Prospects & General Comments:
Hook Kids on Fishing Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed to assist with the Hook Kids on Fishing event to be held in conjunction with the Mosquito Creek Outdoors Family Outdoor Day and the Apopka Foliage Festival held on April 24th and 25th in Apopka. The HKOF event will be on Saturday, April 24th, from 10 am to noon and is free to all kids. After completing the five learning stations, each child will receive a free rod, reel and tackle box. We are anticipating over 100 kids and their parents to attend, so you assistance would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to sign up, please contact me, Captain Tom Van Horn at (407) 416-1187 or send me a message at mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com.


Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian River Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, March 5, 2010

By Captain Tom Van Horn

Up Coming Events


March 27th, Free Cobia and Tripletail seminar from 10 am to noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida, 170 South Washington Avenue. For more details visit www.mosquitocreek.com/fishing.

April 24th, Free Hook Kids on Fishing seminar from 10 am to noon at the Apopka Foliage Festival. After completing the five learning stations, each child will receive a free fishing rod, reel and tackle box. To preregister your children, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida at 170 South Washington Avenue or contact them at (407) 464-2000. This Weeks Report Despite the fact that it stormed all day yesterday, and it is storming at 5 am as I'm writing this report, we had some nice fishing days last week both on the St. Johns River and the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons. It's hard to say how the 6 inches of rain will effect fishing next week, but here's what we found last week.

On the lagoons, tailing redfish were easy to find. Most of the fish I found on the IRL were in very shallow water where mullet were holding. The reds were not schooled up very tight, but spread out through a given area. They were also very difficult to approach and even harder to catch. For what ever reason, they were not interested in artificial baits, and live shrimp were the most productive. In the deeper canals and holes, small sea trout were plentiful. While fishing with DOA Shrimp , rootbeer and glow colors, we lost count of the small sea trout we caught. We fished in two different canal systems and we caught fish in both. When targeting these fish, cast up against the shoreline fish the DOA Shrimp extremely slow just bumping the bottom as you work in down the drop-off. Near-shore, the colder water temperatures have kept the cobia down south of Jupiter Inlet. The water temperature here off of Port Canaveral has begun to warm up, so we only need a few more warm days with southeast winds to reach the magic numbers of 68 - 72 degrees. The run is late this year, so when they do show up we are likely to have only a few days of good fishing before they move north up the coast of Florida. So, get your rods and boat ready so you don't miss the boat when they do show up. Plus, be sure to make the free cobia and tripletail seminar Captain Chris Myers and I are giving at Mosquito Creek Outdoors an March 27th. On the St. Johns River there are still a few American shad around, but it's anyone guess what 6 inches of rain in two days will do to the bite. It's a bit early for the catfish to move into the creeks, but the flooding condition and increased current may make it worth while to target the big channel catfish in the bends on the creeks and rivers. Also, be sure to check out the March addition of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com. As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water For all you outdoor shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com. Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Outlook, March 2010 Reflecting back on my past years here on the Space Coast, I can't remember a colder winter and as I sit here composing the forecast another cold front is passing through Central Florida. Although it's been a challenging winter for anglers, March is around the corner and with warmer weather comes improved fishing on all fronts along the Lagoon Coast. As the days grow longer and the ocean begins its continuing warming phase, 68 to 72 degree range, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian Lagoon Coast kicks in. As usual, weather will serve as the determining factor in establishing the magnitude and progression of the bite and the predator species we love to catch. Water temperature increases will facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden or pogies) from the deeper water into the near-shore waters bringing the predators with them. Sea conditions will determine the number of fishable days we'll experience in March. This is especially true for those of us who target deep-water species in shallow water boats.Good reports of cobia are starting to come in from offshore of Stuart. These fish should be moving into our area shortly, and both the bait pods and cobia will be showing up soon on the near-shore wrecks and reefs outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. Other near-shore options in March consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure and weeds and large redfish and sharks shadowing bait pods along the beaches and inlets around mid month. When site fishing for cobia and tripletail, consider fishing in the latter part of the day when the sun is high as the water is warmer and visibility is better. Also, always keep a chartreuse colored buck tail in the ready position to cast at any brown clowns that wonder into range. As the water warms up and the silver mullet returns to the inshore lagoon flats, look for redfish schools to continue to form up in the skinny water. For the slot redfish, 18 to 27 inches, focus on areas of flipping and jumping baitfish (mullet) in water depths of 12 to 18 inches. For the larger redfish, concentrate your efforts along deeper edges of the flats and sandbars in 2 to 3 feet of water. Also, sea trout will continue to hold in the skinny water potholes, and the top-water sea trout bite will improve as the warmer water draws finger mullet back onto the central IRL flats. Additionally, schools of black drum will continue to inhabit the shallow water flats of the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and particularly the sandbars in the Banana River No-Motor-Zone.

Last but not least, the American shad run is developing on the upper St John's River between the areas of Lake Harney and the SR 50 Bridge, but this years run has been slow thus far. Also, March is the month to start targeting schooling large mouth bass in the deeper bends of the river at first light feeding on schools of baitfish (menhaden). The indicator I use to locate these schooling bass is to look for large numbers of white pelicans, herons, and egrets working the banks. Once you've located the schooling fish, try throwing a rattle-trap or other small subsurface swim bait. Water levels are higher this spring on the St. Johns River, so please be careful when navigating the river and creeks as the water is above the banks in some areas. Spring is one of the best times to fish the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. So if you are planning to visit the area, make sure you book your hotel and fishing guide early. Also, when the bite is on, the ramps fill up quickly, so arrive early, be polite and considerate with other anglers, because we are all on the water for the same reasons, to have fun. As always, if you need information or have any questions, 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 Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com/fishing for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins! Tight Lines and Let's Go Fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
407-416-1187
http://www.irl-fishing.com Special Charter Rates if you mention this ad: Full day (8 hours) inshore two anglers: 425.00 Half Day (5 hours) inshore two anglers 350.00 50.00 for each additional angler Contact Captain Tom Van Horn at mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com or call (407) 416 1187 for more information or to purchase a charter for that hard to buy for angler on your list. Lets go Fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn