Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida Fishing Report, July 23, 20
Capt. Tom Van Horn
July 24, 2014
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida Fishing Report, July 23, 2014
by Captain Tom Van Horn
For starters, let me apologize for the tardiness of this report as I was once again away from the water attending the 2014 ICAST fishing tackle convention in Orlando. I'm often asked the question, what are the most innovative products of the show? So, I'll begin this report by describing innovations I viewed as the most significant in the fishing tackle industry for 2014. As a passionate angler I'm always excited to see what's new in the industry and to visit and catch up with old friends. During this year's show my phone camera failed to focus correctly, so some videos and photos will link you back to their origin
This year Johnson Outdoors was the top winner with Best of Show wins in Best Boat, Best Electronics, Best Boating Accessory and Best of Show overall winner with the Predator XL Kayak.
Above is a WFN video of the new Minn Kota Ulterra Trolling Motor which won Best of Show in Boating Accessories. This year's freshwater version self deploys and trims remotely with just the push of your finger, and the folks at Minn Kota say the saltwater version is next. I can't wait for this one.
Old Town Canoes & Kayaks, a leader in the paddle sports industry for over a century, introduced the Predator XL kayak, the new flagship in its Premier Angler Series. Incorporating all the pioneering features of the original Predator, including the Element seating system, customizable, high-strength mounting plates, Exo-ridge deck and Tri-Hull design, the Predator XL adds a 45lb thrust, saltwater-grade Minn Kota motor and a foot-operated rudder system to deliver an unrivaled hands-free fishing experience and pinpoint control.
This Week's Fishing Report
After being away from the water for a few weeks, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Lagoon water quality was much improved compared to this time last summer. On most of the flats I traveled this week the water clarity was good and the sea grass was plentiful. Water levels are currently high and we found plenty of redfish, sea trout and black drum willing to play with us. The major challenge this week was pinfish on the flats, so natural baits won't last long and soft plastics are your best option.
Near-shore out of Port Canaveral, fishing conditions are as good as they get. The seas are flat and clear and the water temperature is still in the 80's. We still haven't seen any effects of cold water upwelling's yet, but it should be moving in soon and when it happens, our mid-summer cobia run should commence as the cold water will push both cobia and kingfish in close in search of warmer water. We still have the third weekend of snapper mini season left, so look for one more weekend at the zoo. On a encouraging note, the new ramps at Port Canaveral are looking very good, and soon we will be splashing our boats in the new location
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
[email protected]
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187
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