Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report
February 16, 2012
By Captain Tom Van Horn
Upcomming Events and Seminars
February 2012
Saturday, February 25th - 11:00 to 2:00 p.m., Free Shad Rally at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp, phone (407) 349-5554, on Hwy 46 adjacent to CS Lee Park in Geneva, Florida. Visit: www.thejollygator.com. "Free Seminars" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers and Charlie McCullough, "Shad Fishing Tactics" Event includes sponsor displays, giveaways and a raffle with all proceeds going to Anglers For Conservation (AFC), Hook Kids on Fishing Program. For more details on the Shad Rally, visit www.cfshadderby.com
March 2012
Thursday March 22nd - 6:30 P.m. to 8:30 p.m. "Free Seminars" "Spring Cobia" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors,
170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida,
www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday March 31st, 10:00 to 12 Noon "Free Seminar" Class 2 of Fundamentals of Flats Fishing series, "Saltwater Flats Fishing Tackle" instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn, Chris Myers, located in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave., Apopka Florida, www.mosquitocreek.com.
Saturday March 31st, 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. 3rd Annual Shad and Crappie Derby Awards, located at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka, Florida. For more details visit www.cfshadderby.com
This Weeks Fishing Report
My angling adventures this past week once again carried me away from the water in support of the Orlando angling community and production week in developing the March issue of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando. Fortunately, there are many aspects to being a successful fishing guide and magazine publisher besides fishing, and I enjoy all of them. Through the years, Orlando has developed an extremely tight outdoor community consisting of numerous fishing clubs and conservation groups who have recognized the value of our outdoor resources and have stepped up to the plate in promoting and protecting our outdoor assets.
This commitment was evident this past weekend at the First Annual Old Florida Outdoor Festival held by the City of Apopka. Like many, my expectations of this event were not high as it was a first time occurrence, but I was presently surprised by great turnout and how well it came together. In support of the event, our angling leaders for across the state attended, and it was great to visit and spend time with them. With that said, I would like to thank Mark Sosin, Patrick Sebile, Mark Nichols, Jerry McBride, Blair Wiggins, Ron Presely, Rodney Smith, and many others for stepping up to the plate to attend this event. I would also like to thank our CAM Orlando partners and advertisers like Fishing Florida Radio, Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Orlando Outfitters, Travel Country, GT Marine Outdoors, Kel's Rod and Reel and Fish on Fire for supporting this event, and I'm already looking forward to next year.
As stated earlier, my adventures this past week were off the water, so the content of this report was provided by my angling friends and colleague. The weather this past week held the upper hand as passing and approaching cold fronts brought rough and cloudy conditions to Central Florida making angling a challenge, and this coming weekend doesn't look any better.
The seas offshore will remain in the 3 to 7 foot range, so be careful if you're heading outside. The cobia are starting to show up in the 40 to 60 foot depths, and they are popping up and holding near bait pods well south of Port Canaveral, and others are staging on the wrecks in these same depths. Once the water settles down, look for free swimmers around mid day and late afternoon. On the near-shore reefs and wrecks, kingfish have been hitting slow trolled live and dead baits on the 70 to 90 foot reef line.
Inshore, the poor weather conditions have made sight fishing tough this week, but there are still some good reports coming from those willing to challenge the conditions. It's always tougher blind casting for redfish and sea trout, but in cloudy and windy conditions it's often your only option. If conditions are tough, consider fishing in protected areas along the edges of the flats and drop-offs and exercise caution when venturing out into the open water.
Last but not least, on windy days target those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River. Earlier this month, good catches of American shad, speckled perch, and sunshine bass were being reported, but this past week reports indicate that the bite has slowed down some in the main river channels, so it might be prudent to check out the creeks and backwaters from Puzzle Lake south.
In closing, be sure to sign up for the Shad and Crappie Derby (www.cfshadderby.com) and attend the Shad Rally on February 25th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. were I will be raffling off a free fishing charter to one lucky angler, but there is a catch. To receive your free raffle ticket, you will need to bring me some trash from the river bank. So, I'm looking forward to seeing you at the rally with some trash in hand, and then taking you fishing.
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com
http://www.irl-fishing.com
(407) 416-1187
For all of your outdoor needs, visit www.mosquitocreek.com, it's where your adventure begins.
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