 |
Indian River Lagoon
Capt. Tom Van Horn
August 30, 2004
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2004
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
Although I’m a lifelong Florida native and a student of nature, I was once again taken aback by the swiftness and destructive power of nature’s 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, it’s been many years since I’ve seen such starry skies from my front porch, made possible by the absents of city lights, I’ve 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. It’s 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. It’s 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 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.
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 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, 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 you’re 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 ¼ 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
[email protected]
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
886-790-8081 toll free
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
