Fishing Report
January 21, 2012
Complements of Mosquito
Creek Outdoors, Apopka, FL
Upcoming Seminars and Events
Thursday January 19th 6:30 P.m. to 8:30 p.m. "Free Seminars" "Windy
Winter Lagoon Tactics" 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.
Thursday, January 26th - 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Free Shad and Crappie Fly
Tying Event at Orlando Outfitters, 2814 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32808,
phone (407) 896-8220. Visit: www.orlandooutfitters.com. Fly tying instruction
and seminar by Capt. Beau Osborne. Learn what you need to catch shad
and crappie on fly in the Orlando area and see how easy it is to tie
effective fly patterns for both species. These tying techniques can also
be used to create your own shad and crappie jigs.
Saturday January 24th - 9 a.m. Free Rod Builders Class located in the
Outback section of Mosquito Creek Outdoor, 170 South Washington Ave.
Apopka Florida www.mosquitocreek.com
Wednesday February 1st - 7- 9 p.m. Apopka Bass Fishing Club meeting at
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave, Apopka, www.mosquitocreek.com
Saturday & Sunday, February 10th and 11th - The Old Florida Outdoor
Festival at the North East Recreational Complex in Apopka, Florida, http://oldfloridaoutdoorfestival.com
Thursday February 16th - 6:30 P.m. to 8:30 p.m. "Free Seminars" "Winter
Lagoon Sight Fishing Tactics" 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, 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.
This Weeks Fishing Report
Fishing this past week is as good as it gets and for those of you that follow
my reports know when I get excited about fishing, it's time to call in sick,
buy some flowers for your sweetie and take advantage of our gorgeous weather
and hot catching.
On numerous trips to the St. Johns River this past week, we were rewarded with
excellent catches of crappie and American shad. The bite has been hot from Lake
Monroe in Sanford to Puzzle Lake with exciting reports coming from all of these
areas. For me, my success has come from slow trolling 1/16 ounce white Road Runners,
and fly fishing with chartreuse and orange Crazy Charles.
Fat American shad on fly.
Captain Tom's 17.5 inch shad caught on a orange Crazy Charlie fly.
Charlie McCullough's American Shad
Charlie's 17.25 American Shad
Charlie's Fat Sunshine Bass
On the saltwater scene, good reports of black drum and redfish have been
coming from the Banana River Lagoon's No-Motor Zone where I good friend
Captain John Kumiski busted two of his fly rods this week on large black
drum.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for
your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
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Fishing Forecast
January, 2012
Complements of Mosquito
Creek Outdoors, Apopka, FL
Upcoming Seminars and Events
Central Florida Shad and Crappie Derby Dates
Saturday January 14th, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Crappie Rally and Seminar at
Boat Tree Marina at the Port of Sanford. This event features free fishing
seminars on both crappie and shad fishing by local pros, food, raffles
sponsor booths and more. Come out and join in the fun, and learn how
easy it is to catch these two species.
Thursday January 26th 6:30 - 9:00 PM, Free Shad and Crappie Fly Tying
Event at Orlando Outfitters, 2814 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32808, phone
(407) 896-8220. Visit: www.orlandooutfitters.com. Fly tying instruction
and seminar by Capt. Beau Osborne. Learn what you need to catch shad
and crappie on fly in the Orlando area and see how easy it is to tie
effective fly patterns for both species. These tying techniques can also
be used to create your own shad and crappie jigs.
Saturday February 25th, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Shad Rally and Seminar at the
Jolly Gator Fish Camp on the St. Johns River and HWY 46 east of Geneva.
Saturday March 17th, Shad and Crappie Derby ends at dusk.
February 11th and 12th, Old Florida Outdoor Festival in Apopka, Florida.
January Fishing Forecast
It's hard for me to fathom how quickly 2011 past and all of the great fishing
I experienced with clients, family and friends. 2011 was a great year for me,
even with the difficult economic conditions, and I'm excited about the many opportunities
ahead of us in 2012. The fishing charter business was a bit slow in 2011, but
has shown considerable improvement this past month and the fishing has improved
as well. In addition, the success of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando has been
off the hook. As owner and co-publisher of the Orlando franchise we have continuously
expanded our reach to the angling public in Central Florida by expanding our
content, distribution and community service. It's all good news, and we are moving
forward with plans for expanded free clinics, classes and events, and I thank
you for your continued support in 2012. As I've stated in the past, we are truly
blessed by the many outdoor opportunities we have in Central Florida year round,
and I hope to see on the water you soon.
God bless and happy New Year.
Winter on Florida's Space Coast is not defined by any specific seasons,
but by the temperature variations and winds created by passing cold fronts.
These variations are subject to change from year to year, and they are
impossible to predict. Average daytime temperatures usually range from
the 50's in the morning to around the 70's by afternoon. Likewise, water
temperatures average in the upper 60's, but they can drop as low as the
50's during extended periods of cold weather. On warm sunny days, water
temperatures can increase as much as four degrees on the shallow flats
and sandbars. All of these factors greatly affect species targeted and
methods used.
On the lagoons, redfish and sea trout seek the warmest water they can
find. Start out working the deeper edges of the flats in the morning
and then move into the warmer wind protected flats around mid-day to
late afternoon. An early start is not required this time of year. Additionally,
both redfish and sea trout love to warm themselves in the shallow water
sand pockets "potholes" within the grassy flats. On colder
days, focus your attention on the deeper holes using a very slow presentation.
When targeting redfish and trout in these deeper holes, I prefer using
shrimp imitation baits like DOA, or GULP shrimp in the clear or nightglow
colors fish extremely slow. Other species encountered in January are
black drum, flounder, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish. Also,
January is one of the best months to target tailing black drum on the
flats, especially in the Banana River "No Motor Zone". Both
live shrimp and blue crabs are the preferred bait for black drum, but
they will eat both artificial and fly when presented properly.
Inlet fishing should be good in January weather permitting, with Sebastian
proving to be the most productive. There are still some reports of flounder
moving through the inlet. On the inside of the inlet, look for good numbers
of pompano, ladyfish, and jacks to be present on the flats both north
and south of the cut and in the area of the monument. Also, January is
the month when the jumbo reds move in and feed in the mouth of the inlet
during the last part of the falling tide. These monsters are brood stock,
so please handle and release them with care.
Near-shore, January is the month when the tripletail become consistent
on the Port Canaveral buoy line and their numbers will increase as the
month progresses. The other hot ticket near-shore is king mackerel holding
along the 70 to 90 foot reefs of North Pelican and 8A. Weather permitting;
bottom fishing on deep structure should remain consistent. Look for snapper,
cobia and sea bass in depths of 80 to 140 feet, and grouper and amberjack
along the 22 fathom ridge and deeper.
In closing, make a commitment to share your time on the water with family
and friends, and be sure to sign them up for the 3rd Annual Shad and
Crappie Derby.
For up to date fishing forecast by all Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando
captains visit:
http://coastalanglermag.com/orlando/.
Captain Tom Van Horn |
