The Shiloh T
ravelers crossing the northern end of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge see only unobstructed wilderness. There is nothing along State Road 3 to tell drivers they are passing through the former community of Shiloh, an area steeped in compelling history, a haven for birds and wildlife, and the hotbed in the debate over the future of commercial space flight in Florida. It was not easy finding Shiloh. We had nothing more to guide us than a red dot on Google Maps, but soon we were hiking through a hardwood hammock watching a deer bound down the trail before us. Before long the oak and cedar canopy opened up into Shiloh Marsh, an expansive track of water and grass filled with ducks, egrets, herons and osprey. The ratty remains of palm frond duck blinds told me in a different season this area is quite popular among waterfowl hunters. Amid all the wildlife it was rolling tarpon that caught my attention. A foamy splash marked the likely demise of a hapless finger mullet. I took a mental note to return to this spot with a fishing rod, but as I watched the foamy ring dissipate in the wind, I realized we may not be able to return here, nor anyone else, if Space Florida gets its way. After an exhaustive evaluation
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of Florida’s east coast, Space Florida decided Shiloh was the best place to build a commercial launch site. Their plan is to develop 200 acres between Mosquito Lagoon and the northern end of the Indian River. The Shiloh complex would include two launch pads and the necessary facilities to support up to 24 commercial launches a year. Why not just build at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) where there are already unused launch sites and infrastructure that could be converted for commercial use? A commercial launch site at KSC or CCAFS would be under the federal jurisdiction of NASA and the Air Force. Commercial launch companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin do not want to deal with federal red tape nor do they want to take the chance their launch window would be bumped by a higher priority NASA or military launch. Shiloh would be a state owned site that would fall under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jurisdiction, which is just what Space Florida claims is needed to lure commercial launch entrepreneurs to Florida. Texas, Georgia and Puerto Rico are already gearing up to take some, if not all of the commercial launch pie. Of course, the idea of building a commercial launch complex in a national wildlife refuge does not come without opposition. In February 2014, the FAA held public scoping meetings in New Smyrna Beach and Titusville to collect comments from the public. Of the 4340 comments received, 4181, or over 96%, were opposed to a Shiloh launch complex. To build a commercial launch site, Space Florida needs a Launch Site Operator License from the FAA. As part of the licensing process, the FAA has to complete an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). For the Shiloh
Commercial Launch Complex
launch site EIS, the FAA has solicited not only public input through the aforementioned scoping meetings, but also the help of numerous government agencies including the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In two letters to the FAA, the FWS submitted 51 pages of concerns about the proposed Shiloh launch complex. Some of the more notable issues are: Sixteen federally listed threatened or endangered species could be negatively impacted by the construction and operation of the proposed launch complex. Nine active bald eagle nests within two miles of the proposed launch facilities could be abandoned due to construction and launch activities. The Shiloh area is rich with historically significant archeological sites including Native American burial mounds over 2000 years old, a 1760’s British sugar plantation, and two slave villages that could be irrevocably compromised by the construction of a launch complex. An impact of particular concern to
anglers, hunters and other outdoorsmen is reduced access to the lands and waters they love, and in some cases depend on for their livelihood. Launching rockets is a hazardous business. To ensure the safety of the public and the mission during launches, closure zones are established that extend miles from the launch site and the path of the rocket trajectory. Launches from Shiloh would require
closures of northern Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR), State Road 3 and US 1, the northern Indian River and much of Mosquito Lagoon including the Intracoastal Waterway channel. These are areas that have never been subject to launch related closures before. The MINWR receives approximately 1.2 million visitors annually. Based on surveys conducted in 2002, over 200,000 boaters a year utilize the portions of the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon that would be subject to launch related closures. According to permits issued by the National Park Service, 77 commercial boating and fishing guides rely on these waters for their business. This all adds up to $60.4 million a year in economic benefit that would be impacted by launch related closures. Another troublesome aspect of a Shiloh launch complex is the potential consequences of a launch accident. Launch pads at KSC and CCAFS are right on the coast so a rocket exploding during launch would fall in the ocean. A launch from Shiloh would cross northern MINWR, Mosquito Lagoon and Playlinda Beach. A launch accident could spread rocket
and satellite debris and related chemicals across these sensitive lands and waters. Many believe such an accident would be catastrophic both environmentally and economically. Few people in Florida are opposed to Space Florida building a commercial launch complex but the overwhelming consensus is Shiloh is not the place to build it. The United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service sums it up in their letter to the FAA, “The Service has identified a substantial number of concerns regarding the impacts of the Proposed Project… The Service urges the FAA to seriously consider alternatives to the Project Site so as to avoid the deleterious impacts of the Proposed Project.”
