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches, an assorted beach bag is available with smoker kings (large king mackerel), silver kings (tarpon), cobia, sharks, barracuda, and colossal jacks (school busses) all available at any given time. To target these species, focus your attention in areas of bait concentrations. This past week, pods of large tarpon and sharks were located between Patrick AFB and Satellite Beach, and some nice fish were taken on the Port Canaveral buoy line. As the month progresses, these fish should begin moving north along the beach to their favorite summertime haunt in the forbidden zone off the bight of the Cape. In the Port and inlets, Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snapper numbers should remain steady. To target the flounder and snapper, try using Rip TideÃs new realistic shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig head in the areas of structure and along sandy drop-offs. Cast the jig as close to the structure as possible without getting snagged, and let it sink to the bottom. Once itÃs reached the bottom, slowly drag it back letting it rest every foot or so. Inshore, July is the best time of the year to catch redfish in shallow water. Large redfish schools have already started forming up for their late summer spawn, and the sight of 200 feeding redfish is incredible. Also, look for snook and mangrove snapper along shoreline edges, docks, and other structure, and juvenile tarpon in the creeks, canals and backwaters where water is flowing out of impoundments and creeks. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and small trout to be shadowing schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) under clouds of feeding terns, and let us not forget the early morning and late evening sea trout bite on top-water. In fresh water, largemouth bass fishing has been going off the scale, fishing around the spillways and flood control structures in the Stick Marsh and Farm 13. On a bass charter this past week, my clients Tommy Djernic and Jimmi Gottsch from Denmark boated over 50 bass, with 7 over 6 pounds and the largest reaching 91/2 pounds, on live shiners and artificial. In closing, let us be respectfully of the resource, the fishery, and each other while on the water over the holiday, and be thankful for those who have served this great country of ours in the name of freedom. 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 866-790-8081 toll free 407-416-1187 on the water If you would like to be added or removed from my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-23-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, June 23, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters With the summer solstice behind us, it is time to take advantage of some short-lived summertime angling opportunities experienced on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. The summer solstice arrives each year on June 21st, marking the point of the sunÃs northern most reach, and the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. The solstice typically marks the beginning of the summer doldrums resulting in calm sea conditions allowing those of us with shallow water boats to venture seaward in search of near-shore kingfish, dolphin, tarpon, and large jack crevalle. Also, itÃs only a matter of time before the silver kings (tarpon) and smoker kings (large kingfish) invade the Port Canaveral buoy line and beaches. These favorable sea conditions will only last as long as the tropical summer squalls allow, and Labrador currents stay well offshore. Also, summer is the best time to fish at night where some species (sea trout and snook) prefer to feed, as they have a shorter window of opportunity increasing their aggressiveness. Fishing this past week started out slow, and showed some improvement as the week progressed, but considerable work was required at times to get the fish to eat. My week started on June 15th, where I was privileged to fish with Captain Rodney Smith and Captain Dan Kipnis from the Miami area. We started the day in the Banana River Lagoon in the Cocoa Beach area, and when the bite wasnÃt happening there, we loaded Three Quarter Time and trailered to Port Canaveral to no avail. It was an extremely tough day, and between three Captains, we only boated a few small sea trout in the Lagoon and had one brief shot at a decent tripletail. The water was dirty in the Port, and there was no bait on the beach. We did receive some live pogies from Captain Tony Weatherman of Champion Pro Guide Service, for which he netted in the back turning basin, thank you Captain Tony. My next charter was on June 17th, where I spent the day with Terry Pollard from Oklahoma, again looking instead of catching. We launched at Ramp Road in Cocoa Beach at around 0800, and we worked the Thousand Island area and the west shore managing only small trout and small redfish. Near the end of the charter, we finally located a significant school of breeder redfish, but we only had a few good shots at them before they departed the flat at a high rate of speed, and a thunderstorm ran us off of the water. On the next day, Saturday June 18, I guided a charter into the Banana River No-Motor-Zone with Larry Carter and his grandson Taylor, both excellent anglers from Jupiter Florida. Our day started around 0630, we were immediately on the fish, and the bite was on for a change. We started catching short snook on Chug-Bugs in the area of a small point, and we soon lost count of the short linesiders landed. Shortly after landing the first few snook, large redfish tails started popping up all around us, but before we could get a rise out of them, another canoe pushed in on us and spooked the school out of the area. At that point, I made the decision to continue to work the snook, and once the bite slowed down, we would head out onto the flat and try to relocate the school of reds. With the big reds on our minds, we began catching small blue crabs for bait, and we retrieved a 6-inch redfish, regurgitated by a 24Ã® snook, and decided to save it for cut bait. After my anglers grew bored with the under size snook bite, remembering these guys are from Jupiter where real snook live, we headed out looking for the big redfish. Both Taylor and Larry were rewarded by two jumbo redfish each, with TaylorÃs two, both nearing the 50-pound mark, and oddly enough, both of TaylorÃs big reds were caught on two puked up redfish chunks. On Monday June 20th, brothers Adam and Keith Cross from Oak Hill joined me for a half a day on the Mosquito Lagoon. Our goal was to target some slot redfish and sea trout, but with a slow bite, we were forced to settle for three 20-pound class redfish caught out of a small school located off of the Turtle Pen bar using live pinfish for bait. After boating three significant fish, we returned to our quest to catch Adam and Keith some dinner, and as it turned out, a stop at the fish house on the way home was the requisite. On Tuesday June 21st, I returned to the Mosquito Lagoon and was joined by B. J. Garrison, and his father Jack from Port Orange for a day of redfish and sea trout, and we departed the Haulover ramp at 0530. Like day before, our goal was dinner size sea trout and redfish, but for some mystical reason, we could not get a solid hook-up on any keeper size fish. B.J. was working a Top Dog Jr., and Jack a Chug Bug, and both received considerable strikes, but the fish werenÃt serious about eating, and the oneÃs they did hook escaped before reaching the release well. We did manage to successfully boat one undersize redfish, and about forty undersize sea trout, but the one legal trout we did catch was released out of sympathy. Oh yes by the way, both B.J. and Jack did manage to catch one 20-pound class redfish each out the same school fished the day before, again on live pinfish. Other baits of choice this past week were Cotee jigs red/white, and Gulp Shrimp on Âº ounce jigs, any color. 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 landline 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-11-2005
Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Report, June 10, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As the rainy season progresses, the dynamics of the estuary will begin to shift and this transformation was evident this past week on the Indian River Lagoon. Increased rainfall has elevated water levels allowing anglers and fish to move deeper into the backwaters. Water has begun to flow from the impoundments through the culverts, and as rainfall increases, the volume of flow will expand drawing feeding fish in closer. Tannic acid from decaying organic mater has chanced the water color in the areas of runoff to a tea color brown, and the increase freshwater influx will change salinity and PH in those areas. Also, longer and hotter days will lessen the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water stressing fish to a greater degree, especially at first light, and more so, in the area of the power plants where discharge temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. How do these changes affect the fishing you ask? As water levels increase in the backwaters, redfish will begin feeding on fiddler crabs along in the newly flooded mud flats and marshes, and anglers fishing from fat boats can venture into areas inaccessible by most during low water periods. Flowing water from the culverts will draw snook, ladyfish, tarpon, redfish and other species to the discharges where pray is flushed out of the marshes into the ambush zone and the (DO) levels are elevated a bit by the moving water. In tannic stained waters, you may want to switch to a darker color lure where the darker silhouette is more visible to fish. The warmer the water, the less (DO), and at night, the lack of photosynthesis will lower oxygen levels even more, so it is very important to step up the size of your tackle when targeting larger fish to lessen the degree of stress a long battle will have on the them. All of this change will alter feeding and behavior patterns of fish, so what was a hot spot all spring long, may now be void of fish, and a new honey hole will become a requisite. Angling this past week was good, but it didnÃt hold a candle to quality of the company I shared my week on the lagoon with. On Sunday June 5th, I ventured into the Banana River No-Motor-Zone with Kelly and Mike Olsen from the Tampa area. The wind was a bit brisk for the Zone, but the adventure of the excursion drew us anyway. We were on the water by 0630, and catching fish by 0700. The chop on the water and cloudy skies made sight fishing tough, but we still managed to entice a good number of quality sea trout to the Boga Grip. Both Kelly and Mike were experienced and entraining Florida anglers who didnÃt hesitate jumping in and wading the sandbars, and they made the already enjoyable experience even better. Most of the sea trout taken were within the slot or over, and they were caught on top-water blue/silver Chug Bugs, red/white Skitter Walks, and red /white Cottee jigs. There was also a noticeable change in water conditions, and the number of large blue crabs experienced the week before on the flat had decreased significantly. On Monday June 6th, the deck of Three Quarter Time was graced by the presents of 82 year old Jack Aley and his 15 year old grandson Philip, both experienced fly anglers from south Florida. Jack, who has fished the backwaters of the Florida Everglades all his life, was hoping for a shot at one of our legendary redfish, and he was determined to catch her on his 15 year old G-Loomis rod and bait casting reel on artificial bait or on fly. With this request in mind, we targeted a school of large copper queens, and he not only caught sight of the largest school of redfish in his life, he also caught the largest redfish in his life, a 52Ã® beauty on a new penny Gulp Shrimp. Although my goal was for each angler to catch one quality fish, getting these larger redfish to eat artificial can be challenging at times, so Philip was unsuccessful in catching his trophy. Besides the one big redfish, we did manage to catch a good number of schooling size sea trout, again on a one Âº ounce DOA jig head with a new penny Gulp Shrimp. My next trip was on Wednesday June 8th, with Thomas Cannon from Ormond Beach, and his longtime fishing buddy Bob Vogelsang from the southwest Texas coast. Again my goal was to put each of them on a large redfish, and by 8am, they both had caught a 20 pound class redfish using chunks of fresh blue crab. With our primary goal accomplished, we spent the remainder of the charter exploring the magnificently slick calm conditions, and catching sea trout on top-water chug Bugs, Skitter Walks and RipTide Realistic shrimp on jigs with Woodies Rattles inserted in areas of concentrated schools of baitfish. Although the numbers of fish taken was less the previous week, we still managed some significant catches by quality anglers from completely different fisheries who were draw in by the diversity and beauty of our IRL. We are so lucky to live and fish in paradise. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 886-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-02-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters With temperatures and humidity levels rising, itÃs wise to concentrate your angling efforts during cool hours of early morning, late afternoon, and night. Fishing in June, July, and August requires some adjustments in your fishing routine, but it doesnÃt mean the fish arenÃt biting. June will provide some of the best opportunities for shallow water anglers along the Lagoon coast. Near-shore prospects are typically the best you will see all year for skinny water boats along the beach. June is the time of year when the kingfish move in close, shadowing the schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) along the beach and in the Port Canaveral buoy line. When the summer doldrums set in, the water clears, and the seas lay down, the window of opportunity opens for skinny water boats. Also along the beach, look for the tarpon and shark number to increase, and letÃs not forget the large schools of jack carvalle (school buses) and the tripletail fishery will be cranking up. Also, remember, snook season closes this week, so letÃs give them a chance to relax and get jiggie. Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out. The kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats slow trolling with live pogies will produce the most action. Also, the yellow fin tuna bite should remain steady for those willing to venture to the other side. Bottom fishing will continue to be good for snapper and grouper, at least until the first summer squall blows in and muddies up the water or the Labrador Current moves in and chills bottom temperatures bottom. On the flats, focus your efforts during early morning hours and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Night fishing will also produce descent catches of redfish and trout. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target docks with deepwater access. In the early morning look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. 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. Also remember as the dayÃs heat up, long battles will kill the larger fish, and if you plan on targeting them, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. As always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing 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 or removed from Captain TomÃs mailing list, please contact him at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-28-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 27, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Fishing on the Indian River Lagoon Coast this past week is best described as extreme, filled with adventure, intrigue, quality fish, and yes, one tough day. As a lifelong Florida resident and angler, IÃve been blessed with the opportunity to take a great number of anglers fishing for their first time, but on Thursday May 19, I was once again set apart by the opportunity to take a lifelong Florida resident and angler fishing for what for could very well be his last time. You see Quent Rister is in the latter stage of terminal melanoma, and when his good friend Mike Norton contacted me with the request to put Quent on a quality redfish, I was humbled by the challenge. We launched out of the Haulover Canal, and headed west into the North IRL, and before the sun crested the horizon, we had located a school of large redfish. As we approached the school we were obliged by the generosity of three other guides who let us squeeze in for a shot at the fish. My Goal was to let Mike and Quent catch one trophy fish each, and then move on and target slot redfish and trout. Even though the fish were plentiful, getting them to eat was a difficult task. Mike was the first to strike catching a nice 30-pound red on a live shrimp. After about an hour of excellent shots at the big fish, the lagoon gods blessed Quent with a solid hook-up on a quality redfish. For the next 45 minutes, the battle raged and just near the end, the big red managed to wrap the line around my port trim tab and break off. I took one look at Quent, and I could see by his expression, he was deeply saddened by the lost opportunity, and thatÃs when I realized the magnificent copper queen was still swimming beneath the boat. Determined to land QuentÃs fish, I entered the water, and with Mikes assistance, we managed to noodle the tired 48-inch redfish into the boat for a quick photo. With our primary goal accomplished, we spent the remainder of the charted catching sea trout on white Rip-Tide Swimming Mullet with a Woodies Rattle Capsule inserted. My next adventure was on Saturday May 21st, where my good friend and fishing mentor Captain Rodney Smith joined me for a day on the No-Motor-Zone. We launched about 6:30am, and caught numerous sea trout up to 6 pounds on fly, Cottee Jigs, and top-water Chug-Bugs. We also had a good shot at a fast moving school of large redfish, where I managed to hook-up on a Chug-Bug, only to have the big fish straighten out one of the hooks after a 5-minute battle. It was a great day on the water, loaded with continuous action and some really nice fish. On Sunday May 22nd, I was joined by Steve Gates and Harold Smith in the area of Titusville, where we managed to find another school of big redfish just as the sun cleared the horizon. Within the first hour, we landing three trophy redfish in the 20-pound range with one double hook-up, again using live shrimp. Once the trophy reds were landed and photographed, we left the school tailing on the flat in search of table fare. We spent the remainder of the charter jigging the deeper flats in 2 to 4 feet of water, and we returned to the dock with four slot sea trout and one fat pompano caught on red and white and rootbeer glitter curly tail Cottee Jigs with rattles inserted. My next charter was on Wednesday the 25th, where I was joined by Art Caffo and his cousin Larry from southern California. Again we targeted the same big fish, but we were challenged by a stiff west wind making finding and staying with the school difficult. After about an hour of searching, we finally located the school, and again managed a two trophy redfish, before losing the school in the two-foot chop. With our goal of two big fish accomplished, we moved to the leeward shoreline in search of fish to no avail, and we ended the day jumping three nice tarpon in the 50-pound range on live mullet before returning to the dock. On the following day, I again was joined by Art and his wife Mary for what turned out to be an extreme canoe adventure on the Econ Creek. We found that low water conditions and hurricane debris make for a challenging 8-mile run with at least 40 portages. Thankfully, I had adventurous clients, and we managed some really nice bass on top-water Chug-Bugs. Today Richard Kabus, his father Richey, and his good friend Kevin from New Jersey joined me for a day on the IRL, and a stronger than predicted east wind made locating the big redfish tough. We covered both flats that produced fish earlier in the week, but there were no reds to be found. We did manage a good number of sea trout on the deeper edge of the flat in 2 to 3 feet of water on blue and silver Chug-Bugs, but no quality fish were caught. All in all, it was an excellent stretch of good fishing combined with good company. 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 866-790-8082 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-18-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 18, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As summer approaches and water temperatures increase, fishing strategies begin to shift from spring to summer patterns. This transition was evident this past week in the north IRL as the following observations were made: Sea Trout: The top-water sea trout bite in the shallow flats slow down considerably, with the best bite occurring at first light in areas where bait was present. Most of the trout taken on surface baits this week were slot size or smaller, with the largest trout taken on a soft plastic salt & pepper Exude RT slug. Redfish: Slot redfish remained scattered in the skinny water close to the shoreline with the larger breeders schooled up the deeper water pockets of 3 to 4 feet. On Tuesday May 10th, I was honored by the opportunity to fish with my good friends Captain Rodney Smith and Melissa Marianetti for a mid-day tripletail adventure out of Port Canaveral. We left the dock about 10am, and we work our way out fishing the buoys with hand picked live shrimp. Once outside the buoy line in about 50 feet of water, we found a heavy weed line, but dirty water conditions resulted to very few fish on the weeds. We did manage three nice buoy bass (tripletail) taken on live shrimp fishing under the buoys, with Melissa catching her first respectable tripletail and the largest of the three tipping the scale at 15 pounds. If you enjoy fresh fish, itÃs tough to beat tripletail. My next opportunity was on Friday May 13, when I joined veteran lagoon canoe angler Lyle Roles for a fishing lesson. We launched his decked out American Eagle Canoe before daybreak in a sea of fleeing finger mullet, but like I mentioned above, the top-water bite was non-existent. After about an hour throwing top-water plugs, we switched to soft plastics, and Lyle beat me 5 to 1 on slot redfish throwing his salt and pepper exude against my 3Ã® Gulp Shrimp. Lyle also caught a ladyfish and the largest sea trout for the week at 23 inches. After working the slot fish over, we moved out into deeper water where we found a school of larger redfish. I was the first to strike, catching a nice 15-pound copper queen on a chunk of LyleÃs ladyfish. We spent the next hour trying to get the larger fish to eat, when Lyle hooked up a monster red on a small homemade gold spinner bait with a chartreuse shad tail. Lyle spent the next 45 minutes working the fish to the boat when his line became tangled with one of my rods sticking out the bow and broke, as we tried to land huge fish. Not counting the one Lyle lost; we ended the day catching 7 redfish up to 36 inches, one 23-inch sea trout and a ladyfish. On Saturday May 15th, I honored a Î© day charter awarded to Kent Roberts of Orlando, the winner of the Coastal Angler Magazine ReaderÃs Survey giveaway. Joined by his twin brother Mark, we again covered a lot of water with top-water plugs, only managing a few small sea trout. It was a gorgeous morning on the water, but the fishing was tough. We finally managed to put Kent on to a respectable 38Ã® 20 pound redfish on live shrimp, just before heavy rains ran us off of the lagoon. On May 16th, I ventured out on my own for what I refer to as a mental health day. In preparation for my favorite summertime fishing style, I left the house at 0300, and launched my skiff in nearly calm conditions from Kennedy Point around 0400. In about 20 minutes, I was poling quietly along the east shore in an area of concentrated bait, when I started catching slot size sea trout and ladyfish on a nite-glow riptide realistic shrimp and a Woodies Rattling Hook. Just as civil twilight set in, I found a small group of tailing redfish who were willing to play, and I had my skiff on the trailer heading for the house at 0730. All together, I boated six sea trout and three slot redfish all before 0700. Fishing at night and early morning has its advantages during the summer, but you need to cover the same ground in the daytime, and mark your route with your GPS to avoid dangerous obstacles, and operate with caution during hours of darkness. All in all, it was a great week of fishing and enjoying great weather and friends on the magnificent waters of the Indian River Lagoon Coast. As always, if you have any question 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 886-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-10-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 8, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For the past week, fishing conditions on the Lagoon coast of Florida have remained tough. Blustery breezes and overcast rainy skies have prevailed, making inshore sight fishing difficult. Although my lead into this report may sound ominous, four of my five charters this past week produced quality fish. On Saturday April 30th, I had the pleasure of fishing with Ed Baldind and his fishing buddy Walt from Deland. Faced with a 15 to 20 knot south wind we departing the ramp before sunrise with hopes of beating the weekend crowd to the fish. As civil twilight appeared, we found a tight ball of large tailing reds on the leeward side of the causeway, but we managed only a few good shots before the school was dispersed by seven different boats motoring in on us. We spent the remainder of the charter looking for fish, and ended the day with one 24Ã® redfish caught on the new Red- Red Ripper Spoon, and a 20Ã® sea trout on live finger mullet. On Sunday May 1st, I was scheduled to fish the Mosquito Lagoon with Quilhan Spearman from Ormond Beach, but we elected to reschedule due to adverse weather in the area. On Wednesday May 4th, I honored a half-day charter donated to CCA Florida, and was privileged to fish with David Scudder of Winter Springs, Florida. Again we were faced with overcast skies and a strong northeast winds, and we found locating fish difficult. With a little luck and a lot of work, we were granted a brief shot at a school of large reds, and David managed to pull nice 38Ã® copper queen from the school on live shrimp for a brief photo. With DavidÃs trophy to the boat, we opted leave the school and target sea trout. As we drifted off of the flat into deeper water, we found an abundance of small trout willing to play with Âº ounce Rip-Tide Jigs with Riptide Realistic Shrimp with Woodies Rattle inserts. On Friday May 6th, I spent the morning scouting fish, and again conditions were windy and rainy. I never found any significant fish, but I did manage 5 sea trout up to 3 pounds on a red and white Skitter Walk. Later in the afternoon, Doc Thurston and his cameraman Pat from Dream Factory Productions Joined me for a few hours of reality fishing, and it was as real as it gets. We started out in late afternoon facing extreme northeast winds and heavy overcast skies, and we never but a fish in the boat. On Saturday May 7th, I had the pleasure of fishing with Roger Mowray and his son Jay from Longwood, and although the wind was still blowing hard, the sun was shining. Our charter started slow, but we ended the day on a significant school of redfish. Roger was the first to strike with a nice 39Ã® copper queen, and Jay soon followed with two nice 38Ã® reds. All fish were taken on live shrimp and cut ladyfish. In closing, I would like to invite you to a free seminar on the Ã¬Top Ten Soft Plastic for Inshore Saltwater ApplicationsÃ®, to be held at Boaters World in Altamonte on May 12th at 6:30 PM. If you recall, many of you responded to a survey I conducted on the topic, and the results were published in Coastal Angler Magazine last January. Also, free samples of soft plastic baits will be available while they last. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-03-2005
