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Fishing Reports
Indian River lagoon Coast Fishing Report
November 09, 2005
Posted by Captain Tom Van Horn
Chuluota, FL 32766 USA
Email: captain@irl-fishing.com
Current Report
Indian River Lagoon Coast
Fishing Report, November 7,
2005
Mosquito Coast Fishing
Charters
Fishing conditions on the
IRL coast have shown
significant improvement
since the passing of
Hurricane Wilma, with the
bite improving as well.
Water levels are still high
and higher levels of tannic
stained runoff (brown water)
are still present, but in
most areas of the lagoon,
the water clarity is
improving nicely.
This past week a high-
pressure system dominated
our weather bringing
magnificently sunny days,
gentle northeast breezes,
and mild temperatures, but
the high pressure and turbid
water made catching tough
early in the week. As the
week progressed, the bite
improved.
On Friday, I fish with a
group of 40 guides
supporting the Ring Power
convention organized by
Captain Tom Carver. The
event was set up as a mini
slot redfish tournament, and
out of all those boats,
Captain Mark Wright took top
hook with five slot redfish.
Our only slot fish was
caught by working a green
weed less Ribbit Frog made
by Stanley Jigs early in the
day on the edge of the
mangroves.
On Saturday, I fished a two-
boat charter with Captain
Kevin Mulligan. My anglers
were John Kroger and his
fishing buddy Mike from
Denver. We started the day
fly-fishing at the south
power plant in Port Saint
John, and we worked over the
ladyfish for a good hour
before John and Mike had
enough. While on the
subject of the power plants,
they are currently loaded
with ladyfish and jacks, but
the manatee restrictions go
in effect on November 15th,
so if you enjoy the
continues action of fishing
the outflows, you only have
a few days left. After we
departed the power plant, we
headed to the east shore
where we ended up catching
eight slot redfish and
several nice sea trout
between us. Sight fishing
was tough due to the water
conditions, so we opted to
soaking ladyfish chunks in
areas of bait schools in
about two feet of water.
On Sunday, I fished a four
hour charter with Steve
Smith and his good friend
Jim, and we started the
morning working jigs with
RipTide 4 Swimming Mullet
at the power plant, and they
warmed up on the fast and
furious action of the
ladyfish. Once Jim and
Steve grew tired of the
slaughter, we moved to the
east shore for some top-
water trout action. While
polling into the flat, I
spotted school of sizable
reds in deeper water, but
before we could poll into
position, a lagoonoramus in
a johnboat blew across the
school sounding them. For
the next hour we quietly
waited for their return, but
again before we could get
within casting range another
boat buzzed the area. We
finally staked out in the
vicinity and chunked out
ladyfish, and we ended the
day with one break off, 15
hard heads, several sizable
sea trout, and one nice 20-
pound redfish.
On a side note, remember
that spotted sea trout are
out of season in November
and December, and you should
have seen the look on the
face of the unacquainted
angler cleaning trout at the
dock at Port Saint John,
when the FWC Officer walked
up and informed him of the
regulations with a ticket.
As always, if you have any
questions or need
information, please contact
me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
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