OCTOBER 2014
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Fishing Report & Forecast Capt. Jon Zeller
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produce fish, move to deepwater structures such as ledges, wrecks or steeples. Observing any surface activity, temperature variations, color changes and free jumping sailfish will necessitate longer fishing in that area. Try to prospect or free line a naked bait under the teasers, well past the spread to see if a unseen fish will pick up the dropping target. Many sailfish are caught by this technique making it fun to catch a fish never seen in the pattern. Tight lines-Capt. Jon Zeller New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invitational Phone: 386-290-4181 www.nsbbi.com
emperatures that drop in fall do not cool the hot bite normally found during October. The days may be getting shorter but when the weather permits, anglers need to take advantage of outstanding fall fishing. Fishing on the intermediate reefs will offer the best varieties of species for anglers. Favorite reefs like the Party Grounds, East Ridge, Half North out to the Mango Hole, Nth 15 and Sth 15 will show anglers great action. Bottom fishing will produce a variety of reef dwellers from boats anchored or drift fishing. Small chunks of squid or cut herring on double rigs will produce mostly stringer fish including sea bass, trigger fish and vermillion snapper. Grouper normally congregate in the reefs with the school size fish in the 10-15# range being most common. A solid bottom outfit with an 8-10’ 125# long leader with a live bait or big chunk bait is the best way to fool the grouper into biting. Trolling the same bottom structures will produce numerous bites. Kingfish, bonita , dolphin and a few wahoo will follow the bait holding close to the reef. A spread of two deep lines on planners or downriggers using spoons or bonita strips along with skirted ballyhoo or bonita strips on the surface will cover all of your bases. Traditionally the Party Grounds and East Ridge reefs are the most productive during fall for trolling. Work the reef until large columns of bait show on the fathometer and then circle the pods for a bite. Last season found billfish in this same area so it is not uncommon to find sailfish schooling in these shallower reefs, especially when numerous flying fish are found in the area. Similar to the reefs, deep water trolling from 140 – 280’ will find captains searching for activity or the schools of bait pods that mark on their bottom machines which hold sailfish. Last October the bite was slower than normal but the majority of fish were found in 100-140’on dirty water edges. If any of these encouraging conditions are present in shallower water do run past the area, but start fishing. Trolling a spread of small naked swimming ballyhoo around Layne Zeller needs extra help to hold the 50# cobia she caught trolling on the a variety of surface teasers and deeper dredge teasers with swimming mullet Joker II with her dad. or ballyhoo is the most efficient way to catch sailfish. If the first area does not
OCTOBER 2014
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Fishing Report & Forecast Capt. Bryn Rawlins
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ctober is one of my favorite months of the year to fish. It’s a wonderful transition from a long hot summer to the beginning of fall. As the first north winds begin to cool the water down, it excites the fisherman and the fish. With cooler water temperatures the Bass and Speckled Perch begin their feeding and fattening in preparation for the spawning periods that occur several times throughout the season. Bass will be more active this month, and wild river shiners are a great live bait that will almost always produce this time of year. October provides excellent top water action as well. The Devils Horse is a proven bait in the dark tannic stained water of the great St. Johns River and connecting Lakes. Another favorite will be the buzz bait, it is one of the easiest lures to use. Just cast and retrieve over many types of vegetation. October is also the month that really kicks off the Speck season. With water temperatures dropping, Specks start to feed. Early in the season you can use a variety of different methods. Open water fishing usually is the best early on in the season. Drifting lives minnows or slow trolling 1/32 oz hard heads or plastic jigs are a local favorite here at Highland Park and on the Lake Woodruff. Using light line, 10 pounds or less is essential. During the last few months many nice Speck catches came in and with cooler weather approaching we are expecting a great Speck season. Highland Park Fish Camp 2640 W. Highland Park Rd. DeLand, FL 32720 www.Highlandparkfishcamp.com (386) 734-2334
Fishing Report & Forecast Charlie McCullough - CAM
