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Fishing Reports
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report
April 11, 2006
Posted by Captain Tom Van Horn
Chuloota, FL 32766 USA
Email: captain@irl-fishing.com
Current Report
Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing
Report, April 10, 2006
Mosquito Coast Fishing
Charters
Just the other morning, I
found myself once again
perched along the Lagoons
edge to observe the
sunrise. The sky was deep
blue with the exception of
the suns fiery orange
fingers, which reached up
through the darkness and
glistened across the
lagoons surface like a
million tiny mirrors. From
my vantage point I watched a
small school of nervous
mullet fry drawn out of a
backwater creek into the
deeper flat by the
diminishing water levels
experienced in spring. On
the deep side of the
baitfish school a large
redfish slowly herded them
inward closer and closer to
the shore. On the edge of
the shoreline several happy
reddish egret took advantage
of the occasion as they
drove the baitfish back out
dipping and flaring their
wings. Soon a school of jack
crevelle and some more
herons and egrets joined in,
as the feeding frenzy
intensified. Working
together they feasted on the
terrified mullet fry until
the morning sun cleared the
horizon.
For years Ive observed the
relationship between
predators and pray and such
is the cycle of life on the
lagoon. When the April moon
reaches it full phase in a
few days, sow trout will be
call in for the spawn by the
smaller drumming males.
This activity coincides with
the hatch of the mullet and
the higher salinity levels
of the lagoon, and it
signals the return of the
top water plug action for
trout and redfish.
Small surface plugs like the
Chug-Bug, Pop-R, and Johnny
Rattler fished, worked, as
close to the edge of the
shore will produce some
explosive action. These
fish are aggregated for the
spawn, so they should be
handled and released with
extreme care to help
maintain future populations.
Once the top water bite
diminishes, try working the
deeper edges (two to three
feet) using soft plastic
jigs like the Riptide
Realistic Shrimp with a
Woodies Rattle Insert or
Woodies Rattling Hook.
Another positive sign for
the fishery is the number of
rat reds being caught and
released in the Mosquito
Lagoon this year. With a
rapid growth rate, redfish
reach the minimum slot size
in just two years (18
inches), and the maximum
slot size (27 inches) at
three years when they become
sexually mature. With this
in mind, we should see a
banner year for redfish in
2007.
In closing, I would like to
wish everyone a happy
Easter, and I hope to see
you on the water soon. As
always, if you have any
questions on need further
information, please contact
me.
Upcoming events and seminars:
Coastal Angler Magazines
Fishing and Boating Expo
held at the Melbourne Civic
Auditorium, May 19th, 20th,
and 21st. I will be
conducting a braided line
clinic sponsored by Ande
Line. Come learn the ins and
outs of light tackle fishing
with braided line.
http://www.coastalanglermagaz
ine.com/modules.php?
name=News&file=article&sid=69
Sports Fishing Magazines
FishStock 2006 in New Smyrna
Beach on Memorial Day
Weekend, May 27th, 28th. I
will be conducting a new
tackle clinic called New
Gear, New Applications.
Come visit me, and we will
review what is new in the
fishing tackle industry.
http://www.fishstock.com/inde
x.jsp
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free
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