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As days grow longer and the water temperatures increase, so do the fishing opportunities along the Lagoon Coast of Florida. May is one of the better fishing months on FloridaÃs coastal waters, so make sure your lunch is packed, mental health days are scheduled, and I will see you on the water. Near-shore along the beaches, concentrate your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (pogies). Typically, when you see concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface, big fish are just as active underneath. Species feeding on these pods include tarpon, jack cervalle, redfish, cobia, and sharks. Near the end of the month, you can add 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, donÃt 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 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 bait is present. After the morning top-water bite fades, switch to your favorite soft plastic jig fished in three to five feet of water alone the edges of flats or spoil islands. The water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. May also marks the last month of snook season on FloridaÃs east coast, so donÃt miss out on your last chance at putting a linesider in the boat. As always, if you need information, or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Ton Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fiwshing.com 407-416-1187 on the water 407-366-8085 office 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-23-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 23, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Render inoperative by my resent medical situation, I persuaded my physician into allowing me limited permission to fish as long as I stayed dry, and reframed from strenuous activity. IÃm sure glad he understands and appreciates the importance of angling therapy, because I was real close to going anyway. My original plan was to take my newly refurbished skiff, Ã¬Three Quarter TimeÃ® out for a spin to familiarize myself with my newly installed trolling motor and power pole, but after receiving a call from Scott Bradford, my longtime fishing friend and veteran lagoon angler, I opted to oblige his offer to pole my puny butt around the lagoon instead. We departed the Haulover Ramp just before sunrise facing near calm conditions with a slight west wind, and we were keyed up about our day on the water together. You see, for some mysterious reason, Scott and I have never experienced a day on the lagoon where we were unsuccessful in finding and catching quality fish. Our plan was to head out into the north lagoon and drift an east west flat working top-water for sea trout and redfish. We arrived at our fishing location just before sunrise, greeted by perfect conditions and a flat loaded with jumping baitfish. Scott was throwing a clear Top-Dog Pup, and I decide on a blue and silver Chug Bug, and within an hour we had each boated several fat trout and slot redfish. Although we were only successful in boating four fish, we both experienced numerous explosions on our baits where the fish either missed the plug or we pulled hook. After several hours of continuous action, the top-water bite slowed, so we decided to take advantage on the slick conditions and scout the lagoon for the larger redfish schools, and before you could shake a stick, we were on a school of about a hundred breeder reds in the 30 to 40 pound range. After missing my first two shots, Scott hooked up on a respectable fish from the platform, and we switched places to pursue the fish. At one point, you could clearly see the bottom of ScottÃs spool, but by working together, we soon managed to land the fish. Once CPR was established, we quickly returned the 40 inch copper queen back into the lagoon, and call it a day. These larger redfish schools are resident breeders who begin to aggregate this time of year for their late summer spawn, and in this case, two guide boats with clients and two anglers boats where in the area working the school. Working fish together is quickly becoming the norm on the lagoon due increased numbers of anglers, so itÃs important to quietly move in and position yourself, and once youÃve hooked up, try to ease the fish out of the school and away from the other anglers. Also, do not crank up your outboard until youÃve polled or trolled your boat at least 100 yards away. This same pole and troll rule also applies to approaching the school. Additionally, try not to hammer the school by chasing them around all day. Catch yourself a respectable fish, take a photo, revive and release it, and than leave the school in search of fish on another flat. During our day on the water, several interesting observations were made. First, if you need to burn a flat to locate redfish schools, it is respectful not to run between anglers fishing and the shoreline. It is just as easy to swing outside wide of the anglers boat, leaving the flat between the anglers and the shoreline undisturbed. Second, I was grateful to the other anglers and guides for allowing us the opportunity to move in and work the schooling redfish, and thank you Steve for sharing your direction and extra shrimp. In closing, today is the day I finish my regiment of medication and the PIC line is removed from my arm. Being off the water for almost a month has been tough, but IÃve utilized the time to refurbish my skiff and tackle, and rest up. Also, your never realize how many friends you have until your down on your back, and to all of you who helped me through this ordeal, my many thanks. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-15-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 14, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As many of you know, my sea legs have been shackled due to a resent illness, and I have learned first hand what cabin fever is all about. I am feeling much better now, but the only thing keeping me from losing my wits is the thought of returning to the lagoon. Nine days and counting until cast off, I canÃt wait. With time on my hands away from fishing, I made the decision to move forward with several long desired projects on my trusty skiff Ã¬Three Quarter TimeÃ®, and no I did not change the colorÃ®. Today, Don at Chain of Lakes Marine in Sanford completed installation of a new Minn Kota Riptide Bow Mount 360 trolling motor system and a Power Pole, and I must say these guys do quality work. Adding these two systems to my 1995 Maverick Master Angle was not a simple task, and their attention to detail and creative engineering were indispensable in completing these projects. Also, for those clients and fishing friends whose backsides were aching at the end of our last adventure, new seat cushions should be complete any day now. Although I have not been on the water, I am fortunate to be affiliated with a network of quality fishing guides and outstanding lagoon anglers, who freely facilitate my need for information, and from what I learned from them this week, I havenÃt missed much. Offshore, with the exception of a few brief periods, windy conditions have shut down the offshore bite. There still were a few cobias taken off of rays in the areas of Buoy 2 and 4, and some nice tripletail south of the buoy line, but overall, the heavy seas have kept most anglers at the dock. Additionally, 20 to 25 knot easterly winds are predicted for this weekend, so it my be a good weekend for honey-dos and boat maintenance projects. Once this current weather system passes, look for the cobia and tripletail bite to improve as well as the dolphin run to commence. Inshore on the lagoon flats, windy conditions have and will continue to make sight fishing tough through the weekend. Most of the anglers IÃve talked with this week have been successful in catching a few nice fish, but they had to work hard for them. Sea trout continue to provide the best action working soft plastics like RipTides Flats Chub, DOA Shrimp, or Berkley Gulp Shrimp while drifting the deeper edges of the flats in 3 to 4 feet of water. Redfish reports this week have been limited, with most being taken by anglers chunking cut bait in known redfish haunts. Although this technique is not the most glamorous, it is the most productive on nasty days. On the St Johns River, the shad hatch is on, but for some reason, the schooling large mouth bass have yet to materialize. One theory is that cooler than normal water temperatures have extended the bass spawn, and once the spawn is complete the feeding frenzy will commence. It this theory holds true, the look for the hungry bass to come off of the beds after the full moon. In closing, if you plan on fishing this weekend, please be careful in the rough water conditions, and enjoy your weekend. Also, I would like to thank those who provide their knowledge and insight to my readers through this report. See you on the water soon. 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 office 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-29-2005
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As I sit here and ponder my forecast for April, IÃm thankful for the opportunity to live, breath, and fish on the waters of the Indian Lagoon coast of Florida. We are truly blessed by what Mother Nature has provided for our enjoyment. Once on the water, fishing eases our mindÃs troubles by forcing us to focus on the task at hand. Fresh air in our lungs, sunshine on our skin, and screaming drags, all serve as an escape from reality, as April symbolizes the commencement of some of the hottest fishing experienced on FloridaÃs Indian Lagoon coast. 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 spring kingfish run on the near-shore reef outside Port Canaveral. ItÃs 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 a late season cobia run. The cobia run thus far has been slow due to cloudy skies, strong winds, and shifting water temperatures. Also look for the bait pods (pogies) to begin showing up bringing Spanish mackerel, blues, redfish, school buses (large jacks), smoker kings (large kingfish), and silver kings (tarpon) with them. In the inlets, look for good numbers of sheepshead, 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 early morning and late evening with your favorite top water plugs for extreme trout and redfish action, and try using soft plastics and jigs in deeper water, 2 to 3 feet, after the morning bite settles down. April is one of the months when sea trout are egg laden for the spawn, which happens just before and after the new and full moon, so it is very important to handle and release the larger females with great care. Each female represents the release of millions of eggs, and their survival is essential for proliferation of the species. Last but not least, freshwater largemouth and striper bass action should be picking 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 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 down south in the Stick Marsh and Farm 13, the largemouth bass fishing has been extremely hot. 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 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-11-2005
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, March 11, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Spring has finally arrived here in the sunshine state and the fish are starting to show signs of rejuvenation. This morning as I stepped outside before dawn, the first thing that hit me was the sweet fragrance of orange blossoms. My good friend and fishing mentor Captain Rodney Smith enlightened me to the connection between orange blossoms and redfish. When the west wind carries this delicate scent across the lagoon water, look for redfish to begin schooling up on the flats. It is also the time of year when the wind begins to settle and the trout and reds start working top-water plugs again. Additionally, good numbers of finger mullet have started to show up on the flats of the north IRL, so the bait has started its return. For the most part, the weather conditions have been difficult. The water temperature has been cooler than normal, so we are patiently waiting for the sun to warm our spirits and the water. This weekend, look for windy conditions Saturday, with calmer seas, 2 too 3 feet, and sunny skies predicted for Sunday through Tuesday. The hot ticket in the weeks to come will be the cobia and tripletail bite outside of Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. Today, the surf temperature is 63.3 degrees in Port Canaveral, and we need at least another 5-degree warm-up before the bait, fish, and rays move in. A good number of cobÃs are present on the near-shore reefs and wrecks in 60 to 80 feet of water, and they will soon move into the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beach once near-shore water warm up. Remember, everybody and their brother will be on the water in search of the big mouth striped brown logs. IÃm not complaining, because I know how much I love to target these fish, and theyÃre only here for a short time. Most anglers spend all winter chomping at the bit, waiting for the cobÃs to show up, and then they only have the weekend available to fish. ItÃs a big ocean, and thereÃs plenty of water and fish, so please be patient and pleasant at the ramps. This past week, there were good reports of sea trout holding around the docks on the west shore of the Indian lagoon from Titusville to Rockledge, and also alone the deeper edges of the flats. In the skinny water, the redfish were actively tailing, but they were difficult to sight cast due to breeze conditions and cloudy skies. With a bit of luck, improving weather conditions will also eliminate this problem. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com 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, please contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-27-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As the days grow longer and the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian Lagoon Coast commences. As always, weather will serve as the determining factor in establishing the magnitude and progression of the bite. Water temperature increases will facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden and mullet) from the deeper water into the near-shore waters bringing the predator fish with them. Sea conditions will determine the number of fishable days weÃll experience in March. This is especially true for those of us who target deep-water species in shallow water boats. Good catches of cobia have been reported offshore of Stuart, and these fish should be moving into our area soon. Both the bait pods and cobia have begun to show up outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian in deeper water. Once the water warms, look for the large manta rays and bait pods to move inshore bringing cobia with them. 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 towards any white-banded big mouth brown logs you see. Other near-shore options consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure weeds and buoys, and giant redfish, jumbo jack carvalle and sharks shadowing bait pods near the beaches and inlets. The window of opportunity for cobia can be short, so plan your trip, and pray for calm seas and hungry fish. Inshore on the lagoon flats, look for redfish schools to continue to form up in the skinny water flats. For the slot size redfish, focus on areas of flipping and jumping baitfish (mullet) in water depths of 12 to 18 inches, and look for the larger redfish 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 returning finger mullet back into the central IRL. 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 in full swing in the upper St JohnÃs River between the areas of Lake Harney and the SR 50 Bridge. 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 signal I us to locate these schooling bass, is to look for large numbers of white pelicans, herons, and egrets working the banks. Once youÃve 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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-15-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, February 15, 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Although much of my angling adventures over last several weeks were limited to manning the Coastal Angler Magazine Traveling Lagoon Booth at the Bass Pro Shop Spring Classic, I still managed to sneak away and stretch a line on a several occasions. DonÃt get me wrong, I enjoy spending time on the water more than anything, well almost anything, but my time spent conducting seminars and meeting new and old friends was both rewarding and enlightening. As a lifelong lagoon angler, I feel itÃs important to communicate ethics and values when the opportunity arises, so everyone enjoys their experiences on the water. Inshore, the north Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon have been the hot ticket, with schools of slot and rat redfish abundant on just about ever flat explored. Most of the schools have been in the range of 30 to 50 fish, but I have heard reports of some larger schools reaching the two to three hundred fish mark. For the past several years, I have seen a significant increase in the number of small spring redfish (rats) in the 10 to 17 inch sizes. Redfish are fast growers, increasing in size at a rate of 1 inch a month, and if you do the math, next spring these fish will be in the upper slot. This increase also supports the fact that our lagoon system serves as one of the only inshore spawning areas for redfish. In addition, a large number of sea trout have been holding up in the skinny water sand pockets (pot holes) up close to the shoreline. Although these trout are sizeable and plentiful, they have had lockjaw on the all on the opportunities I had last week. The water is extremely clear, and the trout start pushing off as soon as the bait hits the water. Clearly, the best way to target these fish is on foot, and not in the skiff. Another area I fish last week was power plants and canales around Port St John. It seems the ladyfish and trout have moved out into the flats. There are still loads of small ladyfish and whiteing in the outflows, but the larger fish were few and far between. We did manage a large number of small trout working the deeper flats both north and south of the power plants. Near-shore these past several weeks, the seas have been a little much for my flat bottom skiff Ã¬Three Quarter TimeÃ®. With the weather and the seas beginning to settle some, all we need now is a little warm spell, and the tripletail and cobia will be back in the near-shore waters out of Port Canaveral. 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 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my mailing list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-30-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters This time of year, passing cold fronts swing through Florida on a routine basis, bringing blustery northeasterly winds, higher barometric pressure, and cooler temperatures with them. These shifting conditions complicate angling by kicking up the seas, reducing water clarity in some locations, and dropping water temperatures. When the front passes, offshore waters become unfishable, and inshore anglers are forced to seek out protected shorelines and backwater canals. Once the 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 seas settle and 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 new front hits. As a general rule, the stronger the front, the more intense 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. 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 Ã¬No Motor ZoneÃ®. 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 RiptideÃs Realistic Shrimp, DOA Shrimp, or BerkleyÃs new Gulp Shrimp fished very slowly along the bottom. On the sunny afternoons, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sand pockets within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise quickly. 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. 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 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, February is a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River, and inshore lakes. Currently good catches of American shad, speckled perch, and largemouth bass are being reported. Remember when planning a fishing trip in February, keep a close eye on the cycle of weather, and fish whenever you have a chance. 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 TomÃs mailing list reply to captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-25-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, 01-24-2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters In my last report we discussed how great fishing has been here on the Lagoon coast of Florida, and how the unusually warm weather had provided us with exceptional catches in all areas fished. Well, all good things must come to an end, and end it did, with the arrival of back-to-back artic fronts. As of the post, frost warnings are posted, but at least weÃre not up to our stripping baskets in the white stuff. On Thursday 13th of January, the last nice day before the arrival of the first front, I fished with my good friend Mike Murray. It was a real time decision to scout the upper St Johns River for American shad. As we approached our first spot, the mouth of the Econ Creek, the shad were so thick, they were flipping on the surface in 8 to 10 feet of water like a pod of pogies, and Mike and I boated over 20 fish in two hours throwing Hal Fly jigs on ultra light spinning gear. We then finished of the morning off with a nice lunch and a few barley pops at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp just north of the HWY 46 Bridge near Geneva. Add this trip to the great days of fishing before the front column. My next adventure took me to the same location with Jerry Goldsmith, a hardcore veteran Florida fly angler. The reason I say hardcore is, only hardcore anglers and fools would have ventured out on a Sunday morning facing a 25-knot north wind and freezing cold drizzly rain. Although we were hardcore, the fish were wiser, choosing to lay low and stay warm. After about an hour of casting and shivering, we also wised up and returned to the ramp without seeing a fish. Clearly the fish had either moved up-stream or into deeper water, but with the numbers we experienced Thursday, I feel itÃs safe to say we have an outstanding shad run ahead of us this year. On January 19th, I fished a double boat charter with Captain Kevin Mulligan of Mully Charters. Our anglers were a business group who were hoping to fish Offshore, but their charter was blown out by snotty conditions. Our plan was to fish in wind protected deep-water locations, and we were rewarded with a good catch of sea trout, ladyfish, and small snook, all caught on live shrimp and DOA Î© ounce red shrimp. On Friday the 21st, I was privileged to fish with Dan Bowden of Madison Wisconsin, and we were blessed with a beautiful warm sunny day with light west winds. Although it was a stunning day weather wise, the catching was non-existent. We covered the entire eastern shore of the IRL from the Max Brewer Bridge to the Rinker Canal, and we only had decent shots at a few redfish. We ended the boat ride with a grand total of three small trout, not a good day of catching. My final day of fishing this week was on Saturday, where Bill Christian of Sanford North Carolina and his son Will joined me for a Ã¦ day trip on the Mosquito Lagoon. My plan was to fish the southwest shore of the lagoon to take advantage of the westerly winds of the approaching cold front. With the combination of cold air and warm lagoon water, we were greeted by some of the thickest fog I seen in years. I usually enjoy foggy conditions in the winter because they typically represent calm conditions, but our second major cold front was quickly approaching and our placid west wind would soon begin to scream. As we motored out of the Haulover Canal, our visibility was less than a 1000 feet, so we eased over to the western shoreline and fished as we waited for the fog to lift. Eventually we worked our way to the south end of the lagoon, but as soon as the fog lifted, the winds picked up, making sight fishing almost unfeasible. Again, we ended the day having only a few decent shots at quality fish, and we boating only five rat reds. In a lot of ways, fishing conditions were tough this past week, but considering the fact we are still fishing, and not shoveling snow, we are truly blessed to live along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon. As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck, think warm thoughts, and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 Office 407-417-1187 On the water 866-790-8081 Toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-12-2005