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he 2014-2015 6th Annual Shad and Crappie Derby begins November 1 - it only takes one fish to win…this year $10,000 in prizes! Big fish are looking for lucky anglers! Don’t miss the kick-off meeting at Gander Mountain Lake Mary on October 30th from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. On-hand will be local crappie experts to help with last minute tackle tips and rigging techniques. This is the first opportunity to register. All anglers receive the official Derby Photo Token and Derby Ruler. After the kick-off meeting, the only way to enter this FREE tournament is to visit one of the Derby sign-up locations. Visit www.cfshadderby.com for complete details. Like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/cfshadderby. October is the month we experience the highest water levels in the St. Johns River system. Love bugs and the first cold front bring in the Fall season. The river mullet have migrated north past Central Florida and the black crappie bite has turned on. Bass will readily take spinner baits, rattling crankbaits, topwater chuggers, and soft plastic worms and swimbaits. With high water levels, look for feeding largemouths in shallow, two feet or less. Crappies in the early season are found in the lakes, they move into the deep river bends after the second cold front. To catch crappie, simply tie a small jig on 8 lb. test monofilament and tip with a minnow. Take that minnow-tipped jig to the up wind side of the lake and slow troll it behind the boat fishing with the wind at about 1.2 mph. The more rods you can deploy, the better. When you catch a fish, mark the spot on your GPS. When you get to the other side of the lake, go back and repeat making sure to troll over your newly found crappie spots. See you at the Derby Kick-Off Meeting October 30th…Charlie. 4 VOLUSIA
OCTOBER 2014
Fishing Report & Forecast Capt. Michael Savedow
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oth air and water temperatures should begin to drop during October in the Edgewater Backcountry, water levels will likely remain high with a cloudy color after the summer rainy season. With fall weather patterns emerging will
Amanda from Georgia with overslot Redfish on Mosquito Lagoon with Capt Michael Savedow
come more breezy days and cool fronts after the mostly calm mornings of summer. The water conditions dictate tactics to target backcountry redfish in high water, concentrate efforts directly against flooded shorelines and oyster bars as reds will be hunting food in shallow water which in most cases will only be tight to the shore or bars. Cloudy water means sound and scent will allow the fish to find your bait or lure, for vibrations detected through the fishes lateral line, use top water lures with a noise maker or chugger, try spoons for subsurface flash and vibration, fly fishers try top water flies like poppers or gurglers. Best natural baits with vibration being a struggling freelined finger mullet or pigfish. For scent try Gulp soft plastics and cut mullet or ladyfish. The exception to the shoreline rule in high water is to find shallow grass flats in the north end of the backcountry and throughout Mosquito Lagoon which are now no deeper than approx 18 with current water levels. Don’t be suprised if you also catch a large size seatrout in the shallow water while targeting the reds with these techniques. Target deeper water trout by fishing drop offs with free lined live pigfish baits, you may catch many different fish species on the pigs, also try them below mullet schools, and drift the ICW channel edges or inlet with pigs, pinfish, or blue crabs for fall spawning bull reds during the out going tide. The mullet run should be in full swing during October, take advantage of it by cast netting mullet for bait from the traveling baitfish schools and keep on the look out for surface activity from feeding gamefish for sight fishing opportunities. Over deeper open water, likely strikes will come from jack crevalle, ladyfish, bluefish, or maybe even tarpon, bull red, or a shark, but don’t rule out possible trout, snook, or mangrove snapper. Bait tactics can depend on what size mullet you catch, small size fingers use live, tail hooked to make them struggle on the surface, lip hooked with a small weight to get them below the baitfish school and stand out as injured from the other mullet. Also try them weighted on the bottom in holes and channels with a tidal current running. If you catch larger mullet, cut in chunks, filet and make strips, or try the mullet head. Lure or fly fishermen should of course use artificials that match the hatch with mullet imitations. Edgewater River Guide, Call or text (386) 689-3781 www.EdgewaterRiverGuide.com, Florida Mosquito Lagoon Flats, Indian River Backcountry, Saltwater inshore Fishing, Charter Trips since 2003
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Fishing Report & Forecast Capt. Brian Clancy
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t’s fall in Florida! It was a long hot summer in the Mosquito Lagoon but we had no trouble with brown algae as in previous years and the fishing was very good! This is shaping up to be some very good fall fishing. Northeast winds from the mildest of cold fronts start to hit our waters in October. Water temperatures start to drop along with the air temperatures, which gets the “mullet run” going, but better than that, for lagoon fishermen, grass shrimp and small crabs start getting active in the grass and when that happens, redfish start tailing. There’s nothing like seeing redfish tails waving above the water’s surface as they grub along the bottom. The big black mullet, or striped mullet, the kind you smoke and fry, have schooled up big in some spots but are still all over the grass