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Fishing Reports
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast
January 31, 2006
Posted by Captain Tom Van Horn
Chuluota, Fl 32766 USA
Email: captain@irl-fishing.com
Current Report
Indian River Lagoon Coast
Fishing Forecast, February
2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing
Charters
So far, nothing has been
routine about the weather
this winter. Warmer and
windier than normal
conditions have only
provided us with a few
decent weather days in the
last month, and the long
range forecast for the
beginning of February is not
looking too favorable.
Also, there is still the
chance of freezing
conditions returning this
year, but your guess is as
good as mine. Im not
complaining, just stating
the facts, because even with
the worst weather, we are
still fishing and catching
on the Indian River Lagoon
Coast.
Normally, once the cold
front pushes into the
Atlantic and high pressure
settles in, fishing
conditions can shift from
meager to magnificent
overnight. One sign I
watch for is the development
of fog in the early morning
hours. As high-pressure
system moves off to the
northeast, southeasterly
wind shifts carry humid air
off the Atlantic. Rising
humidly levels are an
indication of warmer
temperatures, and a falling
barometer. These factors
provide ideal weather for
fishing the flats and
running offshore once the
fog burns off. When the
next approaching front moves
closer, the winds will begin
to back down to the south
and eventually shift to the
west just before the front
hits. As a general rule,
the stronger the front, the
more intense the wind speed
and shifts will be. All of
this information falls in
the nice to know category if
you are one of the lucky
people who can pick their
days on the water, but for
most of us, the best day to
fish is whenever you have a
chance.
Another important point to
remember when fishing
inshore is, falling water
temperatures force most
fish, bait included, to seek
deeper locations in search
the warmest water they can
find, and they become very
sluggish. As the sun warms
the water, all it takes is a
degree or two change, the
fish will begin to move into
the shallow flats to feed.
On the sunny mornings, it is
not uncommon to find redfish
and trout holding in the
sand pockets within the
shallow flats where water
temperatures raise quickly.
Additionally, warming water
temperatures combined with
sunny spring days, and
crystal clear water, make
February one of the best
months to site fish for
redfish, large sea trout,
and black drum on the lagoon
flats. Also, now is the
time to target tailing black
drum in the Banana River
Lagoon No Motor Zone. For
larger sea trout, fish at
first light, sunset, or at
night with natural baits,
and target areas where
mangrove edges, docks, and
other structure are adjacent
to deep water dredge holes,
sloughs, or canals. These
same areas will also hold
concentrations of small
trout, which can be caught
throughout the day on small
jigs and shrimp imitation
baits like Riptides
Realistic Shrimp, DOA
Shrimp, or Berkleys Gulp
Shrimp fished very slowly
along the bottom. Also,
when fishing in deeper
darker water, try using
nightglow baits with Woodies
Rattles inserted in them.
Offshore, kingfish are still
present along the inshore
reefs and wrecks, and they
will remain there as long as
the water temperature stays
above 68 degrees. When
targeting kings, focus on
the areas of 8A reef,
Pelican Flats, and Bethel
Shoals to the south. Look
for cobia and amberjack to
be present on the inshore
wrecks like the Carol Lee,
Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of
Port Canaveral.
Additionally, live bait is
tough to find this time of
year, so always carry a box
of frozen Spanish sardines
with you as backup.
Near-shore, look for
tripletail concentrations to
improve greatly along the
Port Canaveral buoy line and
under floating weeds and
structures, and for cobia to
move in shadowing manta rays
if the surface water
temperatures reach the upper
sixties. Now is also the
time for shore fisherman to
target pompano, bluefish,
weakfish, small black drum,
sheepshead, Spanish mackerel
and whiting in the surf and
larger redfish and flounder
around the inlets and
jetties.
Last but not least, windy
days in February are a great
time to check out those
freshwater fishing holes on
the St Johns River.
Currently good catches of
American shad, speckled
perch, warmouth perch, and
largemouth bass are being
reported. Like everything
else this year, the shad run
is behind schedule. This
past week, good reports of
shad came from the Marina
Isles to Mullet Lake section
of the St. Johns River, with
only a few shad being taken
south of Lake Harney. As
the run progresses the shad
should be moving into the
shallows flats south of Hwy
46, so fly anglers get ready.
Remember when planning a
fishing trip in February,
keep a close eye on the
weather, and fish whenever
you have a chance.
Seminar Schedule in February:
Bass Pro Shops Spring
Classic in Orlando, February
11th, 12th, 18th, &19th
Florida Sports Fishing
Association, February 28th,
7pm
Also, be sure to check out
the new Coastal Angler
Magazine website at
www.coastalanglermagazine.com
.
As always, if you have
questions on need
information, please contact
me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water
If you would like to be
added to Captain Toms
mailing list reply to
captain@irl-fishing.com
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