Florida Fishing Reports |
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Central East Florida Fishing Forecasts |
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Fishing Forecasts - Indian River Lagoon & Mosquito Coast |
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Also, there is still the chance of freezing conditions returning this year, but your guess is as good as mine. I’m not complaining, just stating the facts, because even with the worst weather, we are still fishing and catching on the Indian River Lagoon Coast.
Normally, once the cold front pushes into the Atlantic and high pressure settles in, fishing conditions can shift from meager to magnificent overnight. One sign I watch for is the development of fog in the early morning hours. As high-pressure system moves off to the northeast, southeasterly wind shifts carry humid air off the Atlantic. Rising humidly levels are an indication of warmer temperatures, and a falling barometer.
These factors provide ideal weather for fishing the flats and running offshore once the fog burns off. When the next approaching front moves closer, the winds will begin to back down to the south and eventually shift to the west just before the front hits. As a general rule, the stronger the front, the more intense the wind speed and shifts will be. All of this information falls in the nice to know category if you are one of the lucky people who can pick their days on the water, but for most of us, the best day to fish is whenever you have a chance.
Another important point to remember when fishing inshore is, falling water temperatures force most fish, bait included, to seek deeper locations in search the warmest water they can find, and they become very sluggish. As the sun warms the water, all it takes is a degree or two change, the fish will begin to move into the shallow flats to feed. On the sunny mornings, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sand pockets within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise quickly.
Additionally, warming water temperatures combined with sunny spring days, and crystal clear water, make February one of the best months to site fish for redfish, large sea trout, and black drum on the lagoon flats. Also, now is the time to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon “No Motor Zone”. For larger sea trout, fish at first light, sunset, or at night with natural baits, and target areas where mangrove edges, docks, and other structure are adjacent to deep water dredge holes, sloughs, or canals.
These same areas will also hold concentrations of small trout, which can be caught throughout the day on small jigs and shrimp imitation baits like Riptide’s Realistic Shrimp, DOA Shrimp, or Berkley’s Gulp Shrimp fished very slowly along the bottom. Also, when fishing in deeper darker water, try using nightglow baits with Woodies Rattles inserted in them.
Offshore, kingfish are still present along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.
Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structures, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. Now is also the time for shore fisherman to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties.
Last but not least, windy days in February are a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River. Currently good catches of American shad, speckled perch, warmouth perch, and largemouth bass are being reported. Like everything else this year, the shad run is behind schedule.
This past week, good reports of shad came from the Marina Isles to Mullet Lake section of the St. Johns River, with only a few shad being taken south of Lake Harney. As the run progresses the shad should be moving into the shallows flats south of Hwy 46, so fly anglers get ready.
Remember when planning a fishing trip in February, keep a close eye on the weather, and fish whenever you have a chance.
Seminar Schedule in February:
Bass Pro Shop’s Spring Classic in Orlando,
February 11th, 12th, 18th, & 19th
Also, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine website at http://www.coastalanglermagazine.com
As always, if you have questions on need information, please contact me. Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn Near Shore & Inshore Flats Fishing 407-366-8085 office 407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free |
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February
2006
So
far, nothing has been routine about the weather this winter. Warmer and
windier than normal conditions have only provided us with a few decent
weather days in the last month, and the long range forecast for the
beginning of February is not looking too favorable.