flats. Finger mullet are all along the shorelines of the marsh islands and are the prey of ladyfish, jacks, blues, sea trout and redfish. Live or cut mullet is the perfect if your soaking bait. Artificials imitating mullet, top water and subsurface lures can bring strikes along with soft plastics rigged weedless. If you like to throw spoons, now’s your time, redfish are hitting gold spoons and spinner baits. If you throw the fly, a Dupree spoon fly has to be in your box along with the Borski Slider and EP baitfish pattern. The lagoon is quiet in October and its a good time to get out there and basically have it to yourselves. Enjoy the outdoors, get out and fish! Mosquito Lagoon Fish Camp Waterfront Accommodations and Fishing Charters 311 River Road, Oak Hill, Fl 32759 • Cell, text and voicemail 386) 566-6303 Email bclancy1@cfl.rr.com www.mosquitolagoonfishcamp. www.facebook.com/ mosquitolagoonfishcamp
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OCTOBER 2014
Keith Sterner Owner/Instructor
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hat a year we have had! The diving has been more like South Florida than North. The vis and temps have made this one of the best I have seen in 25 years of diving out Ponce. Thermocline what thermocline, I don’t think it ever really made it all the way in. Did we even get our summer west winds this year? Bottom temps never got much below low 70’s. Well into Sept bottom temps are in the 80’s. Visibility has been incredible with only patch poor conditions. I can get use to this. It seems as though the seasons are shifting and late summer and early fall are the time to dive. We will need to watch out for the North East frontal winds in fall, they tend to chop it up on us. Our plan is to keep running as long as the good conditions stay with us. Lets pray Oct continues this stretch of weather and conditions. The fish seem to be showing back up after a nice summer, the pressure has been obvious. The hunters are needing to get to the less frequented areas to be productive. The water temps are still a little high for cobia, we are only seeing the occasional fish.The schools should show when temps start to drop. Grouper are in the deeper water, not inshore as much as we would like to see. That will change as we approach winter. We are hoping for a nice late season harvest of female lobster as soon as they drop those eggs. So lets get at it. Be safe, hunt safe and eat well! Sea Dogs Dive Center 386-424-1644 www.seadogdiver.com
OCTOBER 2014
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Fishing Report & Forecast Capt. Tommy Derringer
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his month it’s all about the mullet… Our fall mullet run is one of the best times of year to get outdoors and do some fishing. Cooler air temperatures and hungry predatory fish means fun for everyone on the water. The best areas to fish will be easy to find right now… where you see the mullet you’ll also find redfish, trout, flounder, and just about anything else you want to catch. These fish will be lurking just underneath the mullet schools looking for an easy snack. There are countless numbers of lures both hard and soft plastic that do a great job of imitating a mullet. This is a great month to go the top-water plug route and use a Rapala Skitterwalk or Heddon Super Spook Jr.. Both are great “walk the dog” type plugs that even the most shy redfish or trout can’t resist this time year. If you want to go subsurface try the soft plastics from Slayer Inc. like the SST paddle tail. It looks just a like a mullet and can be fished weedless or on a traditional jighead. Along with the influx of mullet to Northeast Florida comes our fall flounder run. Some of the best catches both in numbers and in size come in the fall. The fish-finder rig is the go-to for many anglers looking to catch some flounder. It consists of using about 12” or so of leader attached to a swivel with a barrel
“Kathy and Lou with a pair of nice redfish they caught on a recent charter with Capt. Tommy Derringer” weight above the swivel. You want to use enough weight to hold the bottom and a hook sized accordingly to the size of mullet or minnow you’re using. Another favorite rig is a Slayer Inc. jighead in either 1/4 or 3/8 oz with a finger mullet pinned to it. The jighead rig allows you to fish without getting hung up as easily on structure like oysters and rocks. The inlets will come alive this month. Big bull redfish will be schooling up in the deeper areas of St. Augustine Inlet and Mantanzas inlet. A blue crab or mullet on the bottom will get their attention. As long as the it doesn’t get too chilly there will also be some tarpon around the inlets feeding on the bigger mullet schools, so make sure to have a bigger rod ready to go for those monsters. If you missed out on the flood tides last month don’t worry... you still have plenty of days in October to find some tailers. Redfish and sheepshead will still be tailing away looking for crabs, snails, and just about anything that hangs out in the grass. Any crab or shrimp soft plastic imitation will work well for the reds. This is also a great time to try out that inline spinner bait like those made by Slayer Inc.. They are truly weedless and will attract a redfish from quite a ways away with it’s thumping blade.
