Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast

[Captain Tom Van Horn]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2005

 

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters

 

As the days grow longer and the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, the spring fishing bonanza on the Indian Lagoon Coast commences. As always, weather will serve as the determining factor in establishing the magnitude and progression of the bite.

 

Water temperature increases will facilitate the progression of bait pods (menhaden and mullet) from the deeper water into the near-shore waters bringing the predator fish 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 catches of cobia have been reported offshore of Stuart, and these fish should be moving into our area soon. Both the bait pods and cobia have begun to show up outside Port Canaveral and Sebastian in deeper water. Once the water warms, look for the large manta rays and bait pods to move inshore bringing cobia with them. When site fishing for cobia, keep the sun to your back and consider fishing in the latter part of the day when the sun is high. Also always keep a chartreuse colored buck tail in the ready position to cast towards any white-banded big mouth brown logs you see.

 

Other near-shore options consist of tripletail hanging on floating structure weeds and buoys, and giant redfish, jumbo jack carvalle and sharks shadowing bait pods near the beaches and inlets. The window of opportunity for cobia can be short, so plan your trip, and pray for calm seas and hungry fish.

 

Inshore on the lagoon flats, look for redfish schools to continue to form up in the skinny water flats. For the slot size redfish, focus on areas of flipping and jumping baitfish (mullet) in water depths of 12 to 18 inches, and look for the larger redfish along deeper edges of the flats and sandbars in 2 to 3 feet of water. Also, larger 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 returning finger mullet back into the central IRL. 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 in full swing in the upper St John’s River between the areas of Lake Harney and the SR 50 Bridge. 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 signal I us 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.

 

Spring is one of the best times of year to fish the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. So if you are planning to visit the area for a fishing adventure, make sure you book your hotel and fishing guide early. Also, when the bite is on, the ramps fill up quickly, so arrive early, and be courteous and considerate with other anglers, because we are all on the water for the same reasons.

 

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

866-790-8081 toll free

 

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