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Indian River Lagoon
Capt. Tom Van Horn
May 30, 2003
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2003
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
There’s no doubt summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon coast. With temperatures and humidity levels rising, it’s 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 doesn’t mean the fish aren’t 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 let’s 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 they 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
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