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OCTOBER 2014
Flagler Sportfishing Club Bill May
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he Flagler Sportfishing Club celebrated another great day on the water on Saturday September 13th with the 26th Annual Fall Fishing Classic. The weather cooperated even though it was a bit warm and the fish finally came around without much cooperation from the tides in our local areas. The weigh-in scheduled to begin at 3pm was off to a slow start to say the least but then, the parade began. Our weigh-master Chris Davy was exhausted!!! Anglers were fishing for Redfish, Trout and Flounder as the primary target species with Black Drum to top off the Flagler Bucket. Payouts for biggest fish in each of the three main species were $350 for 1st, $280 for 2nd, $140 for 3d and $70 for 4th place. Winners by species were: REDFISH—1st-Shane Moore-6.45lbs, 2nd-Justin Spleer-6.25lbs, 3d-Bob Fisher-5.90lbs, and 4th-Norm Manley-5.70lbs. TROUT—1st-Bill Fisher-4.95lbs, 2nd-Dallas Moore-4.55lbs, 3d-Shane Moore4.45lbs and 4th-Justin Spleer-4.10lbs. FLOUNDER—1ST-Bill Moore-4.30lbs, 2nd-Justin Spleer-4.05lbs, 3d-Louis Sabatini-3.95lbs and 4th-Miguel Pandich-1.55lbs. No angler with one each of the three target species also caught a Black Drum. However in keeping with club tradition, an assigned boat number was drawn and that cash prize went to Bill Fisher. The Junior Angler of the day was Luke Aziz. 74 anglers participated in this tournament and our PALM Coast VFW ladies provided food and drink for the club at the weigh-in. There was also a silent auction, raffles and other activities made possible by our generous sponsors. All in all, it was a great day. The benefactor of this tournament was The Eli-Foundation whose primary mission is helping AML Pediatric Leukemia Families and their new program, “The Safehaven House” which is intended to serve terminally ill pediatric caregivers and hospice family nominees nationwide. As the year winds down, the club continues to stay busy enjoying our sport and the great outdoors. On October 11th, we are having another Surf Fishing Tournament for our members. The surf fishing activities for our club are growing every year and are enjoyed by all. Then on October 18th, we look forward to the Annual Picnic & Swap N Shop. Nothing better than a picnic with family and friends, a whole roasted pig, chicken, hot dogs and lots of great dishes provided by the members. In November, we look forward to our Flounder/Redfish Club tournament and a Kayak tournament. Detail to follow on November activities. The Flagler Sportfishing Club’s regular monthly meetings are held at the Palm Coast VFW, Post 8696, 47 N. Old Kings Road in Palm Coast. Meetings begin promptly at 7:30pm on the first Tuesday of every month. As always, there is a guest speaker that is a local fishing expert or offers expertise related to the sport of boating or conservation. The public is always invited and encouraged to attend the meetings. We are a family oriented club and always looking for new members. Join us. For more information on the Flagler Sportfishing club, contact Bill May at billmayflorida@yahoo.com or see the club’s website at fcsportfishing.com.
