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Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 14, 2011
Capt. Tom Van Horn
May 14, 2011
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well, yesterday we received our first significant rainfall for the season, so water levels are still extremely low both in the St Johns River and inshore on the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, so please operate with caution, and avoid damaging the sea grass and your boat.
Inshore in the Lagoons, low water conditions have concentrate redfish into the deeper pockets of water on the flats, making it easier to locate fish, so focus your efforts on the deeper edges and sloughs, and once fish are located, stake out and meticulously work the area over trying not to spook the school out. This approach can result in catching several fish out of the same area before moving on in search of other fish. It's also a good practice to watch for concentrations of mullet and then target those areas for redfish.
Another significant target and one of my summertime favorites is catching sea trout on top-water plugs. Focus your attention again in areas where mullet schools are visible during periods of low light and blind cast top-water plugs, covering as much area as possible. Once fish are located, slow down and concentrate your efforts until the bite in that area subsides. Some of my lures of choice are: Rapala Skitterwalks, Storm Chug Bags, and Zara Spooks and Spook Jr's.
Also, with the full moon approaching, do not overlook working top-water plugs on your favorite flat at night for some explosive action, and working dock lights with the night glow DOA Shrimp.
Along the beach, colder water is moving in shutting down the bottom fishing offshore. The colder water has also made locating bait schools (pogies) along the beach a challenge. So like me, if you enjoy fishing with live bait, try catching you bait inside the Port or in the Lagoon before heading out. Despite the cold water upwelling which is a bit early this year, the tarpon and large jacks have been a common target these past few weeks, and the kingfish are beginning to move inshore from the near-shore reefs and wrecks, and there are still some cobia around. This week, the seas are between 3 to 5 feet, but it's a long period ground swell (13 seconds) which actually is not much of a problem as long as you is mindful using caution when working in close to the the surf.
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