Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report and Outlook, July 2007

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

Although, conditions were a bit on the windy side this past week, we still managed some decent days on the water along with some tough ones.

My adventure started out last weekend when I had the pleasure of fishing with Don Miller and Gill Camblor from Jam-up Boat Repair in Sanford, Florida. For those of you who have seen and fished on my boat, Don and Gill are the behind the scene team that keeps her ship shape and looking good. Both Don and Gill had planned to fish with me back in May, but blustery winds forced a postponement. We pushed away from the dock at 5am, and we ended our six hour charter with 6 redfish and 5 nice sea trout. All fish were taken on Salt and Pepper/Chartreuse Tail Flats Chubs rigged on a #4 Daiichi Bleeding Bait Butt Dragger Hook.

Don and Gill Releasing Double Redfish

Gill’s First Redfish

Next, I spent two days fly fishing with Peter Casper from Arizona and our goal was redfish on fly. On day one we paddled up into the Banana River NMZ where gusty winds made sight casting and paddling tough, but nonetheless Peter still managed three reds and four sea trout on a green and black Clouser Minnow.

One of Peter Casper’s Redfish on a Green and Black Clouser Fly

On our second day, we opted to fish from the skiff in the Mosquito Lagoon/North Indian River Lagoon area, and it turned out to be a long boat ride and fish show. At our first stop, Peter worked over a large pod of small tarpon, and although they appeared to be aggressively feeding, they would not touch a fly. Our next stop was a school of large redfish, but our shots were limited, and the bruisers showed no interest in a fly.

July Fishing Forecast

Summertime has officially arrived on the Space Coast of Florida, and the mid summer doldrums are currently amongst us. It’s also the time of year when tropical weather systems and offshore water temperatures are as predictable as Mother Nature herself. Just when you think you’ve got the fishing figured out, a summer squall (tropical system) will blow in and kick up the seas, or the cold water Labrador Current will chill bottom water temperatures and shut down the seaward bite. Setting all these possibilities aside, many opportunities for angling adventures exist for us both inside and outside on the lagoon coast in July.

Near-shore, kingfish will be the staple on the reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water, with a mixed bag of three, wahoo, dolphin, and an occasional sailfish, thrown in. My preferred method for targeting these species is slow trolling live bait (pogies) on steel stinger rigs in the areas of the Chris Benson, 8A, and Pelican Flats reefs.

On the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches when the water is clean, an assorted beach bag is available with smoker kings (large king mackerel), silver kings (tarpon), sharks, and colossal jacks (school buses) all available at any given time. To target these species, focus your attention in areas of bait concentrations. This past week, pods of large tarpon and sharks were located between Patrick AFB and Satellite Beach. As the month progresses, these fish should begin moving north along the beach to their favorite summertime haunt in the forbidden zone off the bight of the Kennedy Space Center.

In the Port and inlets, Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snapper number should remain steady. To target the flounder and snapper, try using RipTide’s Realistic Shrimp on a ¼ to ½ ounce jig head or a RipTide Mud Minnow Jig in the areas of structure and along sandy drop-offs. For flounder or snapper cast the jig as close to the structure as possible without getting snagged, and let it sink to the bottom. Once its reached the bottom, slowly drag it back letting it rest every foot or so. When jigging for Spanish mackerel or other toothy critters, use the same jigs, but retrieve it quickly to avoid getting cut off by not allowing the fish to strike the line.

Inshore, July is one of the best times of the year to catch redfish in shallow water. Schools have already started forming up, and the sight of a feeding school of redfish is incredible. Once you’ve finished drooling over redfish, look for snook, and top water snapper along mangrove edges, and juvenile tarpon in the creeks, canals and backwaters. In deeper water, look for ladyfish and small trout to be shadowing schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) under clouds of feeding terns. These feeding frenzies are great fun, especially when fly fishing using a top water popping bug. Additionally, Calm conditions are ideal for paddlers wishing to venture back into the No-Motor Zone, where tailing redfish make great targets for both fly and spin anglers.

Remember, as the water levels increase, dissolved oxygen levels decrease, so it is important to step up your tackle and line size to facilitate a shorter battle, and to revive your catch completely before release.

As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters

www.irl-fishing.com

407-366-8085 Land line

407-416-1187 On the water

866-790-8081 toll free