HSFC’s 2014 Inshore Fishing Tournament The Halifax Sport Fishing Club hosted the 2014 Inshore Fishing Tournament for High School students on September 13th. We had a great time and some nice fish were weighed in by these accomplished Junior Anglers. The top finishers in the tournament were:
OCTOBER 2014
Redfish: 1st Place - Hunter Fornari 3.9 lbs 2nd Place - Austin White 3.8 lbs 3rd Place - Cole Ferguson 3.4 lbs
Flounder: 1st Place - Matt Bruckman 2.9 lbs 2nd Place - Dylan Little 2.8 lbs 3rd Place - T J Scherer 1.8 lbs
Trout: 1st Place - Trey Vickery 4.7 lbs 2nd Place - Hunter Fornari 3.5 lbs 3rd Place - Cole Ferguson 1.3 lbs
Sheapshead: 1st Place - Austin Ferguson 1.5 lbs 2nd Place - Angela Chirco 1.3 lbs
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Shrimping Report & Forecast Capt Lee Noga
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n shrimping when the months blur together some of us fall victim to this chaos. Some call it an addiction, I call it participating in the great 2014 chase. Daytona Big Tree area bounced back after the last moon rewarding the commercial netters 300-500 a cast. The white shrimp seem to bury up during a moon event and molt. We love when they molt because that means they are getting bigger. The current size in Daytona is 2-5” range with the majority in the 3-4” range with some larger ones mixed in. You will be doing a lot of culling. Anglers are able to be selective and cull out the bait size shrimp. The further North you go from St. Augustine to Jacksonville you can re-ignite your desire to chase if you just refuse to put your net away. Even though Jacksonville does not have the quantity Daytona has, Jacksonville have the larger sizes in abundance. Green Cove, Georgetown and Shands are the popular hot spots. These piers are hosting 200 people deep throwing off the planks. Some are turning to technology and throwing the MacDaddy shrimp light at night with great success. The white shrimp ARE attracted to shrimp, it is the winter brown shrimp & pink shrimp that are NOT attracted to light. The run for Volusia and North will continue. We just take it one day at a time, and make the most of it. I did a cast net shrimping story with the News-Journal paper out on the river and we talked to a commercial fisherman & wife, Michael & Nora Davenport. Capt. Davenport caught (4) Asian Tiger shrimp in a week this season. My heart skipped a beat. I mustered up the courage to push the Captain for more details. My efforts were rewarded, I was emailed a picture of one of his rare and elusive tigers caught in the inter-coastal waters in Daytona Beach. The boat flotilla’s have been averaging 25 boats and we expect things to wind down this month. Next month, we will be turning our focus towards the winter shrimping and start preparing ahead for the 2014-2015 season. If you want to learn to shrimp, visit the largest free educational resource site. My teaching tour schedule will begin in January 2015, locations will be posted over the holidays. Capt Lee Noga www.leenoga.com Academy Of Shrimping
NSB Surf Fishing Report By The Opinionated Sports Guy
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ell folks it’s September and fall is just around the corner. Of course here in central Florida we all still know that there’s at least another month or so of hot and humid conditions.While the weather may not change soon the fishing here is always changing and around this time it can be some of the best of the year. As the mullet make the annual trip south for the winter larger game fish are licking their lips and will soon be seen in both the ocean and inner coastal areas. The Tarpon are back and mullet seems to be the bait of choice these days. I’ve heard of small crabs and even shrimp working but make sure your using live bait when in the surf. This is also the time when several other species start returning to the area. Look for anything from Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, big jack crevalle, and bluefish starting to appear. I hear some saying Pompano too but I think it’s just a little early right now to catch any real keepers. When it comes to working the shore shrimp has been the bait of the locals. Try taking the head and shell off and just using the meat. One combo I’ve been suggesting is adding a little piece of Fishbites. The sand flea works great and will help keep the shrimp on the hook. Try it and let me know how it works for you. I can almost promise you will catch some nice whiting or if your lucky some keeper black drums. Speaking of drums some slot reds and bigger have been caught in the surf lately again using shrimp or mullet. It seems lately that at the local bait shop End of the Line we are hearing and seeing some great fishing stories. Over all it’s been a tremendous year here in the SE Volusia county area. For those of you that prefer the inner coastal and lagoon the story is the same, absolutely amazing fishing with huge trout, slot reds, and mangrove snapper, all being caught. The snook are working their way back into the area as well so be ready to head out and have some fun. Larger live shrimp have been doing the trick as with pinfish and pigfish too. For those of us brave enough to be up around dawn, top water poppers are working really well also. In my opinion and many others it seems our little town has some of the best fishing in the world and with the seasons change it can only get better.