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, January 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Although the majority of the states have been pounded by strong winter storms, we on the Lagoon Coast of Florida have been blessed with some of the nicest January weather and fishing I can remember. Thanks to a northerly swing in the jet stream, all of the adverse winter weather has stayed well away, leaving us with sunny, windless 80-degree days, cool 50-degree nights, water temperatures in the upper 60Ãs, and hungry and happy fish. So far, January has been loaded with outstanding fishing opportunities summarized within this long-winded report. On Tuesday the forth, I was privileged to share a day on the Mosquito Lagoon with my good friend and veteran lagoon angler Scott Bradford. Under ScottÃs guidance we headed out at first light in search of the large sea trout known to assemble in the skinny water potholes on warm sunny winter days, and we were thrilled by our findings. The Lagoon water levels are still on the low side, and the skinny water potholes were loaded with chubby sea trout. As usual, the fish were on the spooky side, and catching them required a stealthy approach and a skilful presentation, but our persistence was rewarded with some hefty trout and slot size reds. Another positive observation made during the day was a large number of schooling redfish fry scattered throughout the flats. Everywhere we looked, these schools 1 to 2 inch redfish were abundant, and if they can survive the wrath on the speckled sea trout, the lagoon should be full of rat reds by the end of summer. My next adventure took me on a short road trip to the Greenville, South Carolina for the HenryÃs Fishing Tackle and Outdoor Show. Captain Rodney Smith and I departed Central Florida Wednesday afternoon for a brief two-day look at whatÃs new in the tackle industry. It always nice to see first hand, all of the innovations new to the market, and to meet the tackle industry experts up front and personal. On Sunday, I was privileged to join Captain Pat Murphy of Lucky Strike II Charters for a day of angling in the near-shore waters of Port Canaveral. Again, it was a beautiful day, and Captain Pat and I both scored 30-pound cobias just south of the port in about 40 feet of water. It seems that the warmer than normal water temperatures, 68 to 70 degrees, have drawn pods of pogies (Atlantic menhaden) from the deeper waters into the shallows bringing the cobia and other predators with them. Additionally, the kingfish are going off on the near-shore reef of Pelican Flats, with all who ventured out, scoring their limits. Most of the kingfish were snakes, but I did see some in the range of 20 to 30 pounds at the cleaning tables. Pat and I also sighted a number of tripletail hanging on flotsam, catching one in the 15-pound range. All fish were taken using 14 pound test tackle fishing with shrimp tipped jigs. Monday was pay back time for me, as I was again honored by the presence of Captains Pat Murphy and Bryan Pahmeier aboard Three Quarter Time for another magnificent day out of Port Canaveral. Our plan was to start the day with a run out to 8A Reef for some kingfish action, and then return inshore for cobia and tripletail around noon. As we cut across the bight of the Cape, we spotted a really nice weed line with scattered tripletail, but the early morning light made them difficult to see and catch. After chasing them around for about 20 minutes, we decided to return to plan A, and revisit the weed line later when the sun was higher in the sky. Shortly after passing Ã¬DÃ® Can buoy, I spotted a small floating log off of to port, and we circled back for a closer look. As we idled into position, we witness a tripletail jump completely out of the water. Moving into casting range, you could clearly see a mass of large fish suspended below the log at about 8 to 10 feet. Bryan was the first to strike, and then Captain Pat chimed in with a double hook-up. Both anglers were connected to substantial fish, when PatÃs fish pulled hook. At this point, large trips were swimming all around the boat, and within seconds, Pat was hooked up to a second fish. When the battle waned, Pat landed a hefty tripletail in the 20-pound range, and thatÃs when we got a good look at BrianÃs fish. Clearly, BrianÃs fish was a monster as his battle continued for another 15 minutes, and once landed, we celebrated the capture of the largest tripletail ever landed from the deck of Three Quarter Time, maxing out my 30-pound Boga Grip. Once we safely stashed the fish and pulled ourselves together, we returned to the floating log scoring several more substantial fish before they moved off. Again we reverted back to plan A, and headed east towards 8A Reef, only to find the place void of any immediate action. Impatience soon got the best of us, as the thought of more tripletail action compelled us to return inshore where we finished the day with at least 20 tripletail. All of the above fish were taken on 14-pound test tackle, and jigs tipped with live shrimp. Today, I returned to the Mosquito Lagoon on a half-day charter with Jay and Ruth Barnhart and their grandson Ben. I decided to concentrate on the south end of the lagoon, and we were on actively tailing fish right off the bat. Although the calm conditions made locating fish easy, they were spooky and difficult to approach. After stocking then for an hour, Jay finally managed to get a nice 33Ã® red to eat. Shortly after, the winds picked up out of the south, and we lost the school. The only other significant fish taken was a 25Ã® black drum caught on a live shrimp by Ben. On a final note, Jay and Ben caught a mess of American shad yesterday in the area of the Econ Creek, so the shad are in. So, letÃs hope this approaching cold front doesnÃt disrupt whatÃs been an outstanding two weeks of catching. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 Office 407-416-1187 On the water 866-790-8081 Toll Free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-31-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2005 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Reflecting back through my past angling chronicles is routine procedure in preparation of my fishing forecast, and itÃs a practice I truly enjoy. Within these squirreled away files, IÃm reminded of outstanding adventures shared with fishing friends on the open waters of Indian River Lagoon coast. Sunny days, calm seas, tight lines, screaming drags, and happy fish, are all terms that make me smile. IÃm also taken back to less favorable journeys, best described as character builders, lessens learned, or true adventures. Either way, itÃs all fishing, and itÃs usually the unpleasant stories, which yield the most humor when itÃs all said and done, becoming the tales we love to tell the most. In reviewing my archives for 2004, I see both of these scenarios played out to their full extent. We experienced an outstanding year of angling mixed in with some trying times and personal losses, but our mortality compels us to move forward, learning from our experiences and our mistakes, and appreciating the many blessings bestowed upon us. With that said, I believe a celebration of the New Year is justified, and IÃm looking forward to our adventures on the water together next year. Winter on the Indian River Lagoon system is not defined by any specific dates, but rather by the temperature differences generated by passing cold fronts. These variations are subject to change from year to year, and they are impossible to predict. Average daytime temperatures usually range from the 50Ãs in the morning to around the 70Ãs by afternoon. Likewise, water temperatures average in the upper 60Ãs, but they can drop as low as the 50Ãs during extended periods of cold weather. On warm sunny days, water temperatures can increase as much as four degrees on the shallow flats and sandbars. All of these factors greatly affect species targeted and methods used. 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 start is not prudent this time of year. Additionally, both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets Ã¬potholesÃ® 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 RipTide, DOA, or GULP shrimp in the clear or nightglow colors fish extremely slow. 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 Ã¬ No Motor ZoneÃ®. Both live shrimp and clams are the preferred bait for black drum, but they will eat both artificial and fly when presented properly. Inlet fishing has been good this past month weather permitting, with Sebastian proving to be the most productive. There are still some reports of flounder moving through the inlet. On the inside of the inlet, look for good numbers of pompano, ladyfish, and jacks to be present on the flats both north and south of the cut and in the area of the monument. Also, January is the month when the jumbo reds move in and feed in the mouth of the inlet during the last part of the falling tide. These monsters are brood stock, so please handle and release them with care. Near-shore, January is the month when the tripletail become consistent on the Port Canaveral buoy line, and their numbers will increase as the month progresses. The other hot ticket near-shore is the presents king mackerel holding along the 70 to 90 foot reefs of North Pelican and 8A. Weather permitting; bottom fishing on deep structure should remain consistent. Look for snapper, cobia and sea bass in depths of 80 t0 140 feet, and grouper and amberjack along the 22 fathom ridge and deeper. Again, the primary factor in catching fish along the Lagoon coast in January is temperature, so keep an eye on the weather and plan your trip accordingly. In closing, I would like to thank each and every one of you for friendship, guidance, and support this past year, and 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 www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my e-mail list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-14-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, December 14, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Ever notice how the days seem to go by quicker as we approach the end of the year. This is especially true when the weatherÃs nice and your tossing baits. Unfortunately, the cold blast weÃre receiving today has forced me exchange my long-sleeved T-shirts and my winter shorts for a long sleeve sweat shirt, blue jeans, and shoes. Fishing this week has been great in some areas of the lagoon coast, and with any luck, once these brisk breezes move off, conditions will settle. Hopefully, this report will provide useful insight into determining your fishing adventures over the weekend. Listed below are some of last weekÃs hot & not spots: Sebastian: The combination of cold weather and the passing of the new moon should get the flounder moving towards the inlet. Good reports of roe laden flatfish have been coming from areas close to the inlets, so theyÃre on the move. A good overall artificial bait is a simple jig with a Cotee 3Ã®curly tail grub, in white, white /red tail, rootbeer/gold glitter tail, or green. Every inshore game fish swimming in lagoon waters will take this bait. For flounder, grouper, and snapper, I prefer to drift through productive areas bouncing the jig slowly across the bottom. For bluefish and Spanish mackerel, retrieve the jig quickly just below the surface of the water. This technique will help you avoid cut offs by these toothy critters. For trout, redfish, ladyfish, pompano, and jacks, retrieve this bait with an even steady speed, giving it a twitch every three to four seconds. It is also important to adjust the weight based on the depth of the water and the strike zone of the desired species. The weights I utilize most are 1/8 ounce in skinny water; Âº ounce in 2 to 4 feet of water, and Î© ounce in deeper situations. Also, there have been excellent catches of pompano reported inside the Sebastian Inlet cut in the vicinity of the monument and on the flats to the north and south. Remember, snook goes out of season on the 15th, so if you catch one, please handle and release it with due care. Port Canaveral: Near-shore fishing in the Port is producing quality tripletail, flounder, and redfish. The flounder bite is slow due to heavy dredging operations and the closing of the locks for repair, but fish are showing up along the sandbars and drop-offs inside the Port. Good numbers of tripletail have begun to show up on the buoy line around structure. Catching this brim on steroids around the buoys requires a little luck and considerable skill in first getting them to bite, and then working them away from the structure is a story in itself. Near-shore: When the seas allow it, the kingfish were hammering anglers on the near-shore reefs and wrecks along the lagoon coast, and this bite should remain productive. Around Canaveral, try slow trolling Spanish sardines (spinning minnows) over 8A, Pelican Flats, or Chris Benson reefs. The kingfish have been running small, but there are a lot of them. Most anglers last week returned to Port with there limits of kings. Inshore: Last week I spent one of the most gorgeous days of the year fishing the No-Motor-Zone with Captain John Kumiski, but someone most have warned the fish of our menacing plans. Despite the glassy conditions, the only shots we had were at a couple tailing sheepshead, which showed no interests in our offerings. In closing, I would like to thank all of those who have fished with me this year, my loyal readers, and my family and friends, for providing me with the opportunities IÃve experienced in 2004. God bless you, and have a happy and safe holiday. As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Also, gift certificates are currently available for 2005. Good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 866-790-8081
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-29-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Well folks, old man winter is once again knocking at our door with passing of our first set of cool fronts for the season. Just yesterday, I was forced to dig out my winter shorts from the bottom of the closet in preparation for my day on the water. Like November, December is loaded with outstanding fishing opportunities, with the only difference being the impact of cold fronts on water temperatures and fishing conditions. Currently, surf and lagoon temperatures are in the mid seventies, and offshore water temperatures remain near the eighty-degree mark. As these fronts approach and pass, gusty breezes kick up the sea conditions shutting down most offshore and site fishing opportunities, and cooler air temperatures chill the waters affecting fish behavior. In and around the inlets, look for oversized redfish feeding on surface baits during periods of slack tide. At both Sebastian and Ponce inlets, target these fish outside the inlets near the end of the falling tide in the areas of bird and bait activity. These fish will hit artificial swim baits, but I find live pinfish, pigfish, and finger mullet to be the most productive bait. At Port Canaveral, dredging operations continue to muddy the water, and I havenÃt heard of any significant redfish reports thus far. 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 or pinfish at night in the channel under the inlet bridge. This style of angling can be quite rewarding when the bite is on, but it can also be challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same action. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy those yummy filets, your time is limited. Flounder is another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing in December. Warmer than normal weather and water temperatures have delayed the traditional flounder migration from the lagoon to the warmer coastal waters. Normally the run begins in mid November and lasts through mid December, but as of this writing, the doormat size southern flounder have not arrived in quantities. 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 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 and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs. Near-shore, when the seas permit it, look for kingfish, tarpon, and sharks to be cruising the beaches working remaining bait schools as they move south. Also, solid concentrations of kings will be holding on the near-shore reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target kings 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 (spinning minnows) dressed with skirts. 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 surface water. Offshore, December is one of the best times to target grouper, snapper, and amberjacks. Again if sea conditions allow it, target bottom in the 21 to 27 fathom range. Additionally, dolphin, wahoo, and an occasional sailfish are still 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. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets (potholes) until the sun gets overhead. Now is also the time of year to begin looking for tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. Try fishing early in the day, and preferably with a west wind, and if youÃve never seen black drum tailing before, itÃs worth the paddle. In closing, I would like to thank all who fished and worked with me this past year for your business and friendship, man this job is great! As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Happy Holidays, 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-13-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Angling on the lagoon coast in November can sometimes be difficult due to blustery breezes and cloudy conditions brought on by approaching and passing cold fronts. Although these weather patterns can be challenging, quality fishing opportunities still exist if you catch the right days, as was the case today. This past week, the focus of my fishing was directed in the area of the North Indian River Lagoon between Mims and Port Saint John, and the following observation were made: Redfish: On the windy days, sight-fishing opportunities were few, so the tactic of soaking ladyfish chunks and live finger mullet tucked back in close to wind-protected shorelines rewarded us with some quality redfish up to 32 inches. On a few occasions, like today, brief periods of calm conditions brought tails to the surface in good numbers, and while fishing a three boat charter, our combined effort totaled over 20 redfish. Black Drum: There are still some black drum holding around the bridges, but their numbers have greatly decreased. Most were taken using jumbo live shrimp and blue crab fished in close to the fenders. Sea trout: Good numbers of sea trout were present on the deeper edges of the flats in areas of clean water. Clients managed trout up to 24 inches working Cottee Jigs, DOA Shrimp, and Riptide Realistic shrimp in about three feet of water, and all were released due to the closed season. Pompano: Skipping pompano were abundant on the Port Saint John and Carbide flats earlier in the week, but very few were sighted on Thursday and Friday. Chances are they have begun their migration south towards Sebastian Inlet. Judging by the numbers seen last week, things should be firing up in the Sebastian area soon. Ladyfish and jacks: You still have until the 15th to target these speedsters at the power plant outflows before the areas are closed to provide a winter haven for our blubbery friends. Speaking of which, manatees are currently migrating from other areas of the lagoon in the direction of the power plant outflows, so use caution even in open waters. Finger mullet: Finger mullet were tough to catch this week. Bait schools have thinned out significantly, and cooler water temperatures have pushed them into deeper water. As always, if you have any questions or nee information, please contact me. Good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-29-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, November 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters ItÃs hard to fathom the thought of how quickly November has arrived, delivering cooler weather and exceptional fishing to the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. As I sit here and ponder this forecast, countless memories of November fishing adventures occupy my mind. We are truly blessed to live in a place where angling is a year-round activity, and November prevails as one of the most productive months to fish the IRL Coast. ItÃs the season of the mullet, with waves of black and silver mullet working their way south through the lagoon and along the beach. This year the bait run started early, and in some locations finger mullet schools have thinned out, but good reports of heavy bait concentrations to the north indicate that more is yet to come. Along with the seasonal migration of bait come cooler temperatures and an influx of predators seeking warmer waters and an easy meal. Currently, ocean temperatures are still in the lower 80Ãs, and once they being to drop, look for an increase in the feeding activity of larger fish. 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 inshore 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 as 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 should begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets, 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 schools of 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 the north Indian River Lagoon, and the flats on the east shore of the Indian River Lagoon south of Titusville. Also look for large schools of ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and small sea trout to be working the migrating schools of glass minnows as they move south through the lagoon. Sight fishing for redfish has been tough due to higher water levels and dirty water conditions, but some quality fish are still being taken once clean water is located. Chunking cut bait and live finger mullet should be the most productive in areas of dirty water. Additionally, a good numbers of quality black drum and some gag grouper have been and will continue to occupy the deeper channels of the ICW and areas around bridges and power structures throughout the lagoon. In closing, I would like to remind everyone to come visit me at Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth at the New Smyrna Redfish Classic Tournament this weekend. As always, if you have any questions or comments, or need information, Please contact me. Good fishing, and yes we still live in paradise. 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 Captain TomÃs mailing list, contact him at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-26-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, October 25, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Tattered and torn best describes the emotional state of many Floridians as we recover from the torrent of summer squalls nature delivered this past season. As the adage goes, Ã¬if it doesnÃt kill you, it will only make you strongerÃ®, and although frayed, IÃve truly enjoyed the chamber of commerce weather weÃve experienced these past few weeks, combined with some memorable fishing adventures. As fishing adventures go, this account marks my third year of writing and posting fishing reports and fishing forecast on the Internet, and the dividends were evident this past week as I was honored to served on the rules committee for the Second Annual Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic Fishing Tournament. The Fall Classic is a CPR, (catch, photograph, and release) event hosted and promoted by Coastal Angler Magazine and Chowders Restaurant, with the goal of promoting the use, not the abuse of the IRL through education and conservation. During the event, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with many anglers and their families, who not only read my reports, but also share my profound attachment to the natural side of Florida and my fondness and passion for angling. I was also highly impressed by the abundance of enthusiastic anglers and their kids, many of which, caught exceptional fish and walked away with some really nice prizes and fantastic memories. In regards to angling, these past couple weeks have hosted both extraordinary and ordinary fishing excursion. On the ordinary side, I ventured into the Banana River Ã¬No Motor ZoneÃ®, accompanied by veteran lagoon guide, Captain John Kumiski with hopes of encountering some tailing black drum which normally begin to show up on the flats this time of year. The weather conditions were favorable with a slight northwest breeze, but someone must have forewarned the fish of our plan, because we didnÃt sight a single red or black tail or significant push during our fourteen-mile canoe odyssey. We did manage to stretch line on some healthy sea trout using chug-bugs, but that was it. Although the water level has fallen some, it is still higher than normal, and the turbidity left over from the storms and cloudy skies made sight fishing arduous. On the extraordinary side, I enjoyed some exceptional trips shared by both clients and friends. The first was a trip to the north end of the Indian River Lagoon where we managed some nice trout up to five pounds working chug-bugs on top in areas large schooling black mullet. We also managed several upper slot redfish, and straightened the hook on one monster tailing redfish. All fish were taken using the chug-bug on top. The remainder of my outstanding adventures consisted of targeting the concentrations of black drum, which gather together in the shadows of all of the lagoon bridges this time of year. On several trips, quality fish up to 38 inches were taken using live shrimp. The technique I like to use is to fish with heavy tackle, (20 pound class). Start by attaching about 30 inches of 40-pound test leader to the tag end of the line. Next, I slide a Ã¦ ounce barrel sinker onto the leader and attach a #5 circle hook. Once this is accomplished, I crimp two split-shot sinkers to the leader with the first located about 18 inches from the hook. The second shot is attached about 8 inches above the first, with the barrel sinker between the two. The purpose of the split-shot is two fold. First, it keeps the barrel sinker from sliding up the line when you cast. Second, when the fish picks up the bait, the weight of the sinker stopped by the split-shot helps pull the circle hook to the corner of the mouth before the hook is set. Another tip is to fish with live crab or the largest live shrimp you can find. Anchor up away from the bridge and cast your bait up close to the bridge fenders or supports, and then close your bail. ItÃs important to keep a tight drag and limit the slack in you line. These fish are brutes, so once your feel the strike, lift the rod and reel hard to turn the fish away from structure. If you allow the fish to turn and pull drag, there is a good chance you will be cut off. Now for the good part, if you like to eat fresh fish, black drum makes excellent table fare, and you are allowed to keep one over the slot of 14 to 24 inches. So far this month, with the exception of a few slot fish taken off the north jetty of Port Canaveral, all drum taken on Three Quarter Time have been over the slot, but weÃve still managed to put at least one over slot fish on the table each day. In closing, this type of angling is what I refer to as full contact as most fish are concentrated near the fenders of the bridges, so itÃs prudent to allow other anglers to squeeze into the better spots to share in the thrill, plus watching other anglers battle monster fish is almost as exciting as catching them yourself, so be courteous to other anglers, and kind enough to share your spot with others. