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Indian River Lagoon Coast October Forecast

Capt. Tom Van Horn
August 25, 2015
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast September, 2015


September Fishing Forecast

Muller Madness

It's 6 am., and I find myself standing at the water's edge gazing off into the early morning darkness. With south easterly breeze in my face, I take a deep breath of moist tropical air. Overpowered by the sensation and influence of the forces of nature approaching me as a summer squalls build in the Atlantic. It's that squally feeling that charges us with energy and intrigue, drawing us to the edge of the sea like a bug to a street light. By the time you receive this message Erika will be in our vicinity, so let's pray she stays weak and moves away from Central Florida. As the summer squalls move north, the prevailing summer breezes will soon begin to switch from the southeast to the northeast, and the fishing will begin to improve with the southerly migration of all scaly critters who prefer warmer climates.

September marks the beginning of the fall bait migration, primarily silver mullet on Florida's east coast, with numbers increasing as we progress into October and November. It is hard to predict precisely when or how strong the mullet run will be, but along with the arrival of the bait, comes the predatory species we love so much.

Look for snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, sharks, and large kingfish crushing bait pods along the beach. These pods are easily located by watching for fish and birds busting bait. Once you've determined the direction of fish movement, usually south, 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 in mid August 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 snook fishing is to simply slide a ½ 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 3/0 Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook. You'll 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 tarpon, 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.

In-shore on the lagoons, 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 ¼ ounce DOA CAL jigs with white or darker colored CAL 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 near-shore 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.

September is also the time of year the breeder redfish school up for the spawn in the north IRL and inlet passes of Ponce and Sebastian, so it's a good time to target these schools. Please remember these are brood stock fish, so if you target them, please handle and release them with extreme care.

As always, if you have questions on need more information, please contact me.

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
407-416-1187

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Light tackle saltwater fishing guide service on Florida's east central coast. Come fish the Mosquito Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River Lagoon for redfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon and much more, all less than one hour frome the Orlando theme parks.

Contact Info:

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
540 Lake Lenelle Drive
Chuluota, FL 32766
Phone: 407-416-1187
Alt. Phone: 407-366-8085
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