Indian Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2003

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters

As the water temperatures increase, so do the fishing opportunities along the Lagoon Coast of Florida. May is one of the best months to fish in central Florida, so don’t miss the boat.

On the lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of the action for light tackle and fly anglers. For sea trout, fish your favorite top water plugs at first light in about two feet of water concentrating in areas were bait is present. After the bite slows, get jiggie with them using your favorite soft plastic bait in three to five feet of water alone the edges of flats or spoil islands. The water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. May also marks the last month of snook season on Florida’s east coast, so don’t miss out on your last chance at putting a linesider in the boat.

At the inlets and beaches, Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum are just some of the species available this month.

Near-shore along the beaches, concentrate your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (pogies). Typically, when you see concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface, big fish are just as active underneath. Species feeding on these pods include tarpon, jack cervalle, redfish, cobia, and sharks. Near the end of the month, you can add kingfish into the mix. Also, tripletail and flounder numbers should be improving around the Port Canaveral buoys.

Blue water trolling should be excellent in May, with the larger dolphin being the focus of most anglers. Also in the mix are tuna, wahoo, kingfish, sailfish, and an occasional marlin. When targeting these species, work areas of color and water temperature changes (lines) in 120 feet of water or deeper, and in areas of concentrated floating weeds and debris. In addition, don’t forget that kingfish and cobia are present on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Bethel Shoals, Pelican Flats, Chris Benson, and 8A reefs.

In closing, I would like to thank those of you who take the time to stand up for the environment and anglers/boaters rights, with out your support, we would certainly lose our little piece of paradise.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Ton Van Horn
captain@irl-fishing.com
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085
1-866-790-8081 toll free