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-29-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Squally Weather Has Passed, Let Fishing Tales Prevail Charley was gnarly, Frances was expansive, Ivan wasnÃt jivin, and Jeanne was just plain mean; but together their destruction serves merely as a disruption, fish on! Forty-nine summers of Florida living and the 2004 hurricane season have once again taught me to never underestimate the forces of nature and the patence, tolerance, and kindness of Floridians. ItÃs true these squalls changed the face of the entire state of Florida, and the lives of many of us, but nature has a way of taking care of herself, and we are only along for a short ride. Hopefully, our lives will soon be back in order, the angry seas will subside, the waters will clear, and we will not take our lives and time on the water for granted. In the meantime, the squalls have damaged or destroyed much of the infrastructure supporting anglers, so you might consider focusing your attention on shore fishing in the areas of flowing drainage culverts and from the beach until the ramps reopen. Also, sight fishing will be tough due to deeper and dirtier water, so consider switching from artificial baits to live finger mullet until the bait shops reopen and the waters clear. Like us, these fish still have to eat, so a change in tactics may be required until some sense of normalcy is restored. The love bug hatch, shorted days, and cooler nights are sure signs fall is in the air on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Another sure sign is the waves of baitfish working their way south through the lagoon and along the beaches. We are currently in the middle of a heavy fall bait run consisting of schools black and silver mullet, greenies, and pogies. These tasty little baitfish create a smorgasbord for a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter. October and November are notorious for blustery breezes and nasty weather, but theyÃre also one of the best times of year for anglering on the Lagoon coast, so pick your days on the water, and catch some fish. 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, smoker kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing near the latter part of the month 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 crevelle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties. Easterly swells and falling tides can make for sporty sea conditions when operating in these inlets, so pay attention, be patient, and enjoy the rewards. Currently, shore anglers working from the beach are catching some nice snook and redfish working live finger mullet along edge of the surf, even in the dirty water. In the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, higher water levels will allow anglers to venture into areas that were inaccessible during the summer. Look for slot redfish in close to grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet and the larger reds staging in deeper water ambush sites where migrating fingers are forced to venture out away from the safety of the shallow flats. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and trout feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. When fishing conditions are favorable, these schools will produce explosive action on top water plugs and popping flies. Another productive method is to target these fish with Rip-tideÃs Realistic Shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig with a WoodieÃs Rattle in it. In closing, I would like to inform everyone of Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Second Annual Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic Catch-Photograph-Release Tournament to be held at ChowderÃs Restaurant in Melbourne on the 22nd and 23rd of October. With an entry fee of only 35 dollars, this tournament is open to all anglers regardless of where and how you fish, and the anglerÃs bags presented to the first 200 anglers registered are worth at least that. Features eight different species of fish, this is a fun event intended to promote the use, not the abuse of the IRL, with proceeds donated to Port CanaveralÃs Kids Fishing Day, and Brevard AlzheimerÃs Foundation. To register, pick up a copy of Coastal Angler Magazine or call CAM at 321-777-2773. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-14-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 13, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Stormy weather placed a damper on fishing along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida this past month. First, hurricane Charley came to visit us on Friday the 13th of August, followed by Frances who relentlessly hammered the east coast on September 5th, and if these two summer squalls arenÃt enough, weÃre now faced with the threat of Ivan, who is working his way through the Gulf of Mexico as of this post. These squalls produced considerable damage to the beaches, marinas, tackle shops, docks, and ramps, complicating both life and sports fishing. Additionally, many of the public ramps remain closed, including Port Canaveral, and the lagoon is loaded with floating and submerged debris, so be extra careful when navigating these waters. On the positive side, the heavy rains have cooled the lagoon waters by about five degrees and it seems to have improved the low dissolved oxygen condition we experienced before the storm. Also, excess water is draining from the mosquito control impoundment into the lagoon, and fishing these discharges has been hot. This past week I had the privilege of fishing with Captain John Kumiski with the intent of working from my canoe, but our plan was detoured when we stopped to check a set of culverts. John worked magic with his is fly rod, managing a fish on almost every cast, as I work a small spinning outfit. Together we caught four different species of fish, and we never put the canoe in the water. Currently, the majority of the dike roads within the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge are closed due to storm damage and washouts, so access from boats or on foot are your best options. On the beach, steady streams of finger mullet have drawn the snook, redfish and tarpon in close to the beach, and some quality snook were taken between the Cocoa Beach pier and Patrick AFB. Clearly, the mullet run is on, and once the weather settles, the fall fishing season will commence. Now is the time to target predator species ambushing schools of migrating baitfish in the lagoons, inlets, and on the beaches. On the inshore waters, focus on areas were the bait is funneled off of the protected shallow flats into deeper water were the larger fish have easer access. These areas include; points, cannel mouths, edges of dredge holes, and causeway bridge abutments. On the beach, watch for pelicans and terns working nervous mullet schools in close, and toss live fingers into the mix. At the inlets, focus your attention on the jetty points and rocky edges where bait is forced to venture into the deeper water. If youÃre interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, donÃt hesitate, because before you know it, you will miss some of the best fishing experienced all year. In closing, Charley destroyed around 40 trees from my homestead in Taintsville, Frances took additional 5, and it appears that Ivan will pass well to the west, so I can hopefully say that I am almost out of the woods now. 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 captain@irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-30-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Although IÃm a lifelong Florida native and a student of nature, I was once again taken aback by the swiftness and destructive power of natureÃs wrath, as hurricane Charley rumbled through Central Florida on Friday the 13th. Like many, I assumed Charley was a simple summer squall, and his winds would subside as he pushed his way across the mountains of Cuba, but conversely he strengthened, turned to port, and splintered Florida from stem to stern. While the damage we occurred in Chuluota was moderate, we were blessed compared to many. The forest, which once surrounded our home will grow back with time, our roof was damaged but failed to leak, and no injuries were encounter, with exception to a few splinters, some sore backs, and loads of chigger bites. On a positive note, itÃs been many years since IÃve seen such starry skies from my front porch, made possible by the absents of city lights, IÃve lost some weight under my new chain saw and log lugging exercise program, and I was once again humbled the kindness and compassion of my friends and family who came to my assistance after the storm. Due to the fore mentioned event, my time on the water this past two weeks has been limited, and my lose of power, phone, and web services had rendered me incommunicado, therefore; I will skip my fishing report and get right to my forecast for September. 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, signaling 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 mullet, and predatory species begin their southerly migration along the beach and through the Indian River Lagoon. ItÃs been 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. ItÃs hard to predict the magnitude and duration of the run, but if recent indications prove true, this years 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 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 youÃve 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. The technique I like to use starts by treading a Î© 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 24Ã® of fluorocarbon leader, 30 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, I like Stren Super Braid, which greatly increases your spoon capacity over standard monofilament line, it is resistant to line twisting, and its lack of stretch gives you a better feel and hook set. Once youÃre rigged and acquired bait, I like to hook my finger mullet through the lips so it swims naturally in the current. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait roll alone 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 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 Canveral 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, slot redfish, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or in deeper water, try working Âº ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored RipTide Realistic 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 blue crabs washing out with the tide. In closing, it difficult to reason with hurricane season, so lets pray that Frances will keep her destructive forces well out on harms way. 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 886-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-12-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, August 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Summer rains have dampened catching along the Indian River Lagoon coast, which is nothing new for hurricane season in central Florida. These passed few weeks; moderate rains have elevated water levels in the lagoon, and theyÃve stirred up water conditions both inside and outside, making sight fishing difficult. As we speak, two different summer squalls, Bonnie and Charley, are blowing in from the west and south, which well pretty much shut down any fishing opportunities this weekend. All of this talk of bad weather sounds ominous, but these squalls are simply a force of nature designed to facilitate the changing seasons to come. As mentioned in my last fishing forecast, these light to moderate storms are just the ticket for pushing the cold water Labrador currents away from the coast, and the elevated water levels in the lagoon will simplify the migration of finger mullet out of the backwater creeks and impoundments in preparation for their fall bait migration. This passed week, we had some incredible fishing adventures, but the catching side of the equation was limited. Yesterday for example, I stared my day on the water at 5am, and I happened into an unbelievable star shower at dawns first light. I usually keep tabs on celestial activity, but the magnitude of shooting stars was an unexpected pleasure. At one point, I forgot about fishing and pulled my boat up onto a sandbar, and I simply laid back on the deck and watch the stars shoot across the sky, complemented by the presents of a sliver lit moon just before new. I was actually disappointed when dawnÃs light robbed the sky of its darkness. Once the light show was no longer visible, I returned to my original intentions, and I began to hammer the smaller sea trout on top-water plugs. The sea trout bite has always been the staple for summertime anglers on the lagoon. After working the trout over, I returned to the dock to pick up a good friend, and our focus was diverted by the presents of busting fish and showers of fleeing finger mullet off in the distance along the deeper edges of the flat. As we moved in to investigate, the presents of large rolling tarpon, sixty to one hundred pound, captured our attention. For the remainder of the morning, we chased these feeding fish, but every time we would move into the area of activity, you guessed it, the activity would move to a distant place, and we never jumped a single fish. We also found a combination of jacks and ladyfish working schooling finger mullet in the deeper water and some decent redfish chasseing bait on the flats, but these fish were in hot pursuit of a mullet breakfast, making them difficult to corner. We ended the day with one really nice twenty-two pound redfish taken by Mully while fishing for black drum under a bridge. Out of Port Canaveral this last week, again there were good and bad days. On one day, the bait pods were concentrated on the beach between the pier and the steeple, and some large kingfish, tarpon, and sharks were taken just offshore of the bait, but the very next day, the bait and larger fish were gone. Also, some good reports of schooly size kings came from the near-shore reefs of 8A and Pelican Flats, but again the catching was hit and miss. On a positive note, flounder catches have improver inside the Port, fishing live finger mullet on the bottom around structure. In closing. I would like to remind everyone of the public meeting concerning the draft permit for the Florida Power and LightÃs Cape Canaveral Power Plant is scheduled for August 18th, 4pm at the Brevard Public Library in Titusville. The discharge of heated effluent from this power plant applies tremendous presser on the estuary, and now we have an opportunity to voice our concerns and desire for change. 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 407-366-8085 Office 407-416-1187 On the water 866-790-8081 Toll Free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-29-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Doing an accurate fishing forecast for August requires years of experience, a good network of professional charter captains and quality lagoon anglers, and considerable psychic ability. As a lifetime barefoot lagoon angler and professional fishing guide, IÃve got a good start on the experience issue. IÃm also blessed with an outstanding network of experienced fishing charter captains and outstanding lagoon anglers who are willing to share their knowledge (remember these are fisherman IÃm referring to) with me, so information isnÃt a problem either, but my ability to foresee the influences of nature on our fishery is as limited as the forecast of those silly weather reporters on the tube, and this is especially true in August. The information provided within these forecast is facilitated through my personal archives of logged fishing experiences, and the vast knowledge and experiences of those who share information with me. For the past two weeks, catching off of the Lagoon coast of Florida has been tough. An earlier and colder than normal Labrador Current has moved in with bottom water temperatures on the near-shore reef out of Port Canaveral reported in the 50 degree range. The cooler water is normal for August, but this year, its influence was felt in the second week of July. I hate to say it, but it will most likely take the tropical fetch of a summer squall to push the cold water out, and then weÃll be faced with stirred up sea conditions. The cooler than normal water temperatures has pretty much shut down the bottom fishing bite out of Port Canaveral, and with average bottom temperatures in the 60Ãs, finding warmer water is the key to finding fish. Many of the Port Canaveral party boats have been heading south and working bottom structure outside of Sebastian. Additionally, bait concentration in the Port and along the beach are almost nonexistent. Captain Mully of Mully Charters suggest catching live silver mullet out of the Lagoon before heading to the Port. Also, like last year, the colder than normal water temperatures turned out to be a blessing when we experienced a mid season cobia run, and the largest school of giant redfish IÃve ever seen seeking the warmer waters of the inshore shoals off of the Cape. Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin 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. 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. A stealth approach and presentation is a must to get these fish to eat. 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. In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on FloridaÃs 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. Also, do not forget the public meeting regarding the draft permit for effluent discharge by the Florida Power and Light Power Plant will be held at the Brevard Public Library in Titusville at 4pm to 8pm on August 18th. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-23-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, July 23, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters I must confess, itÃs been two weeks since my last report. As many of you know, IÃve been off the water on vacation up the eastern seaboard with my wife Sandi, and my granddaughter Rae Lynn. Our quest carried us through Charleston, Savannah, and St. Marys, with the highlight of the trip being our exploration of Cumberland Island National Seashore. It was an adventure rich in American history, lots of walking, and lots of wonderful low country seafood. Although I gained about ten pounds while away, I immediately resumed my push pole diet, spending numerous hours last week sweating in pursuit of Mr. Redfish from the platform of Three Quarter Time. Catching this past week has been tough for me on the Lagoon, and from what IÃve heard from others, it was a difficult week all around, both inshore and offshore of the Lagoon Coast. On the Lagoon this week, the sea trout bite is still your best opportunity for stretching line on the Lagoon. On several occasions, we hammered the trout fishing the deeper flats during the predawn hours with top-water plugs (chugbugs, skitterwalks, and Johnny Ratlers), and this bite should improve greatly as we move into the full moon phase. As for redfish, the flats at first light have been loaded with tailing fish, but getting them to eat has been a real challenge. On Thursday, I fished with Max and his son Andy from Orlando, and we were on the most awesome school of tailing reds right off the bat. The school consisted of about forty fish in the 20 to 30 pound range, and they were pushing up into a tight group with all of their tails waving. Max hooked up immediately using a live pigfish, and we boated a nice 34 inch red before the fog lifted. It was one of those days when you think, there I go thinking again, this is going to be one of those lifetime catching experience, only to learn the tough lessen that fishing is fishing. For the remainder of the charter, I kept a steady bow in my push pole pursuing restless redfish around the flats. If you plan on pursuing redfish this weekend, I think it would be prudent to catch some live finger mullet and just settle into an area where you find tailing reds, and just quietly chunk live baits. Near and offshore, the picture hasnÃt been any brighter with a moderate influx from the coldwater upwelling of the Labrador Current. The water along the beach has been cold, and you really have to work to find bait and fish. The best information IÃve been hearing is there are some scattered bait pods, tarpon and kingfish along the beach starting around Patrick AFB, working south to Sebastian Inlet, and that the water is currently warming up some. If you plan on fishing this weekend, you might consider targeting whiting, drum, and sheepshead along the beach, and be ready for the tarpon and kingfish bite to fire up once the water begins to warm up. In Closing, I would like to thank all of the members of the Internet Shrimpers and Anglers Association (ISAA) for inviting me the to speak at their July BBQ last Saturday. For those of you who are not familiar with this outstanding organization, you should check out their website at http://www.isaa.cc. This group is unique, because they are the only family oriented shrimping and fishing club in the world whoÃs focus is the educate anglers, and the throw a great BBQ too. 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 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-08-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, July 8, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters With the summer heat upon us, an early morning or late evening start has been an essential requirement for catching fish. This past week weÃve experienced exceptional conditions in regards to wind and seas, but the scorching summer sun has shut down the bite early, and it will put blister you shinny nose in a heartbeat. Inshore, the hot ticket has been the early morning trout bite, 5am to sunrise on most of the major flats on the north Indian River, Banana River, and Mosquito Lagoons. Last week I fished the north IRL with my good friend Captain Billy Bright on the flat north of the ICW spoil islands west of Haulover, and we boated over 20 sea trout up to 5 pounds before 8am, throwing MannÃs new Tail Dragger, StormÃs Chug Bug, and RapalaÃs Skitterwalk plugs. Once the sun grew bright, the bite shut down. Another hotspot has been the nighttime redfish and black drum bite around the Titusville Railroad and the NASA Causeway bridges. Rich from Skeeter LagoonÃs bait and tackle in Titusville reported one of his regular customers catching eight black drum in one day with the smallest being 30 pounds, on shrimp heads of all things. Offshore, the cold-water upwelling produced by the Labrador Current has moved inshore and sent the bottom fish into a state of aestivation, shutting down the seaward bite. Additionally, offshore anglers are reporting the dolphin and wahoo bite to be sluggish. Near-shore along the beach, the bait pods have completely disappeared, along with all of our other scaly friends; so if your looking for live baits this weekend, focus your attention inside the Port. IÃm not sure if itÃs cold water moving in, or just the full moon phase, but many hours and gallons of fuel were wasted last week running the beach in search of bait and fish. As far as the kingfish bite, several nice fish were taken on the buoy line, but the better bite has been north of Canaveral and outside Ponce Inlet in 70 to 80 feet of water. In closing, the Haulover Canal Ramp closed July 6th for renovations, and it should remain closed through August; so alternate ramps must be utilized if you plan on fishing the Mosquito Lagoon. Also, I will be off the water and out of my office on a short family vacation up the eastern seaboard through July 16th, so please direct any charter request to Captain Rodney Smith at 321-777-2773. