IRL Coast Fishing Report
Capt. Tom Van Horn
May 10, 2009
Indian River Lagoon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 9, 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Although the heat of summer has arrived and the winds of spring have started to subside, the fishing or should I say catching for me this past week did not hold true for the season.
Captain Chris Myers poles me around in the Banana River No-Motor Zone in my Indian River Canoe rigged with a Kay-Noe Stabilizer.
My adventure started with a trip out of town in support of my sponsors to the Jacksonville Kayak Classic Tournament. I typically do not fish tournaments, but the paddle fishing only, catch, photograph and release format with all proceeds going to the Daniel Foundation for kids was hard to resist. The event is only four years in the making, but its conservation model drew over 400 anglers from across the country. I was also honored to partner up with Aren Wicks in his specially designed Indian River canoe equipped a set of Kay-noe stabilizers. This is the same rig I use on my paddle fishing charters into the No-Motor Zone. The added stability of the boat with pontoons deployed allows both anglers to stand up and fish. While the boat is extremely stable it doesn't mean a clumsy angler will not fall out, which was the case for me and another cell phone goes down for the count. Although I started our day on a soggy note, we did manage to catch some small sea trout and some nice flounder, and Aren did his best not to bust out into laughter, at least until the steam stopped emerging from my ears. The Jacksonville area has proven tough for me primarily due to a dreaded four letter word, "Tide", for which we have little in the north IRL.
My next adventure was a complete disappointment as we ventured of Port Canaveral on a near-shore charter in search of kingfish, tarpon and large jack carvalle that were common place last week before the wind moved in. Well, the fore mentioned wind apparently also blew in cold water, and blew out the fish. Along the beach, the water temperature never reached more than 70 degrees, and the bait (pogies) and other species were gone. We ran north through the bight around the Cape, out to "C" Can, south past the steeple, and we never sighted any bait or fish to speak of. After about 3 hours of running around looking, we call our trip shot and returned to the dock stinking to high heaven. The conditions were so bad that I call my charter for the next day, and gave them the opportunity to opt out, which they wisely did.
So with my near-shore foray canceled for the day, I met my good friend Larry Carter at 6am for a day of scouting fish on the Banana River Lagoon, and despite the full moon and my poor luck near-shore the day before, we managed so extreme light tackle action on sea trout and ladyfish.
Our best action came as we located a big school of large ladyfish in deeper water with sea trout mixed in. As the ladyfish busted glass minnows (bay anchovy) on the surface, the sea trout pushed bait up from below, and for about 30 minutes I enjoyed a fish on every cast throwing a bone colored Rapala X-Rap. When I worked the bait on top I caught ladyfish, and when cranked deeper the trout we eager to for take in my offering.
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
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
Book a charter, and let's go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
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