Port Canaveral Saltwater Fishing Report
Mosquito Coast Fishing Report
Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report

Tidal Predictions Cyberangler

 USGS Streamflow for Florida

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Port Canaveral Report Updated November 13, 2009

As you step outside here in Orlando, you will clearly notice winter is in the air. Earlier this week, squally conditions brought on by a late season tropical blow, Ida, settled in across Florida and the southeast states and was eventually pushed out into the Atlantic by a cold front. Although Central Florida did not experience a significant rain event, clashing barometric pressure systems created increased winds which blew out any chance of safely fishing the near-shore and offshore waters of Florida as a whole. These blustery and cloudy conditions also shut down sight fishing opportunities on the inshore Lagoons, so I opted to take advantage of the situation by keeping my feet dry ground and prepare for my week of fishing ahead in the Sebastian Inlet area.

For the past 20 or so years, Sandi and I have migrated south to Sebastian Inlet for our one week pilgrimage on a quest for flat fish (southern and gulf flounder). This quest is always a wager due to the temperament of Mother Nature. On some years we have hit it right and loaded the boat with flounder, and on others, we missed the run by not hitting the conditions right. Flounder usually start moving through the Inlet when water temperatures reach 68 degrees along the beach and our warm fall has kept the water temperatures elevated well within the 70 degree mark. Although the flounder may not be running, there are many other specie of fish to catch.

Currently, it looks as though the weather will remain blustery through Sunday, but after that, there are some fishable days in the forecast. Either way it doesn't matter much because I'll be on vacation and in fish heaven rain or shine, so stand by for the details in my next adventure.

If you chose to fish in the lagoons, try fishing in the leeward areas of the causeways and shorelines and work in close to the bank. Many of the redfish caught in the past few weeks have been loaded with small oyster and fiddler crabs, so look in very close and try fishing with small soft plastics like the DOA CAL, Shrimp or Crab in green and brown shads. Additionally, the water may still be warm enough for snook and ladyfish so give that a shot, epically in the southern reaches of the lagoon. Lastly, remember sea trout season is closed until January 2010.
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
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Near Shore & Inshore Flats Fishing
Capt. Tom Van Horn
407-366-8085 Cell 407-416-1187
Toll Free 866-790-8081

BY: CAPTAIN JACK JACKSON

She was born in Louisville, Kentucky some short 55 years ago. Raised the daughter of an avid outdoorsman, she grew up on dove, rabbit, and a lot of bluegills, bass, and crappie. Charlene learned to fish with a canepole at the side of her father, spending two weeks every summer, fishing for perch and northern pike just outside the town of Cedarville, Michgan.

While she loved to fish, her main thrust in life was always as a care-giver, whether it be to her family or others in need. She graduated from St. Louis University as a Physical Therapist, but then joined a red-headed fishermen on their new "Ship of Fate". It was here that her real colors of devotion to her husband and family became obvious.

She loved being on and in the water. Two weeks into her married life, we spent a week in the Land-Between-the-Lakes in SW Kentucky with my family. She wanted to take her trusted canepoles to fish with, but her new "know-it-all" husband had better equipment: real stuff like Mitchell 300’s and Ambassador reels. The cane poles stayed home. After three days of being flooded by torrential rains and no fish, we left, driving by the launch ramp one more time. One small boat with two old fishermen was just pulling in with a stringer of bass that turned us green with envy. Asked how they caught them, they reported that they just used canepoles and worms in the treetops. Charlene never said a word, but she had that "I told you so!" smile on her lips.

She did whatever it took to make her family happy. As a newlywed, she followed me down an old creek in Southwestern Ohio in the middle of the night looking for frogs. The snakes and spiders that she despised didn’t bother her that night.

Unquestioning, she followed me to Western New York for my first job, while putting her career on hold. When she was six months pregnant, she went along on a camping trip some 500 miles north of Toronto to Lake Abitibi and the Ghost River. Hanging over the bow of our small boat she would scan the waters in front and yell "log!" so we could pull up the motor and not shear another pin on the propeller. After reaching the calm deep waters adjacent to the big lake, she would apply her fishing skills and catch all she wanted. She put up with a lot on that trip. I can still see her retreating into the woods after my father announced that we were having fried trout for breakfast.

Eventually, after having three little fishes of our own, we found ourselves back in the Midwest, but still looking for water. Once again, placing all her faith in me, we packed up once more and moved to Vero, her own "piece of heaven".

With the kids now in school, Charlene could turn back to her care skills. While she watched me fish, she took care of her patients. Every so often, the two of us would get time to fish. Now, it was never enough.

A marriage is similar to a fishing trip. It begins with great anticipation and planning. Once underway, changes are made to produce the best results. Sometimes you are lucky enough to just relax and just drift with currents enjoying your partner and the surroundings. Sometimes you both have to paddle like mad just to stay afloat. Afternoon thunderstorms can arise, but as in marriage, you take cover, ride them out, and wait for the sun to reappear. With any luck, the two of you will get to enjoy a beautiful sunset at the end of the day, reminiscing of things caught and lost. Sometimes the day ends much to quickly, yet always leaves you with memories of a lifetime, loving memories of Charlene, my wife and partner.

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 we'll 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 John's 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 you've located the schooling fish, try throwing a rattle-trap or other small subsurface swim bait.

Spring is one of the best times of year to fish the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. So if you are planning to visit the area for a fishing adventure, make sure you book your hotel and fishing guide early. Also, when the bite is on, the ramps fill up quickly, so arrive early, and be courteous and considerate with other anglers, because we are all on the water for the same reasons.

As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me

Good luck and good fishing,