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-28-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Well folks, summertime has officially arrived on the Indian River Lagoon coast, as the mid summer doldrums are currently upon us. ItÃs also the time of year when tropical weather systems and offshore water temperatures are as predictable as Wall Street. Just when you think youÃve got things figured out, a summer squall will blow in and kick up the seas, or the cold water Labrador Current will move in and shut down the seaward bite. Setting all these possibilities aside, many opportunities for angling adventures exist for us both inshore and offshore of the lagoon coast in July. Offshore, the yellowfin tuna have been going off, for those who are willing to make the long run east (70 to 140 miles). Last week, Chris Lee set a Port Canaveral record boating a 121-pound yellowfin while fishing aboard the Stream Hunter using cider plugs. Near-shore, kingfish will be the staple on the reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water, with a mixed bag of three, wahoo, dolphin, and an occasional sailfish, thrown in. My preferred method for targeting these species is slow trolling live bait (pogies) on steel stinger rigs dresses with King Duster skirts. On the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches, an assorted beach bag is available with smoker kings (large king mackerel), silver kings (tarpon), cobia, sharks, and colossal jacks (school busses) all available at any given time. To target these species, focus your attention in areas of bait concentrations. This past week, pods of large tarpon and sharks were located between Patrick AFB and Satellite Beach. As the month progresses, these fish should begin moving north along the beach to their favorite summertime haunt in the forbidden zone off the bight of the Cape. Out of Ponce Inlet; look for mangrove snappers to be aggregating for the spawn on any hard bottom from 90 to 165 feet of water. The best bite is at night, 3 to 4 days before and after the full moon. Your best bet is to anchor up current and chum these fish up into the water column. Also look for grouper, and amberjacks in the same areas. Thus far, the cold water has not shut down the bite in this area. In the Port and inlets, Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snapper number should remain steady. To target the flounder and snapper, try using Rip TideÃs new realistic shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig head in the areas of structure and along sandy drop-offs. Cast the jig as close to the structure as possible without getting snagged, and let it sink to the bottom. Once its reached the bottom, slowly drag it back letting it rest every foot or so. Inshore, July is the best time of the year to catch redfish in shallow water. Large schools have already started forming up, and the sight of 200 feeding redfish is mind-boggling. Once youÃve finished drooling over redfish, look for snook, and top water snapper along mangrove edges, and juvenile tarpon in the creeks, canals and backwaters. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and small trout to be shadowing schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) under clouds of feeding terns. In closing, lets remember to be patient and respectful to our fellow anglers while enjoying time on the water during our NationÃs birthday, and lets not forget those overseas fighting for our freedom. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to my mailing list, please reply to captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-13-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, June 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Angling on the Indian River Lagoon Coast this past week resulted in some quality catches from the deck of Three Quarter Time, but the bite has not been significant. The bait concentrations are heavy, and the fish have been fairly easy to locate, but finding them in a happy mood is another story. My week started out last Saturday in the north Indian River Lagoon, with Randy Dye and his longtime fishing buddy John from Kissimmee, Florida. Both Randy and John are accomplished bass anglers, but neither had experienced the excitement of a jumbo redfish on light tackle. Their eagerness and enthusiasm impressed me when I arrived at the dock a half-hour early (5am), to find them both ready and willing to hit the water. Within minutes of our arrival at the first spot, both Randy and John scored a double hook-up on fat ladyfish using top-water plugs, and they continued to catch trout after trout until the sun cleared the horizon. As the morning progressed, Randy scored the first respectable redfish of 24 pounds on a fat chunk of ladyfish, and John followed shortly with one of 19 pounds. During the battle with JohnÃs fish, the school spooked off of the flat into deeper water, and we spent the rest of the charter looking instead of catching. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of fishing with Darla and David Attaway from Winter Springs, Florida. We started our day in the same area of the Lagoon, and again we manager three nice reds ranging from 17 to 24 pounds, before losing the school. On both days, the same sequence of events played out; as we would search hard to locate the school, catches a fish, and lose the school again. On Thursday, my fishing adventure lead me to the near-shore waters of Port Canaveral where I met up with Ron Ehrke for a day of chasing tarpon and kingfish along the beach. My plan was to arrive early, and have a well full of pogies before meeting Ron at the dock, soon, I found myself motoring south out of the Port before the pelicans left their perches. As I cruised just outside the breakers, I easily located a heavy concentration of bait just north of the Cocoa Beach Pier, and I floated my Calusa cast net on the first throw. While I loaded the bait well with hand picked pogies, a tarpon smashed at the excess bait I had culled from my net, and I had the feeling a great day of catching was ahead of us, boy was I wrong. Quickly I returned to the dock and picked up Ron, and after a long hard day of dragging baits, we only managed to get three small black-tip sharks to eat. There were tarpon rolling everywhere, but they had lockjaw. The unsettling thing about our bad luck was my charter on Friday also had tarpon on his mind. On Friday, I met up with Mike Dills from West Hartford, and we pushed away from the dock around 6am. Our hopes were to find the same tarpon on an early morning bite. As we turned south out of the Port, a stiff southeast wind and choppy seas dampened my hopes, and the bait and tarpon from the day before were gone. The only thing I could think of was to keep heading south down the beach, and believe it or not, my bad feelings turned out to be good as we soon located bait, and the winds lay down. For the rest of the day, the bite was slow but steady, and Mike ended up catching two nice kingfish around 20 pounds, a 30 plus pound Jack, several black-tip sharks, and he pulled hook on a 40 to 50 pound tarpon after a 20 minute battle. All in all, it was a decent week of catching and for those who are interested, the kingfish, cobia, and tarpon were inshore in forty feet of water just off of the beach. 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 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-02-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, June 2, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Although angling opportunities are sizzling both near-shore along the beach and offshore of the Indian River Lagoon Coast, my angling adventures are dictated by my clients needs, desires, and expectations. ItÃs up to me as a guide to analyze their request, and to plan a charter best suited to facilitate their wished. This was the case last week when David Floyd of Sardis Mississippi and I set out with the goal of catching David his first bull redfish on fly, complicated by the holiday weekend pressure. Even with the odds against him, David was willing to face this challenging task, and we scheduled both Saturday and Sunday respectively. With anticipation of a crowded Lagoon, our plan Saturday consisted of getting an early start, and hopefully having a few shots at some decent reds before the sun reached the horizon. We departed the ramp at 0530, and shot across the Lagoon in the dark, shutting down in our first spot in less than ten minutes. I knew from a scouting trip earlier in the week, a decent size school of jumbo reds were holding somewhere on this flat, and as I climbed to my roost on the platform, the water before us erupted with showers of finger mullet fleeing in all directions. In all my years on the Lagoon, IÃve never seen this magnitude of bait moving through the Lagoon during the spring bait run, which hopefully is a sign our conservation efforts are beginning to pay off. As I poled in the direction of the shore, Dave managed a number of small sea trout on a dark topped deceiver, but no redfish were to be found. While the darkness waned, I pushed in close to the shoreline where we jumped a decent school of slot reds, but our efforts to get clean shot at them failed as they rapidly pushed off into deeper water. Shortly, several boats moved into our area, and I decided to try another spot, so I began to pole off of the flat. As I pushed into deeper water, our efforts were rewarded by a mass of red tails moving swiftly before us. Like many redfish schools on the Lagoon, angling pressure keeps these fish on edge, and catching them in an eating mood can be tough at times. This school consisted of big fish, and Dave had four or five good shots at them while I worked up a sweat on the platform. We stocked the school for a good hour, giving them a chances to settle down before moving into position, so Dave could get another shot at them. All of our efforts failed, as these fish refused our offerings. Before long, a Lagoonoramus motored in on top of us and spooked the school to high heavens, spoiling our hopes of meeting DaveÃs goal. When working around other boats, it is proper to pole your boat a good distance (100 yards) away before starting you trolling motor or engine as not to disturb the flats for other anglers. On Sunday, we decided to start out even earlier, leaving the ramp at 0500. Our plan was to hit the same spot, only this time; we would target the sea trout feeding frenzy in the dark. As I pushed into the flat, again we found the surface alive with busting and fleeing fish. Dave worked his magic on the sea trout, and I decided to get stupid and drag plastic shrimp bait on a spinning rod from the rod holder on the platform. Within minutes, Dave was hooked up on a nice fish, and in the excitement of the moment, I forgot to clear the line I was dragging off the back. As the fish circled back around the boat, the two lines tangled, and we broke the fish off before getting a good look at it. After shaking this mindless blunder off, and refocusing our efforts, our disappointment was elapsed by the sight of a tight group of huge tails moving slowly toward the boat. These fish were hungrily working the bottom as I positoned the boat for DaveÃs cast. Patiently we waited as the fish moved in, and Dave made the perfect cast, right into the heart of the school. Within seconds, a fish was on, but as the huge school scattered in all direction, a measly sea trout surfaced with DaveÃs fly in its mouth, bummer. Again we regrouped and began looking for the school, when, you guessed it, another Lagoonoramus moves in on us chaseing bait of all things, with his trolling motor, and he began casting a four foot bait net. Here we are out in the vastness of an extensive flat, me sweating my butt off on the platform, Dave blind casting from the front deck, and this guy decides he wants to catch the bait 50 feet in front of my boat. Needless to say, the school was blown and Dave and I left the flats in search of less occupied waters. For the benefit of those who do not understand my Lagoon terminology, a Lagoonoramus is a Lagoon angler in the pupa stage. He has the desire and equipment necessary to catch fish, but is still ignorant in the technique and etiquette required to be successful. I have no problem working a school of fish with other boats, and I often call anglers in on fish, but this guy had no clue his actions had completely shattered our chances at getting these fish to eat. Hopefully, he will soon emerge from his cocoon, and learn the value of a push pole for moving in on fish and other anglers, and to catch his bait at the dock so not to disturb the flats. For the rest of the day we searched to no avail, and decided to give the previous school another shot before calling the day, and to our surprise, the entire flat was vacant with the exception of a boatload of anglers wading along the edge. Up on the platform, I began poling the flat in search of tails as Dave cast from the front deck. Suddenly, a lone tail popped up in the distance. As we moved in on the fish, the one tail became twenty, and a huge school of at least 100 fish emerged in front of us. Again, Dave wore his arm out trying desperately to get one of these fish to eat; I followed them from one end of the flat to the other. In our last attempt to grant DaveÃs wish, I trailed the school in close to the shore, when the boat full of wading anglers turned it back towards our position. With the fish moving in fast, Dave administered the perfect cast, and as the fish past, Dave stripped his green and white clouser minnow fast through the school and finally had a taker. Within seconds, Dave cleared his line, and his spool screamed deep into the backing, as I jumped off the platform and struggled to get the engine back into the water and the motor started. With DaveÃs line quickly diminishing, I finally managed to get the engine running, and under power we gained line on the fish. For the next 45 minutes, Dave worked the fish as I poled hard to keep up with it. Near the end of our battle, a pair of black tip sharks moved in on the struggling redfish, and it embedded itself in a mass of sea grass on the bottom and turned belly up. Using only ten-pound tippet, DaveÃs effort to pull the fish from the grass would surely cost us the fish, so I grabbed my Boga Grip and into the chest deep water I went, emerging with DaveÃs fat 19-pound redfish. With DaveÃs goal accomplished and photos taken, we quickly revived and released the fish, and together took a deep breath, before calling an end to another great fishing adventure. On a side note, the State EPA has postponed the scheduled public meeting on Florida Power and Light CompanyÃs draft permit and thermal variance for discharge into the Lagoon, and will reschedule the meeting once FPL provides adequate public notice. I will stay on top of this issue, and keep you posted. As always, if you have any questions on need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-27-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters ThereÃs no doubt summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon coast. With temperatures and humidity levels rising, itÃs wise to concentrate your angling efforts during cool hours of early morning, late afternoon, and night. Fishing in June, July, and August requires some adjustments in your fishing routine, but it doesnÃt mean the fish arenÃt biting. June will provide some of the best opportunities for shallow water anglers to tackle major fish along the Lagoon coast. Near-shore opportunities are typically the best you will see all year for skinny water boats along the beach. June is the time of year when the kingfish move in close shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) along the beach and in the Port Canaveral buoy line. When the summer doldrums set in, the waters clear, and the seas flatten out, the window of opportunity opens for flat bottom boats. Also along the beach, look for the tarpon and shark number to increase, and letÃs not forget the large schools of jack carvalle and the tripletail fishery will be cranking up. Remember, snook season closes this week, so lets give them a chance to relax and get jiggie. Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out. The kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats slow trolling with live pogies producing the most action. Bottom fishing will remain good for snapper and grouper until the first summer squall blows in and muddies up the water. On the flats, focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Night fishing will also produce descent catches of redfish and trout. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target docks with deepwater access. In the early morning look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. 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. Also remember as the days heat up, long battles will kill the larger fish, if you plan on targeting them, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. As always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing 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 or removed from Captain TomÃs mailing list, please contact him at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-24-2004
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May, 22, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For the last few weeks, a high-pressure ridge has planted itself firmly offshore of the Indian River Lagoon coast producing clear sunny skies, warm rain free days, and steady easterly breezes between 5 to 15 knots. To many this sounds like a wonderful weather pattern, especially for those who live in the central states, but for anglers on the lagoon coast, it represents a change in fish patterns, fishing plans, and angling strategies. Summer is clearly here, but the typical sea breeze fronts that normally develop over the mainland during the day and cool us off in the afternoon are absent. Hopefully, this weather pattern will break soon, because the lack of precipitation has dropped lagoon water levels to the point where some sea grass beds are exposed, and low water has made navigation of skinny areas difficult. On the lagoon last week, the early morning trout bite was good working top water plugs in the areas of sandbars and spoil islands, with the bite slowing down once the winds picked up. Redfish schools are abundant throughout the lagoon flats, but again, an early morning calm conditions will improve you odds in locating them. We have also seen a good number of ladyfish and jacks moving north up the IRL shadowing pods of glass minnows and finger mullet. The fast and furious action of these ladyfish schools are always great fun, especially on ultra light tackle or fly. Out of Port Canaveral and Sebastian, the bait schools along the beach were tough to find, but once located, good catches of tarpon, large jacks, and sharks were reported. Also, good numbers of bluefish and Spanish mackerel have been located just outside the inlets. At Port Canaveral, the pogies, Atlantic menhaden, have been concentrated inside the port near the back basin, but clear water conditions make a fast sinking cast net with a long rope essential for catching them. If linesiders (snook) are of your liking, remember, this is the last week you will be able to put one on the dinner plate, because snook season ends on June 1st.. Additionally, IÃve seen a good number of large southern flounder showing up showing up at the cleaning table, but when asked the question, Ã¬ whereÃd you catch themÃ®? , IÃm getting the same answer every time, Ã¬right in the mouthÃ®. Near-shore, clean water conditions and fair seas have rewarded many anglers fishing the reefs and wrecks like 8A, and Pelican Flats with limits of kingfish. Most fish were taken slow trolling live and dead bait. With baitfish (pogies) difficult to locate, it is prudent to include a box of frozen sardines in you bait arsenal as back up. Also, good numbers of tripletail have been taken off of flotsam, and there are still some cobia shadowing manta rays in the area. Offshore, dolphin have been the hot ticket for most blue water anglers outside Port Canaveral. IÃve also heard reports from more than one source, of quality fish being taken in as shallow as 60 feet of water, well within the range of skinny water boats. As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-808 886-790-8081 toll free If you would like my reports sent directly to you, just drop me a line, and I will add you to my mailing list.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-12-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As many of you know, lifeÃs successes are not measured by the value of your home or the size of your bank account, but rather by the rewards one receives through lifeÃs accomplishments. We are not born with success, and it cannot be inherited. True success in life only comes through hard work, dedication, determination, devotion, and commitment. These qualities are essential to succeed in business, in life, and in love. This past week, I was drawn away from the water to celebrate my 49th birthday, my 23rd year of marriage to my lovely wife Sandi, the marriage of my close friends daughter, and the high school graduation of young friend. These endeavors were rewarded with love, enthusiasm, friendship, loyalty, and happiness, and they provided for a joyful week, but itÃs good to be back on the water once more. This morning I awoke at my usual time, 4am, to the sound of a chuck-wills-widow, southern whip-poor-will, calling from the darkness outside my window. Stepping out into my back yard to let the dog out, I took notice of the light southerly breeze, and the moon, which was just reaching across the eastern horizon. Abruptly, the thoughts of happy redfish tailing on the eastern shore of the north Lagoon flooded my mind, and the urge to wet a line overpowered me. Shortly, I found myself throttling up Three Quarter Time, my trusty Maverick flats skiff, as I pulled away from the ramp in the darkness. There is something to be said about the feeling you receive skipping across the Lagoon in the dark, but thatÃs another story in itself. After a short run, and a long idle through the manatee zone, I reached the shore and shut down my engine. From the top of my polling platform, I could just make out the silhouette of the shoreline when again I heard the cry of the chucks-wills-widow calling. My thought at the moment was that old Chucky might be trying to tell me something, so I moved in toward his general direction. In the darkness, you lose all visual clues normally used to locate fish, and you are forced to listen closely for the sounds of fish and bait activity. Slowly I worked my way in the darkness toward the distant sounds of feeding fish, and then out of nowhere, tails just started popping up. Not just one or two, but hundreds of them. IÃve fished the Lagoon for over 40 years, and IÃve only seen this magnitude of redfish tails on a few occasions. With my heart trying to jump out of my chest, I struggled to get my bait in the water. Softly, I flipped a Rip/tide shrimp combined with a WoodieÃs Rattle capsule into a group of about five tails, and as soon as the bait hit the water, and explosion ensued and the battle was on. Normally, a fight such as this will scatter the school, but in this case, it just drew distant tails closer. These fish were truly hungry and happy and I was alone with no one in site. In the time it took for the sun to clear the tops of the clouds lining the horizon, I managed to put eight reds to the boat ranging from 22 to 32 inches. After about an hour and a half of fishing bliss, the wind began to build. Slowly, the hoard of tails began to dissipate as they moved off the flat into deeper water, and with rain showers moving in, it was a fitting end to the perfect morning of catching. On a side note, the Max Brewer bridge project has been extended, closing the primary road access to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and Mosquito Lagoon. It looks like the job could be extended as much as an additional month. Also, most importantly, our efforts to provide input into the draft permit renewal process for Florida Power & Lights Cape Canaveral Power Plant have been rewarded with the scheduling of a public meeting to be held at the North Brevard Library in Titusville on June 24th 4:00 and 9:00 PM. This is our only opportunity to try to bring about changes to lessen the impact of these power plants on the Lagoon ecosystem. Third, I would like to inform everyone of Ã¬The State of the Indian River Lagoon ConferenceÃ® scheduled for Saturday May 15th, at Florida TechÃs Clemente Center in Melbourne from 9am to 3 pm. This conference will focus on the pressures applied to the estuary, and it is open to the public. 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 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-29-2004
