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Indian River Lagoon Fishing Forecast

Capt. Tom Van Horn
August 30, 2013
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report


Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2013

By Captain Tom Van Horn

September's Events and Seminars:

Tuesday, September 3rd, 7:00 pm - Orlando Kayak Fishing Club meeting in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka, Florida For more details on the event's program visit http://orlandokayakfishingclub.com/meetings-and-events

Thursday, September 5th Mosquito Creek Outdoors Fall Sale begins. Come check out the great deals on Fall Goods.

Saturday September 7th, 9 am to 4 pm - The 1st annual Mosquito Creek Outdoors Open Turkey Calling Championship and Fall Sale sanctioned by the Wekiva Springs Strutters and the NWTF. 100% payback and guaranteed $1000 to the winner of the Southern Open and Florida Seniors divisions. Winners will advance to the NWTF national contest in 2014.

Saturday September 14th, 11 am - Shriners's Sportsman Expo, 2300 Pembrook Drive , Orlando , FL , 32810. Bahia Shriners of Orlando have partnered with Mosquito Creek Outdoors along with other local vendors for its first Sportsman's Expo. A family-friendly event on hunting, fishing, boating, shooting, camping and hiking or just enjoying the outdoors. Food and refreshments will be available to purchase all day. Representatives from the Florida Fresh Water Game Commission, All Outdoors Florida (an on-line magazine) along with other outdoor vendors will be available to answer questions. They will also be raffling 40 different firearms and other outdoor items, all for a great cause. Call 407-660-8811 or visit http://www.bahiasportsmansexpo.com for more details.

Thursday, September 19th, 6:30 pm - Free Anglers Improvement Workshop, "Making the best of the fall mullet run and snook season" Instructed by Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn. The event will be held in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave, Apopka, Florida. For more details visit http://www.mosquitocreek.com

Saturday September 21st, 10 am - Discover Fly Fishing. This free fly fishing workshop is instructed by FFF certified veteran lagoon Captain Chris Myers and is located at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka, Florida.
For more details on this event visit http://www.mosquitocreek.com

Saturday September 28th 9 to 10 am
- "Hands Across the Lagoon"
events are occurring in all five lagoon counties to call attention to the declining condition of our Indian River Lagoon and to ask our leaders to make the health of the lagoon a top priority. Come join me on the Max Brewer Causeway in Titusville, Florida on National Estuaries Day and show your support and stand up for our Indian River Lagoon system.


The Oasis Known as River Ranch

by Tom Van Horn

The wild wail of the limpkin's rattling call echoed through the darkness from distant tree tops as we broke camp at Lake Kissimmee's Tiger Cove. We paddled south through the darkness and early morning mist in an effort to avoid the extreme August heat of south Central Florida. Ten collage kids on a journey into America's past during their summer break in 1975. It was the beginning of America's bi-centennial year, and this voyage was on the downhill leg of the Bartram Trail Bi-centennial Canoe Expedition. America's bi-centennial year was a glorious time in history for our country as ten collage kids set forth on an expedition from Macon Georgia on June 8th to Miami Beach on August 17th in celebration of America's 200th birthday.

We were five days into this leg of the journey when we pasted through the flood control gates at U.S. Highway 60 and the mid-afternoon sun was Africa hot. That's when I first discovered the oases known as the River Ranch Resort. As we paddled up to the landing to request permission to camp for the night we were greeted with open arms by the resort's staff, management and guest and although we were a group of long-haired collage kids way out of our element (remember this was in the mid-seventies), they wined and dined us, washed our clothes, drove us 30-miles into Lake Wales and bought us enough provisions to carry us on to Okeechobee. And oh yes this was my first taste of a cuba libre with Myers's Rum. It wasn't what I expected cowboys to drink, but I quickly learned when Cow Town do like the cowboys.

It was thirty-eight years ago this August when I first experienced the hospitality of the fine folks at River Ranch and as I sat at the bar in the River Ranch Saloon this past week at the Florida Outdoor Writers Association's annual conference, I relived my youthful days respectfully sipping on a Myers's cuba libra.

On my return, I was pleasantly surprised to see my memories remained intact as we drove through the gates past the Westgate Rodeo Arena on our way to registration. The resort is an authentic dude ranch located along the the banks of the Kissimmee River near Lake Wales Florida, less than two hours travel south from Orlando. This fun family resort features activities like the Westgate Rodeo every Saturday night, horseback riding, a nine-hole golf course, trap and skeet range, petting farm, full service marina on the Kissimmee River, River Ranch Saloon and a dinner hay ride just to name a few and I can attest the hospitality and experience still serve my memory right. I highly recommend you experience the Westgate River Ranch for yourself, you will not be
disappointed. To begin your adventure by visiting their website at http://www.wgriverranch.com.

This Weeks Article and September's Outlook

Let me begin this forecast by wishing everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend, and while we are enjoying the end of summer, let's not forget those in service of our great country who are on duty for our freedom and safety. I'm often asked the question, what is the best time of year to catch trophy redfish. Well, the answer is right now.September is the month the breeder redfish school up for the spawn in the Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River Lagoons as well as inlet passes of Ponce and Sebastian, so it's a good time to target these schools. September also marks the beginning of the fall bait migration, primarily silver mullet, which increase as we progress into October and November. It is hard to predict precisely when and how strong the run will be, but along with the arrival of the bait, come the predatory species we love so much. My lure selection for these breeder schools this time of year is a DOA Bait Buster with a single hook instead of trebles. I like the shallow runner in natural mullet colors when the school is near the water's surface and the deep runner when fishing the deeper water of the inlets and near-shore.

Look for snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, sharks, and large kingfish crushing bait pods along the beach. The pods are easily located by watching for fish and birds busting the 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 last month 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 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 large 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.

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

Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
[email protected]

Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

More Fishing Reports:

 

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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