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As the water temperatures increase, so do the fishing opportunities along the Lagoon coast of Florida. May is one of the best months to fish in central Florida, so donÃt miss the boat. On the lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of the action for light tackle 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 bait is present. After the bite slows, get jiggie with them using your favorite soft plastic bait in three to five feet of water alone the edges of flats or spoil islands. The water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. May also marks the last month of snook season on FloridaÃs east coast, so donÃt miss out on your last chance at putting a linesider in the boat. 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. Near-shore along the beaches, concentrate your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (pogies). Typically, when you see concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface, big fish are just as active underneath. Species feeding on these pods include kingfish, tarpon, jack cervalle, redfish, cobia, and sharks. Also, tripletail and flounder numbers should be improving around the Port Canaveral buoys. 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, donÃt forget that kingfish and cobia are present on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Bethel Shoals, Pelican Flats, Chris Benson, and 8A reefs. In closing, May is one the most active months for fishing out of Port Canaveral with tournaments scheduled for every weekend, so letÃs be patient with each other, and have some fun. As always, if you need information, or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Ton Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fiwshing.com 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 1-866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to Captain TomÃs mailing list, contact him at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-23-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 22, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters With the blinding speed of a puffer fishÃs assault on your favorite soft plastic bait, spring has once again rambled in upon us without delay. Also without delay are natureÃs eternal changes experienced on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida each spring, which together signals the approach of summer and increased fishing opportunities. This past week, I observed a flurry of bright yellow dandelions reaching for the sun along the roadside leading to the lagoon. This bloom coincides with the hatch and development of mullet fry deep within the backwaters of the estuary. This hatch coincides with the dry season and low water levels, forcing the fry out of the protected waters into jaws of the egg laden sow trout and redfish staged for a prespawn banquet along the flatÃs edge, which also marks the beginning of top water plug season. Such is the cycle of life for prey, predator, and angler on the lagoon, as similar scenarios are observed throughout the fishery both inshore and offshore. Inshore this past week we found schools of redfish aggregated along the deeper edges of just about every flat we checked throughout the lagoon system, and calm and sunny weather conditions made them easy to locate. Some schools numbered in the hundreds, but continuous angler pressure made them reluctant to bite. Our tactics consisted of an early start and stealth approach with a top water presentation first. My plug of choice was a modified mirrolure 5M-18 with the front prop removed. As the school became pressured, we would switch to soft plastics like Rip-tides realistic shrimp with a WoodieÃs Rattle insert, and when that failed, we would feed them bait. These tactics provided us with quality fish above the slot each day with numbers ranging from 2 to 11 fish from 28 to 40 inches. These tactics will prevail as long as anglers refrain from using a trolling motor to approach these schools. Stealth approach means drift or poll into the fish. It is important to keep the school from stampeding. Another method to avoid a stampede is to refrain from lining fish by casting into the center of the pod. When targeting schooling reds, either cast ahead of the school, or work the edges. Once the school is pressured hard they will scatter or push off. One last tip to remember is that redfish schools are somewhat territorial, and once they are pushed away, they will usually work their way back to the place you initially found them. A few years ago, I was working a school alone with my clients, when one of these guides who think he owns the lagoon pushed the school off and chased them off with his trolling motor. My clients were extremely aggravated by his actions, until I explained how we could use his discourteous behavior to our advantage. By staking out my skiff in the original location, we simply let him push the school back and forth in front of us, and soon he became extremely aggravated when we would hook up fish off of the school he was chasing each time he passed. On Wednesday, I fished in the Banana River LagoonÃs No Motor Zone accompanied by my good friend and long time lagoon angler Lyle Rolls. We fished strictly with artificial and were obliged by an outstanding sea trout bite, catching numerous fish with three between 22 and 26 inches. We also caught and released two oversized reds. My success came from the same lures mentioned above with the addition of a silver Johnson Sprite, and LyleÃs bait of choice was an Exude RT Slug, watermelon white. The big story offshore this week is the clean water pushing in with the easterly winds. Along with the clean water are some nice weed lines peppered with tripletail, and reports of wahoo being taken in waters as shallow as 70 to 120 feet. The dolphin bite was slow, but it is anticipated to go off at anytime due to the clean water, improved weed structure, and the dolphinÃs migratory habits. The same can be said for the kingfish, with some fish being taken off the inshore reefs, and an improved kingfish bite anticipated once the water cleans up. Additionally, there are still reports of nice cobia in the area from the buoy line north around the bight of the Cape all the way up to Ponce Inlet. Last but not least, are the reports of glass minnows (bay anchovy) and pogies (Atlantic menhaden) moving north up the beach, bringing Spanish mackerel, large jacks, and tarpon with them. As the water warms up and these fish move north, look for their numbers to increase, and look for a green Maverick Master Angler flats boat to be chasing them up and down the beach. Also, I would like to thank Captains Kevin Mulligan and Bill Bright for their contributions to this report. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com 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 Captain TomÃs mailing list, please reply to captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	04-09-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 9, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Fishing on the Indian River Lagoon Coast has shown significant improvement since my last report. For the past several weeks, windy conditions have frustrated anglers both offshore and inshore, providing only a few intermittent periods of decent weather and catches mixed in. With the full moon behind us and the seas showing some signs of settling down, itÃs time to take advantage of what the IRL coast has to offer. Considering the sea conditions we experienced in March, the cobia run was one of the best weÃve had in years with many quality catches reported, and the run isnÃt quite over yet. If the seas allow it, there is still a decent shot of finding cobia shadowing rays in deeper water to the north of the cape as these fish continue their northerly migration. Additionally, good catches of tripletail have been experienced off of flotsam in 40 to 50 feet of water, so itÃs prudent to keep a smaller rod and some hand picked shrimp ready when site fishing cobia. Further off shore, kingfish in the twenty-pound range were abundant on the north end of Pelican Flats this past week, but in early April this bite is typically hit or miss until consistent schools move in near the end of the month. Offshore, the snapper bite has been heavy. Captain Mully of Mully Charters reported heavy concentrations of smaller fish on every piece of bottom he checked from about 80 feet of water on out. Also, some good reports of dolphin have been filtering in, especially from Sebastian south with a few big fish reported. On the inside, solid schools of both redfish and sea trout have been forming up on the edges of the flats in two to three feet of water. To target these fish, work the deeper edges using soft plastic jigs like the Riptide Realistic Shrimp with a WoodieÃs Rattle Insert or WoodieÃs Rattling Hook. These fish are aggregated for the spawn, and they should be handled and released with extreme care to help maintain future populations. A 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 2005. 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. 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 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to Captain TomÃs mailing list, please reply to captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-27-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Reflecting back on past fishing ventures, 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 for both temperate and tropical species of fish. 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, 120Ã 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 Easter 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 once the seas settle from the current blow weÃre experiencing. The cobia run was going off last week before an extreme high-pressure system moved in and produced hazardous sea conditions. Last week, numerous boats reporting double-digit catches, with some boating over 20 fish, and all we can do now is hope for a late season run once the seas lay down again. 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 begun to show 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 good numbers 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, itÃs 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 itÃs 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 and striper 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. In closing, I would like to thank those of you who facilitate my reports by providing me with current information, incite, and inspiration. As always, if you have question or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn www.irl-fishing captain@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.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-09-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Spring has clearly sprung on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Perennial trees and flowers are pushing buds and blooms, and the sweet fragrance of orange blossoms is detectable on early morning breezes. Triggered by longer warmer days, these changes also mark the beginning of spring cobia migration. This past week, reports of significant cobia have come out of Port Canaveral, with the best catches coming on the sporadic days with fishable seas and clear sunny skies. Most of the cobia taken last week were in 50 to 60 feet of water, with a water temperature range of 67 to 69 degrees. So far, the confirmed leader in the March cobia tournament is 72.8 pounds. Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about cobia fishing, veteran guide Captain Troy Perez will be conduction a free seminar at the Fish On tackle shop in Port Canaveral on Sunday March 14th, 6pm to 8pm. For more information call Jeff at Fish On, 321-783-2357. As for myself, yesterday I spent a magnificent day on the water accompanied by Captain Patrick Murphy cobia looking. We most have covered fifty miles of ocean without seeing a single cobia. The day started out with overcast skies, and once the sun came out, the wind picked up. The highlight of the trip was a pair of right whales getting jiggie while basking in the afternoon sun. It was a poor day of catching, but a great day of looking, and fun nonetheless. Inshore, quality numbers of redfish and black drum were reported in the Mosquito, Banana, and North Indian River Lagoons prier to the full moon, again with the best reports coming on the nicer days. On windy days, rough March conditions make site fishing difficult, and catching tough. Captain John Lulay reported several days with catches in the double digits, with a mix of both black drum and redfish. Currently, offshore conditions are marginal to say the least, but the larger cobia are typically taken during the first week of the run. So, if the sun is out and snotty seas arenÃt a problem, I would suggest taking advantage of opportunities presented. 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 captain@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 Captain TomÃs mailing list, contact Tom at captain@irl-fishing.com .
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-27-2004
Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner, and fishing opportunities on the 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 springÃs arrival. These changes can be slight or quite dramatic, theyÃre 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. 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 will 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. By the way, my azaleas are loaded buds, and good catches of cobia have been reported offshore of Stuart and Sebastian. It wonÃt 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. 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 are 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. 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 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free If you would like to be added to Captain TomÃs mailing list, please contact him at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-24-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, February 24, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As spring thunderstorms roll through central Florida, IÃm forced off of the Lagoon and into the comfort of my lazy-boy where in between dreamful naps, I composed this report. Clearly spring has arrived early here on the lagoon coast, and an early spring means angling opportunities will continue to heat up as we leap into our prime fishing season early. On Friday, I had the privilege of fishing with Scott Bradford, a veteran Lagoon angler with many years of experience targeting redfish and sea trout in the backwaters of the IRL. The morning was cool, clear, and calm, with a slight fog lifting off the water as we motored out of the Haulover canal and headed north. As we shut down on the edge of our first flat, it was evident this would be a day to remember, as a large school of reds pushed up in front of us. Soon, the flats became alive with at least ten visible schools of fish pushing in all directions, and we ended up catching seven nice reds up to 27 inches before the wind picked up and the fish laid down. On Saturday, I met my party, Anthony Tedeschi and his son Anthony from Hammonton, New Jersey, at the ramp at Front Street Park in Melbourne. Our plan was to run north into the Banana River Lagoon and work the west shore with hopes of locating a school of reds, but our search only netted us a few small trout, and a mess of hardhead catfish and blowfish. The water was dirty, and the boat traffic was heavy. Not a productive day, but a fun day, nonetheless. Yesterday I returned to the Mosquito Lagoon to prefish a charter with veteran Lagoon guide John Lulay, and we were on the fish right off the bat. Again, it was a perfect day with glassy waters and sunny skies, and the schools were easy to find and willing to play. After locating a school of about 100 large reds, John and I took turns tossing Rip-tide Realistic Shrimp and Captain MikeÃs Flats Candy tube baits with a WoodieÃs Rattles in them, and again we hammering the big boys on ultra lite tackle. The highlight of the expedition was a 16 pound black drum taken by John while casting to the big reds in deeper water. The rain has begun to fall harder now, and my eyelids are growing heavy once again, so itÃs off to dream land with pleasant thoughts of spring days, tight lines, and screaming drags. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com 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 Captain TomÃs mailing list, contact Tom at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-18-2004
Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Report, February 18, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For the past few weeks my time on the water has been limited due to my obligation to support Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth and my sponsors at Outdoor WorldÃs Spring Classic fishing show in Orlando. Although these shows take me off the water, I truly enjoy seeing old friends, making new ones, and learning about whatÃs new in the fishing industry. The range of anglers fishing the Lagoon coast is as diverse as the fishery itself, and these shows provide us with opportunities to teach those new to the sport about the importance of conservation, angling ethics, and becoming good stewards of the Lagoon and the fishery, and lets face it, angling is a perpetual learning experiences for all who truly love the sport. Although I was land locked working shows, I did manage to hit the lagoon on several occasions, but each time I was limited to foul weather days, and the charter I fished yesterday was no different. I met my party, Doug Dupont from Oviedo and his father-in-law Joe from BuzzardÃs Bay, at Parish Park in Titusville at first light and we faced chilly northwest winds of 10 to 15 knots accompanied by overcast drizzly skies. Aware of the conditions facing us, I knew sight fishing would be tough, so my strategy was to launch at Haulover Canal and work protected flats with hopes of seeing some tails. We started poling the flats east of Turtlepen Point, and we promptly spotted both redfish and black drum tailing in the distance. Unfortunately, as I worked to enter the casting zone, the choppy conditions alerted the fish of our presents and they disappeared with us even getting a shot at them. As the winds increased and light rain began to fall, I decided it was time to move closer to the shelter of Haulover Canal. The remainder of the charter was spent targeting trout and reds in the vicinity of the canal, with the highlight of the trip being a 30-pound plus redfish caught by Joe on a blue crab soaked on the bottom. Fishing the lagoon during adverse weather conditions is always tough, but as Joe reminded me, at least we are privilege to fish year round and spring is just around the bend. One other observation made during the trip was the abundance of sheepshead present in the canal. These fish are excellent table fare, and they are a blast to catch on light tackle. As always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free www.irl-fishing.com captain@irl-fishing.com If you would like to be added to Captain TomÃs mailing list, please respond to captain@irl-fishing.com .
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-30-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Arduous is the best way to describe fishing conditions on the Indian River Lagoon Coast in January and February. Passing cold fronts swing through Florida on a routine basis, bringing blustery northeasterly winds, higher barometric pressure, and cooler temperatures with them. These shifting conditions complicate angling by kicking up the seas, reducing water clarity in some locations, and dropping water temperatures. When the front passes, offshore waters become unfishable, and inshore anglers are forced to seek out protected shorelines and backwater canals. As this cycle of weather progresses and high pressure settles in, fishing conditions can shift from meager to magnificent a mater of days. One sign I watch for is the development of fog in the early morning hours. Rising humidly levels are an indication of warmer temperatures, falling barometer, and a southeasterly wind shift. 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 wind speed and shifts will be and always anticipate the worst if you planning on being on the water when the front pusses through. 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 interesting 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. Warming water temperatures combined with sunny spring days, and crystal clear water, make February one of the best months to site fish for tailing 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 Ã¬No Motor ZoneÃ®. 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 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 Rip-tides Realistic Shrimp fished very slowly along the bottom. On the sunny afternoons, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sand pockets within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise quickly and the wind lay down just before dark. 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. 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 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 debris, 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. Remember when planning a fishing trip in February, keep a close eye on the cycle of weather, and fishing on our worst days is better than chipping a hole in the ice and worrying about snow snakes crawling up your backside when you sit down. As always, if you have any 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 TomÃs mailing list reply to captain@irl-fishing.com
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-12-2004
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, January 12, 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters This past week, I was drawn to the southern end of the Lagoon to work the Stuart Boat Show with Coastal Angler Magazine. Like many diehard anglers, I knew it to be unwise to travel to such a magnificent fishing location without arming oneself with at least a basic spinning outfit and a handful of tackle, and once again I was rewarded by my incite and the fact I forgot to bring one last year. Early Saturday morning, I awoke at my normal time (4am) tucked deep within my blankets to the sound of a rooster crowing just outside my window. With reservation I was hesitant to depart the warmth of my cozy nest, but my anticipation of the early morning bite was drawing me to the water. Quickly and quietly I got dressed and slipped out the door of our cottage with my fishing rod in hand. As I walked to the water, the prefrontal morning was calm and damp and the darkness of the overcast sky and tropical surrounding gave me the feeling was walking through the environs of tropical rain forest. For a brief moment, I had the feeling I was still asleep and the entire splendor before me was just a dream. As I silently stepped on to the dock, I observed through the haze someone leaning on the railing at the end, and I was not surprised to find my good friend Captain Rodney Smith with fishing rod in hand, slowly working his bait through the water. To the northwest, I could clearly see the rolling puffy clouds of the approaching cold front moving in, and I knew the fishing conditions would be favorable and our time on the dock would be brief. Rodney was tossing a DOA glow shrimp, and he had already caught and released three snook up to five pounds, and he missed one with some serious shoulders. As we conversed, I began tossing a Rip-Tide Realistic Shrimp on a Âº ounce jig combined with a WoodieÃs Rattle, and together we caught one nice trout after another until the rainsqualls and wind ran us off the dock. In a brief 30-minute time span, we caught too many fish to count, and with temperatures dropping, we knew the bite was over and my attention quickly shifted to a warm dry location and a hot cup of coffee. You might think by my description, we were fishing and staying in some exotic South American lagoon, but the truth is, we were simply staying at the River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach on the shores of the southern Indian River Lagoon. Obviously, travel to some exotic country in not necessary when it comes to a great fishing location, we are privileged to have one in our own back yard. Through the weekend, I conversed with many anglers who value and respect the IRL, and like their neighbors to the north, share the concerns of pressure applied by urban growth on the Lagoon. For them, itÃs the problem of excess freshwater runoff flushed out of the central lakes into the St Lucie River diluting lagoon salinity, and up here itÃs the need for desalination, with plans of removing up to 60 million gallons of lagoon water a day between the two Port St Johns power plants and replace it with 30 million gallons of dematerialized concentrate increasing salinity. Clearly, itÃs time for us to focus on conservation before we consider new growth and the loss of the lagoon. Sorry, I forgot this was a fishing report, so hereÃs whatÃs happening on the south end of the Lagoon. Last week, the effects of cold weather in our area have greatly benefited those in the Stuart area, which is only a two-hour drive south. First, pompano fishing is the best theyÃve experienced in many years. The average catch has been between twenty and forty fish per day on the inside of the inlet. Second, the sailfish bite this past weekend is also going off, with conservative figures of 400 to 500 sails taken last weekend, and you know about the fish we caught standing on the dock. The only drawback, is that cooler weather could still bush these fish further south, so before I would head that way, I would call Henry at the Snook Nook, 772-334-2145 for information, and Rufus at River Palms Cottages, 800-305-0511, if you are looking for a place to stay. Also, IÃll be working the Central Florida Boat Show in Orlando January 22, 23, 24,and 25th, so come by Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth and say hello. 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 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Kevin Kilroy	Date Posted:	01-12-2004
Get out there, the sail bite is white hot. Fishing during the Siver Derby, January 8-10, 2004 was incredible. On day one the tournament fleet of 60 boats fished in beautiful conditions releasing 155 sailfish. There was plenty of bait in the water, sea temp was 74-75 degrees, fishing in 1 - 3 foot seas in a depth of 70-85 feet. The sails were balling the baits and easily found in good concentrations. While day one was good, day two was one that won't be forgotten. Within three and one half hours of lines in the fleet had released more than 200 sails and would break the records when at the end of the day more than 375 sails were released. Day two also saw a much more aggressive bite, likely due to the approaching cold front but this was in in slick cam seas on a SW breeze of less than 5kts, in water depths of 80 - 96 feet, sea temp 74-75 and air temp 60 - 74 degrees. Disregarding any known rules and conventions regarding wind and current the sails were found in thick pods eating everything in site for the entire day. Double and triple hookups weren't unusual for many of the tournament boats. On day three, which was thankfully only a six hour day, the fleet was meet with some challenges, but nothing that would keep anyone at the dock during a tournament. The weather changed with rapidly dropping temperatures. The fleet experienced a high of 70 degrees at 07:00 which quickly became 59 degrees by 10:30 (but felt like 30 with the wind chill), a strong wind from the NW blowing 25 - 35 and occasionally higher, seas that made it "fun" to be there and sails that initially seemed like they weren't very hungry, but eventually turned on and decided to eat again. Before noon of Day Three the old record of 608 sails in the 1996 Buccanner ( a four day tournament as opposed to a three fro the Derby) had been passed and the fleet returned home to a much calmer sea state and brightening skies, although still cold. The entire Tournament Commitee did an outstanding job tracking the released fish which wasn't easy when you consider that on the slow day the sails were coming in fast, but on day two they bombarded the fleet making it tough for Buccaneer Bob to even visit the head as tournamant boats were calling in fish almost every 30 seconds! Great fishing, , great fun, great weather and hopefully only getting better as we move further into January. Tight Lines from everyone aboard Alexa Marie!
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	12-30-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, January 2004 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters This past Friday at first light, I found myself skipping across the LagoonÃs surface alone in my trusted flats skiff, Ã¬Three Quarter TimeÃ®, on a mission to scout fish for an up coming charter. The brisk salt air robbed the warmth from my face, as the vast splendor of the lagoon before me soothed my soul. Easing into the shallows of Tiger Shoals, I reached down and turned off the engine. At that instant, the sunÃs fingers of light reached out from below the horizon across the surreal water and touched the western shore. As I reflected on the moment, I pulled a crumpled paper from my wallet. Written in faded type was my last yearÃs resolution, which simply read Ã¬ spend more time on the water, watch more sunrises, and catch more fishÃ®. ItÃs hard to fathom how quickly last year passed, but with reflection, I can truly say I kept my resolve by moving forward in life and my livelihood, with the help and guidance of good friends and a loving family. Although this past year was a tough one for fishing charter industry, I still managed to broaden my horizons, reaching out like the finger of the sun across the Lagoon, to enlighten those within my circle of influence. ItÃs with these thoughts in mind, that I resolve to continue to spend more time on the water, watch more sunrises, catch more fish, and to expand my influence on others by my actions and my words. Fishing to me is not just a recreational activity, but also a way of life, and the IRL is much more than a reusable resource, itÃs a force that compels me to become one with nature. With that said, I will get off of my soapbox, and get on with my fishing forecast for January. Winter on the Indian River Lagoon system is not defined by any specific dates, but rather by the temperature differences generated by passing cold fronts. These variations are subject to change from year to year, and they are difficult to predict. Average daytime temperatures usually range from the 50Ãs in the morning to around the 70Ãs by afternoon. Likewise, water temperatures average in the upper 60Ãs, but they can drop as low as the 50Ãs during extended periods of cold weather. On warm sunny days, water temperatures can increase as much as four degrees on the shallow flats and sandbars. All of these factors greatly affect species targeted and methods used. 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 start is not a requirement this time of year. Additionally, both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets within grassy flats. On colder days, focus your attention on the deeper holes using a very slow presentation. Other species encountered in January are black drum, flounder, sheepshead, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish. Also, January is the best time of year to find black drum tailing on the flats, especially in the Banana River Ã¬ No Motor ZoneÃ®. Both shrimp and clams are the preferred bait for black drum, but they will eat both artificial and fly when presented properly. Inlet fishing has been good this past month weather permitting, with Sebastian proving to be the most productive. There are still some reports of flounder moving through the inlet, but the bite has slowed. On the inside of the inlet, look for good numbers of pompano, ladyfish, and jacks to be present on the flats both north and south of the cut. Also, January is the month when the jumbo reds move in and feed in the mouth of the inlet. Near-shore, January is the month when the tripletail begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line, and their numbers will increase as the month progresses. The other hot ticket near-shore is the presents king mackerel holding along the 70 to 90 foot reefs of North Pelican and 8A. Weather permitting; bottom fishing on deep structure should remain consistent. Look for snapper, cobia and sea bass in depths of 80 t0 140 feet, and grouper and amberjack along the 22 fathom ridge and deeper. Again, the primary factor in catching fish along the Lagoon coast in January is temperature, so keep an eye on the weather and plan your trip accordingly. Also, be sure to visit Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth at both the Stuart Boat Show, January 9th-11th, and the Central Florida Boat Show in Orlando, January 22nd-25th. 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 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free To be added to my e-mail list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-30-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Once again, the holiday season is upon us, and itÃs time for us to reflect back on the many blessing weÃve received this past year and look forward to DecemberÃs offerings. Living on the lagoon coast of Florida definitely has its advantages, warm weather, year round angling, quality fish, and oh yes, quality time on the water with family and friends enjoying life. Like November, December is a month filled with outstanding fishing opportunities, with the only difference being the impact of passing cold fronts on water temperature and fishing conditions. Currently, the lagoon and surf water temperatures are in the upper 70Ãs, but soon weÃll be forced to break out our winter shorts as passing cold fronts chill the air and water a bit. In and around the inlets, look for concentrations of oversized redfish to remain steady feeding on surface bait during periods of slack tide. At both Sebastian and Ponce inlets, target these fish outside the inlets near the end of the falling tide in areas of bird and bait activity. At Port Canaveral, work the edges of the buoy line bouncing bait off the bottom. These fish will hit on artifical baits like Ã¦ to 1-ounce Cootee jigs or bucktails, 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 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 or pinfish at night in the channel under the inlet bridge. This style of angling can be quite rewarding when the bite is on, but it can also be challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same action. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy those yummy filets, your time is limited. Flounder is another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing in December. Warmer than normal weather and water temperatures have delayed the traditional flounder migration from the lagoon to the warmer coastal waters. Normally the run begins in mid November and last through mid December, but as of this writing, the doormat size southern flounder have not arrived in quantities. So flounder pounders standby, once a cold front passes, these flatties should begin to move through. 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 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 and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs. Near-shore, when the seas permit it, look for kingfish, large tarpon, and sharks to be cursing the beaches working remaining bait schools as they move south, and for solid concentrations of kings holding on the near-shore reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target kings in December according to Captain Billy Bright of Snake Eyes Charters, 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 dressed in King Buster skirts. 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 surface water. Offshore, December is one of the best times to target grouper, snapper, and amberjacks. Again Captain Billy suggests fishing beyond the party grounds, and target bottom 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. 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. Try fishing early in the day, and preferably with a west wind, and if youÃve never seen black drum tailing before, it worth the paddle. In closing, I would like to remind everyone that once the air temperature drops below 50-degrees, manatee begin to move towards their winter warm water retreats, so keep a sharp eye out for them in areas where they are not normally encountered. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me year for your business and friendship, man I love this job! As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Happy Holidays and God Bless, 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-23-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 22, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters The fact you are reading this report is proof IÃve once again survived my annual quest to put the brakes on life and escape to the confines of the Sebastian area of the Indian River Lagoon. For over 20 years, IÃve taken a week off in November to do nothing but fish. My only dilemma was a whole week of seaside fishing adventure, cool salty breezes, magnificent starry nights, spectacular sunrises, and good friends, passed by in the wink of an eye. The old adage is certainly true, time flies when youÃre fishing and having fun. Although life is Sebastian was great, typical blustery November weather conditions kicked up the seas and muddied the water making fishing a challenge and passage through the inlet unthinkable. As we all know, fishing is fishing and all hardcore anglers never let the little stuff bother them. So we sucked it up and made the best of it, and we still manager to catch a ton of fish. Each day on the water was an adventure, and I even had to break out my winter shorts on a couple of the cooler mornings. Listed below are some observation made on our quest: Snook: The snook bite was going off while drift fishing the inlet at night during periods of tidal change. Many of the local anglers returned to the dock with limits of snook caught on a single drift through the gauntlet of boats and shore anglers using live pigfish, and pinfish. This is full contact fishing, so stay alert and be patient with other anglers. Mullet Run: There are still heavy concentrations of finger mullet present in all areas of the central lagoon. When conditions settled down, bait showering the waterÃs surface to escape predators was a common site. Bait schools have begun to thin out in the Canaveral area, and they will begin to diminish in Sebastian as the water cools. Flounder Run: Flounder concentrations at the inlet have been limited to a few small gulf flounder. This week we targeted flounder each day managing only small undersize fish. The run should intensify as soon as the water cools down a bit, so be prepared to hit the inlet at a moment notice if you are a flounder pounder. Pompano: Pompano have begun to show up in the inlet cuts and on the flats of Long Point, Honest JohnÃs, and Black Point. We managed to catch several nice pompano while jigging for flounder. We also observed a good number of pompano skipping as we ventured across the flats. These fish are forming up for their annual migration seaward, so their numbers will improve as the cold fronts pass. Spotted Sea Trout: Although out of season, we did manage to catch some really nice sea trout up to six pounds, using Cootee root-beer curly tail jigs on the channel side of the spoil islands. Tarpon: Although we didnÃt catch any, we did observe a large number of poons rolling in the north fork of the Sebastian River. We worked these fish hard, but our timing was wrong and we couldnÃt get them to eat. These fish eat best at first light and sunset, and our assault on them was at midday. Bluefish: Our best action was an aggressive school of large bluefish located off of Black Point between the clam leases and the shoreline. All of these fish were between five to eight pounds, and they were taken on cut ladyfish and live finger mullet while chunking for redfish. We were cut off by many of these bruisers, so we stepped up our leader size to 60lb test, before putting one in the boat. All in all, it was a fantastic week of adventure, and IÃm already dreaming of next yearÃs November Sebastian fishing odyssey. 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 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 Toll Free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	10-31-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, November 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As a Florida native, I canÃt even begin to count all of the outstanding fishing adventures IÃve had on the Indian River Lagoon Coast in November. We are truly blessed for the opportunity to experience the natural side of such a magnificent resource, and blessed am I to have a loving and considerate wife who understands and tolerates my passion for stretching line. For the majority of our twenty-three years together, IÃve taken a week off of work in November to do nothing but fish the Sebastian Inlet area, and this month I will test her forbearance once again. For a host of reason, November prevails as one of the most productive months to fish FloridaÃs east coast. ItÃs the season of the mullet, with waves of baitfish (black and silver mullet) migrating south through the lagoon and along the beaches. Currently the inlets are jam-packed with bait increasing the diversity of species one can expect to catch. Along with this seasonal migration come the cooler temperatures and an influx of predators on a quest for warmer waters and an easy meal. As the water temperatures cool, look for the near-shore bite out of Port Canaveral and Sebastian to heat up. When the seas allow it, look for cobia and tripletail along the Port Canaveral buoy line, and on weed lines both inshore and offshore. Also, the cooler waters will trigger the snook and tarpon bite both along the beaches and in the inlets. November is one of the best months to target snook at Sebastian Inlet. In addition, ocean flounder and oversized redfish have already begun to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and in the inlets, and their numbers will only improve as the month progresses. Other notable predators shadowing finger mullet and glass minnow pods are Spanish mackerel, blue fish, and blacktip sharks. On the inside, schools of pompano will soon begin to move off the lagoon flats through the inlets and invade the beaches in search of sand fleas (mole crabs), their favorite winter food. Also, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, jack crevalle, and Spanish mackerel busting pods of glass minnows in deeper water, and finger mullet near the shoreline and causeways. These schools are easy to locate by watching for bird activity, fish busting, and bait showering on the surface. As the cold fronts pass, I will endeavor to keep my lines tight, and promise not to take natureÃs blessing for granted. See you soon on the Lagoon. 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 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 1-866-790-8081 Toll Free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-28-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Shorter days and cooler nights are sure signs fall is in the air on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. Another sure sign is the waves of baitfish working their way south through the lagoon and along the beaches. Currently we are in the middle of an extremely heavy fall bait run consisting of hordes of black and silver mullet, greenies, and pogies. These yummy little baitfish create a smorgasbord for a large array of hungry predators looking to fatten up for the winter. October and November are notorious for blustery breezes and nasty weather, but theyÃre also one of the best time of year for fishing on the Lagoon coast, so pick your days, hit the water, and catch-um-up. 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, smoker kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Also look for schools of glass minnows to begin showing up near the latter part of the month 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 crevelle, 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 a sporty situation when operating in these inlets, so 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 that were inaccessible during the summer. Look for slot redfish in close to grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet and the larger reds staging in deeper water ambush sites where migrating fingers are forced to venture out away from the safety of the shallow flats. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and trout feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. When fishing conditions are favorable, these schools will produce explosive action on top water plugs and popping flies. Another productive method is to target these fish with Rip-tideÃs new realistic shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig with a WoodieÃs Rattle in it. In closing, I would like to inform everyone of Coastal Angler MagazineÃs First Annual Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic Catch-Photograph-Release Tournament to be held at ChowderÃs Restaurant in Melbourne on the 24th and 25th of October. With an entry fee of only 35.00, this tournament is open to all anglers regardless of where and how you fish, and the anglerÃs bags presented to the first 150 anglers registered are worth at least that. This will be a fun event intended to promote the use, not the abuse of the IRL, with proceeds donated to the Marine Resource Council, and it features eight different species of fish. To register, pick up a copy of Coastal Angler Magazine or call CAM at 321-777-2773. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	09-19-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 19, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Stormy weather placed a damper on fishing this past week with IsabelÃs transit bringing her ever so close to the India River Lagoon Coast. Once again, weÃve dodged the bullet, but not without experiencing the wrath of her monster surf and churning seas on our coastal waters. As Isabel departs our area, the seas will quickly settle, and once the water cleans up, angling opportunities will improve. This past week I only had one opportunity to fish with clients before stormy conditions and engine trouble forced me off the water. Early Monday morning around 2am I met with John Freemon at the Port Canaveral ramp, and we proceeded out to fish the Port mouth. Our plan was to net finger mullet and fish live bait for snook and redfish. After cast netting bait, we anchored off of buoy #14 and tossed out live fingers. The first line was weighted with a one-ounce barrel sinker, and the other was flat lined. Before long, the action was on, boating three reds up to 30 inches and breaking off several others before leaving for our 5:30 am rendezvous at the dock with JohnÃs son Shawn and his friend Cassy. After returning to our previous location, we picked up were we left off ending up with eight different species. At one point just after daylight, the larger fish were busting schools of finger mullet all around the boat in a frenzy that ended about an hour after sunrise. Clearly, the mullet run is on, and once the weather settles, the fall fishing season will commence. Now is the time to target predator species ambushing schools of migrating baitfish in the lagoons, inlets, and on the beaches. On the inshore waters, focus on areas where the bait schools are funneled off of the protected shallow flats into deeper water giving the larger fish easer access. These areas include points, cannel mouths, edges of dredge holes, and causeway bridge abutments. On the beach, watch for pelicans and terns working nervous mullet schools in close, and toss live fingers into the mix. At the inlets, focus your attention on the jetty points and rocky edges were bait is forced to venture into the deeper water. If youÃre interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, donÃt hesitate, because before you know it, you will miss some of the best fishing experienced all year. 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 407-416-1187 on the water
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-29-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters ItÃs 4am and I find myself standing on my front deck, breeze in my face, IÃm gazing off into the early morning sky. As I breathe in the moist tropical air, IÃm once again overpowered by the sensation and influence the forces of nature convey upon us as the summer squalls build in the Atlantic. ItÃs that squally feeling which charges us with energy and intrigue, drawing us to the edge of the sea like a bug to a light. As the summer squalls move north, the prevailing summer breezes will begin to switch from the southeast to the northeast, and the fishing will begin to improve with the southerly migration of all critters that prefer warmer climates. September marks the beginning of the fall bait migration, primarily silver mullet, which will increase as we progress into October and November. It is hard to predict precisely when and how strong the run will be, but along with the arrival of the bait, come the predatory species we love so much. Look for snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, sharks, and large kingfish crushing bait pods along the beach. The pods are easily located by watching for fish and birds busting the bait. Once youÃve determined the direction of fish movement, simply set up in front, and let them come to you. This is my preferred time of year for targeting snook and tarpon along the beach. The beach snook run started last month with a few fish already showing up, and it will began to pick up substantially, just in time for the opening of snook season on September 1st. The technique I like use for beach fishing is to simply slide a Î© to 1 once barrel sinker onto your line, next attach a swivel which will serve as a stop for the weight, and help keep your line from twisting as it rolls down the beach. I use about 24 inches of heavy leader, 30 to 50 pound test, and a large circle hook. YouÃll need to step up both the hook and leader size if tarpon are present. My favorite bait is a live finger mullet, fishing the very edge of the surf, casting just beyond the white water. Walk slowly along with the direction of tidal flow, so your bait does not wash in with the waves. The same system will work for poons, just cast it out further, and make sure you have adequate tackle and line capacity to handle these mighty fish. Near-shore, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, wrecks and reefs. When fishing for kings, slow trolling live pogies is one of the most productive methods. Also, the cooler currents have chilled the bottom bringing the large rays and cobia closer to shore. In-shore, seatrout are sill plentiful on the deeper edges of the grass flats, with the best bite happening at first light or sunset. Look for ladyfish, tarpon, slot size reds, and jack crevalle to be mixed in. Fish with top water plugs for explosive action, or work Âº ounce jigs with white or rootbeer rip-tide shrimp tails for the subsurface strike. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets and into the inshore waters along the beach. Also look for the larger redfish to begin to form up just outside the inlets, feeding on baitfish and small crabs carried out by the tide, and for Spanish mackerel and bluefish devouring schools of glass minnows (bay anchovies) in the same areas. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll Free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	08-26-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, August 22, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters First, I would like to apologize for the late release of this report. I typically try to maintain some manner of consistency, but I was besieged and bewildered by the influence of the (sobig) worm, which in itÃs s peak was delivering an average of 3500 infected e-mail messages a day. Here we are again on the Lagoon coast in the mitts of the summer doldrums. A time of year when catching usually shows some form of stability, but to say the least, hit and miss best describes our current situation. Persistently cooler than normal water temperatures have confused our scaly foe, and theyÃve completely made me loopy, which isnÃt hard to do. As of this writing, warmer waters and bait have started to return along the beach, and itÃs only a mater of time, before things fire up. Speaking only for myself, these past few weeks have been difficult, but I think IÃve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and as it grows brighter, I know itÃs signaling a turn for the better. On Wednesday, while spending my day off the water detailing both my skiff and my truck, a vision from above landed right smack on the end of my sweaty nose. My first reaction was to curse those stinky little black love machines going at it right before my eyes, but than I remembered what the late summer love bug love fest and mullet have in common. In fishing, weÃre all failure with the term match the hatch, but here in the sunshine state, the dreaded late summer hatch of love bugs, also signals the beginning of the fall mullet migration south. As the days grow shorter and cooler, hordes of black and silver mullet leave their summer estuaries to begin their long journey south, and along with them come the predators species we so desire. So put some wax on your trucks, break out the bug screens, and tune up your fishing gear in preparation on the bait run. Each charter this past week experienced improvement over the last, with Saturday topping the list. We started our morning with the intent to fish the buoy line outside of Port Canaveral, but overnight squalls offshore kicked up the predicted two foot seas to an easy three to four foot with a four second interval. After taking water over the bow several times, our plans quickly changed as we decided to pass through the locks and fish the Banana Lagoon until the seas settled down. Once inside, we quickly located a school of redfish aggressively feeding on finger mullet along the edge of a sandbar. Clearly the bait schools are forming up inside the lagoon in preparation for their migration south. Our focus was in the area of the west shore just south of Kars Park, were we managed a number of slot size fish, up to 28 inches, all released for another day. As we monitored the radio, we learned the seas had settled and the bite was on at the end of the buoy line, so back through the locks we went. With storms building to he southwest we knew our fishing time was limited, so we quickly set our trolling lines with live pogies and finger mullet. Within minutes we had our first fish on which turned out to be 20 pound cobia. Other fish taken in the area Saturday were kingfish up to thirty pounds, bonita, barracuda, and tarpon. The squalls to the southwest continued to build and move in our direction, so we left the bite for another day, and hulled butt back to the shelter of the Tiki Bar, arriving just before the storm hit. 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 407-416-1187 on the water 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-30-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters The cooler than normal Labrador currents have pushed in, and theyÃve pretty much shut down bottom fishing along FloridaÃs 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, 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 isnÃt out of the question. Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin 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. 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 FloridaÃs 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. Also, the Coastal Angler MagazineÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth will be at the Orlando Boat Show on August 8th, 9th, and 10th, so come by and see us and receive a free samples of RiptideÃs new realistic baits and Woodies Rattlers while they last.. 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
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	07-12-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, July 12, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters The weather on the Lagoon coast of Florida this past week was hot, but it felt like a cool spring day when compared to the catching. Angling adventures led me into four completely different locations, and we experienced quality fish each time. The week began with and open water excursion to the near shore reef of 8A and the wind and sea conditions were perfect. The bite was slow but steady, putting two large kingfish, and two nice dolphins in the boat. The water conditions are extremely clear all the way to the beach, but the cold water summertime currents are moving in quickly, so donÃt look for the bite to last. Also catching bait (pogies) has proven to be tough. The bait concentrations have been scattered this week, and they have been located on the beach in the morning between the south jetty and the pier, and then they move into the Port in the afternoon. The next adventure involved fishing in the Indian River Lagoon out of Kennedy Point, where I joined up with a group of angling advocates from California. The group consisted of five anglers who are closely involved in trying to protect the rights of anglers on the west coast, and they wanted to fish our area to experience first hand what the Indian River Lagoon is all about. We started our day fishing the area of Banana Creek quickly locating a school of tailing reds that were reluctant to play, catching one slot fish. We then moved over to the North power plant and caught a nice 30-pound tarpon, and we ended the day targeting trout and ladyfish in the deeper flats. The next day we ventured into the Banana River No Motor Zone for one of the nicest fishing days IÃve seen all year. The wind was so calm, it was like fishing on a sheet of glass, and the fish were happy, hungry, and playful. We started in the predawn hours fishing Chugbugs, and the trout, ladyfish, and catfish were working over them on every cast. This may sound like a fish story to you, but I actually had a small trout jump out of the water and strike my plug boat-side as it was daggling about six inches out of the water. Once the top water bite slowed, we pulled up on a sand bar for lunch, and I tossed out a few chunks of ladyfish. During this brief rest, we manager to catch two redfish, 18 and 26 pound, and we were spooled by another. Shortly after noon, during our homeward tract, the water became alive with redfish and black drum tails, but because of pervious arrangements made by the group, we reluctantly left fish heaven for home. Yesterday, our quest took us out of Port Canaveral is search of the large schools of redfish which typically form up is spawning aggregations this time of year. Again, catching bait was the toughest part of the day. For the first half of the day, the bite was slow managing only a few strikes, but our persistence paid off when we located, with the help of Captain Troy Perez, the larges school of redfish IÃd ever seen. In my boat alone, we managed seven reds in excess of twenty-five pounds with three double hook-ups, and one five foot nurse shark. There must have been a thousand breeder reds in this school as it covered several acres. ItÃs great to see such a sight, considering the amount of angling pressure applied to Florida waters. 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 1-866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	06-30-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, July 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Well folks, summertime has officially arrived on the space coast, as the mid summer doldrums are currently amongst us. ItÃs also the time of year when tropical weather systems and offshore water temperatures are as predictable as Wall Street. Just when you think youÃve got things figured out, a summer squall will blow in and kick up the seas, or the cold water Labrador Current will move in and shut down the seaward bite. Setting all these possibilities aside, many opportunities for angling adventures exist for us both inside and outside on the lagoon coast in July. Near-shore, kingfish will be the staple on the reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water, with a mixed bag of three, wahoo, dolphin, and an occasional sailfish, thrown in. My preferred method for targeting these species is slow trolling live bait (pogies) on steel stinger rigs dresses with King Duster skirts. On the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches, an assorted beach bag is available with smoker kings (large king mackerel), silver kings (tarpon), cobia, sharks, and colossal jacks all available at any given time. To target these species, focus your attention in areas of bait concentrations. This past week, pods of large tarpon and sharks were located between Patrick AFB and Satellite Beach. As the month progresses, these fish should begin moving north along the beach to their favorite summertime haunt in the forbidden zone off the bight of the Cape. In the Port and inlets, Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snapper number should remain steady. To target the flounder and snapper, try using Rip TideÃs new realistic shrimp on a Âº to Î© ounce jig head in the areas of structure and along sandy drop-offs. Cast the jig as close to the structure as possible without getting snagged, and let it sink to the bottom. Once its reached the bottom, slowly drag it back letting it rest every foot or so. Inshore, July is the best time of the year to catch redfish in shallow water. Large schools have already started forming up, and the sight of 200 feeding redfish is mind-boggling. Once youÃve finished drooling over redfish, look for snook, and top water snapper along mangrove edges, and juvenile tarpon in the creeks, canals and backwaters. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and small trout to be shadowing schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) under clouds of feeding terns. In closing I would like to thank Captains Bill Bright and Rodney Smith for their contributions of insight, experience, and knowledge to this report. Their input has proven to be an asset for many of us on the Indian River Lagoon coast. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-31-2003
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters ThereÃs no doubt summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon coast. With temperatures and humidity levels rising, itÃs wise to concentrate your angling efforts during cool hours of early morning, late afternoon, and night. Fishing in June, July, and August requires some adjustments in your fishing routine, but it doesnÃt mean the fish arenÃt biting. July will provide some of the best opportunities for shallow water anglers to tackle major fish along the Lagoon coast. Near-shore opportunities are typically the best you will see all year for skinny water boats along the beach. June is the time of year when the kingfish move in close shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) along the beach and in the Port Canaveral buoy line. When the summer doldrums set in, the waters clear, and the seas flatten out, the window of opportunity opens for flat bottom boats. Also along the beach, look for the tarpon and shark number to increase, and letÃs not forget the large schools of jack carvalle and the tripletail fishery will be cranking up. Remember, snook season closes this week, so lets give them a chance to relax and get jiggie. I try not to target them, and if I do manage to catch one, I handle it gently and release it with care. Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out. The kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats slow trolling with live pogies producing the most action. Bottom fishing will remain good for snapper and grouper until the first summer squall blows in and muddies up the water. On the flats, focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Night fishing will also produce descent catches of redfish and trout. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target docks with deepwater access. In the early morning look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. 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. Also remember as the days heat up, long battles will kill the larger fish, if you plan on targeting them, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. As always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	05-09-2003
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 9, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For the pasted week, a high-pressure ridge has planted itself firmly over the Indian Lagoon coast producing clear skies, hot rain free days, and a steady south to southwest wind between 5 to 15 knots. To many this sounds like a wonderful weather pattern, especially for those who live in the central states, but for anglers on the lagoon coast, it represents a change in fish patterns, fishing plans, and strategies. Summer is clearly here, but the typical sea breeze fronts that normally develop over the mainland during the day and cool us off in the afternoons are absent. As for me, donÃt stand too close; IÃve had a black cloud following me around all week. While working a charter on Monday, I lost a seal in my hydraulic steering unit and had to call it a day early. Saturday while fishing the Redbone Celebrity Tournament on the north Mosquito Lagoon, my push pole escaped and is now floating freely somewhere on the lagoon or itÃs found a new home. Sunday night, my neighborÃs son lost control of his car, and he made short work of my beautiful stone mailbox, and last night my lovable and loyal doberman Whinny broke her toe. I know itÃs a long shot, but if anyone knows of an emerald green push pole found in the north end of Mosquito Lagoon last week, I could sure use it back. On the bright side, David Justus of Stern called, and heÃs sending me some of their new Stern Super-Braid line to try out, this line is scheduled for market introduction next month. I also received an endorsement from Woodies Rattlers, who makes Rattle inserts for plastic baits, rattle hooks, and versatile rattles which can be attached to any lure or bait. These rattles add the element of sound to your baits. Woodies has been in business for over twenty years, and my first largemouth bass over 12 pounds was caught on a Boon black worm with a rattle insert in it, twenty years ago. On the lagoon last week, the early morning trout bite was good working in the areas of sand bars and spoil islands, but it seemed to turn off a couple hours after sunrise. Redfish were scattered on the flats, but those who managed to locate schools did well. There was also a good number of ladyfish and jacks moving north up the IRL. Out of Port Canaveral and Sebastian, the bait schools along the beach were tough to find, but once located, good catches of tarpon, large jacks, and sharks were reported. There were also a good number of bluefish and Spanish mackerel located just outside the inlets. Near-shore, most anglers fishing the reefs and wrecks like 8A, and Pelican Flats are returned to port with their limits of kingfish. Most fish were talked slow trolling live and dead bait. With baitfish (pogies) difficult to locate, it would be wise to take a box of frozen sardines with you for back up. Offshore, dolphin will be the hot ticket for most blue water anglers outside Port Canaveral. I also heard reports from more than one source that the marlin bite was on in deep water out of Daytona Beach. As always, if you have questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-808 886-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-29-2003
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As I sit here and ponder my forecast for April, IÃm obliged for the opportunity to live, breath, and fish on the waters of the Indian Lagoon coast of Florida. IÃm grateful for all the freedoms I enjoy, and I pray for those who have set their fears aside and exhibited the courage to step forth as defenders of liberty. One of best things about fishing, is it provides us with a forced mind flush. Once on the water, fishing eases our mindÃs troubles by forcing us to focus on the task at hand. Fresh air in our lungs, sunshine on our skin, and screaming drags, all serve as an escape from reality. The month of April is the commencement of some of the hottest fishing experienced on FloridaÃs Indian Lagoon coast. 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. ItÃs 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 a late season cobia run. The cobia run thus far has been slow due to cloudy skies, shifting water temperatures, and dark water, which is believed to be coming from the tannic stained St Johns River in Jacksonville. Also look for the bait pods (pogies) to begin showing up bringing Spanish mackerel, blues, reds, mongo jacks and smoker kings with them. In the inlets, look for good numbers of sheepshead, 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, midday. April is one of the months when trout are egg laden for the spawn, so itÃs 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 week, Captain Mike Peppe of Tarpon Dancer Charters reported catching twenty-four snook on one charter. Last but not least, freshwater largemouth and striper bass action has been hot 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 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 down south in the Stick Marsh and Farm 13, the largemouth bass fishing has been extremely hot, with one guide reporting catching over one hundred bass on a two-day charter. In closing, I would like to thank those of you who facilitate my reports by providing me with current information and incite, and also the readers for your responses and inspiration. 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 866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	03-07-2003
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, March 7, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters Spring has finally arrived here in the sunshine state and the fish are starting to show signs of rejuvenation. This morning as I stepped outside before dawn, the first thing that hit me was the sweet fragrance of orange blossoms. My good friend and fishing mentor Captain Rodney Smith is the one who enlightened me on the connection between orange blossoms and redfish. When the west wind carries this delicate scent across the lagoonÃs water, look for redfish to begin schooling up on the flats. It is also the time of year when the wind begins to settle and the trout and reds start working top water again. For the most part, the weather conditions have showed some improvement. The temperature has been bordering on the 90-degree mark, warming our sprits and the waters. This weekend, look for rainy and cloudy conditions Saturday, with calmer seas, 2 too 3 feet, and sunny skies predicted for Sunday through Thursday. The hot ticket this week is the cobia bite outside of Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. The majority of the fish have been free swimming in the area of buoy 2, but a good number of cobÃs have started showing up on the buoy line and along the beach in 30 too 40 feet of water. The only problem is everybody and their brother will be on the water in search of the big mouth striped brown logs this weekend. IÃm not complaining, because I know how much I love to target these fish, and their only here for a short time. Most of us spend all winter chomping at the bit, waiting for the cobÃs to show up, and then we only have the weekend available to fish. So look for a crowd at the ramp, and be patient and pleasant to others. ItÃs a big ocean, and thereÃs plenty of fish. This past week, there were good reports of sea trout holding around the docks on the west shore of the Indian lagoon from Titusville to Rockledge, and also alone the deeper edges of the flats. In the skinny water, the redfish were actively tailing, but they were difficult to sight cast due to breeze conditions and cloudy skies. Hopefully, improving weather conditions will eliminate this problem. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 1-866-790-8081
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	02-26-2003
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters For various reasons, I always look forward to the magnificent bloom of my lavender Formosa azaleas. Their vivid color is not only pleasing to the eye, but it also signals the end of winter and the beginning of the spring bait migration. As the days grow longer and the ocean begins itÃs gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degree range, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian Lagoon Coast commences. As always, weather will serve as the determining factor in establishing the magnitude and progression of the bite. Also, like the bloom of the delicate azaleas, the bite will sometimes pass before you have a chance to really experience it. Water temperature increases will facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden or pogies and mullet) from the deeper water into the near-shore waters bringing the predator fish with them. Water clarity and sea conditions will determine the number of fishable days weÃll experience in March. This is especially true for those of us who target deep-water species in shallow water boats. Good catches of cobia have been reported offshore of Stuart, and these fish should be moving into our area soon. Both the bait pods and cobia have begun to show up outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian. Captain Muligan of Mully Charters reported taking a cobia in excess of fifty pounds this past week on floating structure in deeper water. Other near-shore options consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure and weeds, heavy weight jacks, giant redfish, and sharks shadowing bait pods near the beaches and inlets. The window of opportunity can be short, so plan your trip, and pray for calm seas and hungry fish. 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 towards any white-striped big moth brown logs you see. The spring run of kingfish is just around the corner, and should last for a solid six months. Look for the kingfish to begin to show up on the near-shore reefs around the middle of March, and then move in closer to shore following bait pods. Most anglers prefer slow trolling live pogies, but spoons and sardines dressed in king buster skirts work equally as well. Inshore, look for the larger trout to start moving into the shallows and the grass flats. This usually occurs in conjunction with the influx of spring bait, (mullet). March is also a good time to target redfish in skinny water. The lagoon water levels are the lowest I ever seen, so be prepared to do the stingray shuffle in order to reach the tailing reds. Last but not least, good reports of American Shad have finely started to come in. The best catches seem to be in the area south of SR 46 on the St Johns River. We are on the downside of the winter spawning migration, but anglers are reporting good numbers of fish in the deeper bends of the river as far south as Hatbill Park. Also, if you interested in hearing more about angling opportunities on the Indian Lagoon Coast, come see me at Coastal AnglerÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth at the Central Florida Boat Show in Orlando, February 28th, thru March 3rd. If youÃre interested in booking a charter, call early to reserve a spot. As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn captain@irl-fishing.com www.irl-fishing.com 407-366-8085 1-866-790-8081 toll free
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	01-15-2003
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, January 17, 2003 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters As a fishing guide, I love to spend my days on the water enjoying the outdoors, but I also realize thereÃs more to guiding then fishing. ItÃs imperative to expand our circle of influence by educating and guiding others on the importance and sensitivity of the lagoon. This past week, I spent my time off the water representing Coastal Angler Magazine at the Stuart Boat show. Coastal Angler is the only magazine that exclusively covers angling, boating, and environmental issues concerning the entire 156 miles of the Indian Lagoon system. I also have a commitment to support CAM at Daytona Beach Boat Show this week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Respectively, I still managed to keep my eyes and ears on the lagoon. This report consist of some of those observations. While in Stuart, we stayed at the River Palm Cottages situated directly on the west shore of the lagoon. ItÃs botanical gardens and peaceful environs, make it the place to stay if you plan to fish the Jenson Beach and Stuart area. One of the many amenities River Palms provides is a long dock with deep-water boat slips and easy access to the inlet. Stuart and Jenson Beach are famous for their snook, and one walk down the dock at sunrise was all it took to convince me of that fact. Standing in one location, I could not count all of the snook within my site. Other action in the area consisted of a tremendous Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite in the inlet, and 126 sailfish caught and released in one day during a local tournament. If pompano and giant redfish are to your liking, Sebastian Inlet is the place to go. The oversize reds have been concentrated just outside the jetties at slack tide feeding on school of silver mullet. Most anglers have been taking the reds utilizing live bait, but heavy jigs in the one-ounce range with plastic tails have experienced equal success. Also, the pompano have returned to the area of the monument on the inside. These fish have been taking jigs tipped with fresh shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs). I prefer to drift through the area working my jig slowly near the bottom, and when you locate the fish, drop you anchor. Other action reported to me this week consisted of a good redfish and trout bite in both the north Indian Lagoon, and the Mosquito Lagoon. Water conditions have cleared up considerable after the heavy pressure applied to the area during the Redfish Tour, and the fish have begun to return to the flats. One angler reported catching over fifty rat too slot size reds by himself in a period of four hours last weekend while his fishing partner stayed home to watch football. This weekend, the temperature is predicted to drop into the thirtyÃs, so your focus for trout will be the deep water holes, and target the reds in the afternoon once the flats heat up. If the weatherÃs too cold for fishing, come visit us at CAMÃs Traveling Lagoon Booth at the Daytona Boat Show. 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 captaim@irl-fishing.com 1-866-790-8081 407-366-8085
	Posted By:	Captain Tom Van Horn	Date Posted:	11-26-2002
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 22, 2002 Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters IÃm back at my desk, and yes I survived another fishing vacation in Sebastian. It rejuvenates oneÃs soul to take a whole week off, and do nothing but eat, sleep, and fish. It also dose a number on oneÃs equipment, back, and hands. Again this year I was joined by my best friend and fishing buddy, Madman Mike, the man fish fear. We fished through torrential rain, high winds, raging seas, the Sebastian Inlet gauntlet, which included the attack of the rock dwellers, and still managed to catch a ton of fish. Below is a brief outline of some of the species taken last week: Flounder Every year when the water cools, the flounder migrate from the shallow water of the lagoon to the deeper water of the Atlantic. This migration is currently in full swing, and it will last only a few weeks. Mike and I caught numerous flounder over the week with the majority being small. The technique we used was to drift inside the cut bouncing a Âº ounce pompano jig tipped with fresh shrimp on the bottom. There were reports of larger fish taken using finger mullet, again bounced on the bottom. The most productive time to fish is during periods of slack tide, working the bait slowly across the bottom. Spanish Mackerel Large schools of Spanish are working glass minnows (bay anchovy) outside the inlet. These fish can be located by watching for birds working bait on the surface, and they were concentrated in tight fast moving schools. We used DOA Cal jigs in the seaweed color with good results. It is important to retrieve your lure quickly to keep the fish from cutting the leader. Tarpon and Kingfish Large tarpon and kingfish are shadowing schools of Spanish mackerel in deeper water outside the inlet. The highlight of our trip was when Mike boated an eighty pound plus tarpon on 20 pound Power Pro line (see photo). This fish was taken using a live pigfish weighted with a Ã¦ ounce barrel sinker dropped down into the school of smaller fish. It was a tremendous battle due to rough seas, but MikeÃs patients prevailed. Redfish and Trout Both redfish and trout are still up in the shallow flats south of the inlet. Work the edges of the mangrove shoreline in areas where mullet are still concentrated. ThereÃs also a good number of larger redfish located outside the inletÃs north jetty. Snook Snook fishing was good in the inlet during the night. If you want to experience extreme fishing, this is it. The most productive technique utilized by anglers in boats is to drift live pigfish through the channel weighted with a Ã¦ ounce barrel sinker. This action was complicated by the large number of boats using it and the rock dwellers tossing sinkers and buck tail jigs at you from the shoreline. It becomes even more exciting when an angler hooks up. Again, slack tide is the preferred window of opportunity. Pompano Pompano are showing up on the inside of the inlet near the monument, which is the large concrete channel marker located west of the inlet. We again used the Âº ounce pompano jigs tipped with shrimp. Many other species of fish were also taken in this area using the same technique. If you know someone whoÃs not particular about the type of fish they catch, this is the place to go. All in all, it was a great week of fishing and catching. A true adventure loaded with danger and excitement, man, time flies when your having fun! 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 407-366-8085 886-790-8081 toll free

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