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OCTOBER 2014
Capt. Rod’s Fall Surf Fishing Forecast Fishing Report
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all is probably the time when surf anglers can target and catch a wider selection of species from along Florida’s east coast than during any other time of year. Surprisingly, knowing the best methods to catch each of these fish is only a small part of a successful fishing experience. Knowledge is power, and power in fishing is connected directly to understanding the complexity of its ever-changing components. This especially comes into play when targeting species-rich waters for migrating ocean game fish. It’s a time when surf fishing can be both fun and demanding. There are short cuts to success, but they don’t come easy. Learning how to adjust one’s tactics to deal with common factors like water temperature, tides, currents, weather patterns, and each species’ availability, helps one become a better angler. But it could take decades for you to learn these steps on your own, or you could learn them from the experts when you attend one of the Anglers for Conservation’s upcoming Third Annual Space Coast Surf Fishing Tournament’s Workshops: Surf Fishing Bait - October 8th - Strike Zone - Paul Macinnis and Rodney Smith; SCSF Tournament Kick-Off October 10th - Harry Goode’s - Cooking Outdoors with Jay Herrington; SCSF Tournament Finale - October 19th - Grills Riverside You can fish this tournament and win thousands of dollars in cash prizes, attend these workshops, and attend the tournament parties for one reasonable cost: Adults - $40 --- Under 16 - $20. For more information go to: anglersforconservation.org Best Days in October to Fish: October 1-10, 14 & 15, 24 & 25, 28 & 31 Rodney Smith is the author of Catching Made Easy and Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon Coast. Download these books digitally on Amazon, iTunes or Barnes and Noble by searching “Rodney Smith + Name of book”; or order the soft-covered books online! See all of Rodney’s upcoming events and exploits at www.rodneysmithmedia.com.
AFC Volusia County Chapter News
Take a Veteran Fishing
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n November 11, 2014 Anglers for Conservation, Volusia County chapter and JB’s Fish Camp Restaurant will be hosting the 2nd Annual Take a Veteran Fishing Day. We are again looking for captains to volunteer their time and boats to take a veteran fishing. Last year we had 8 boats and captains who took 11 veterans fishing. This year our goal is to host 25 veterans with as many boats as we can muster up. This is an opportunity to give back to those who gave so much for us. Registration and coffee will be held from 7:00-8:45 a.m. During this time captains will be matched up with veterans. Fishing starts at 9:00 a.m. and continues until noon. After fishing, goodies will be giving out to all the veterans and a surprise drawing will be held for the captains. If you are a captain interested in helping; or veteran who wants to fish please contact James Eddy at (386) 210-4175. JBs Restaurant will be running great specials during this event, so everyone is invited to cheer
OCTOBER 2014
& Forecast
Capt. Chris Cameron
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opefully this October will be the start to a good fall run. We have had a tough, odd season so far. Now is the time that we start to see Mahi running again more consistently than the few here and there. Whether they are actually coming back from the keys or going back to the keys, who knows… Find some weed lines out there and give it a try, we had a good day in 95 feet last week working weed patches with live pogies. If you already have the live bait from the morning cast netting, try to slow troll livies in the same way. Mahi will also eat mullet. So if you can’t find the pogies you should have no problem catching the mullet as well. Sailfish and wahoo will be seen more now as well. Wahoo are generally better at sunrise. They also like higher speeds and as we know there are many different tactics in “hoo fishing”. I always get lucky on the shotgun line with a big black/red islander with a horse ballyhoo. Cobia will start up again soon. We really need to have some colder nights first though to cool the water back down. It’s still kind of warm considering we need it around 70 degrees give and take. If you haven’t noticed the mullet run going on; it still is. Every morning I go out I see them up and down the beach getting hit on by everything. I also see the smaller mullet rounding the jetties getting smacked by reds and snook. Though it may not be the best table fare, jacks, bonita, sharks and Spanish mackerel have been all over the mullet. Kingfish are still doing well at the local reefs. Use stinger rigs and live pogies. There was a few days that pogies were hard to come by so use frozen cigar minnows if that’s the case. If you’re using frozen bait, spinning minnows, you may want to tip the rig with a kingbuster. Try a few colors till you find what is working best. Sometimes a naked dead bait works just fine. Lately it has been day to day. One day you can limit out in the first hour and the next day in the same conditions you cannot buy a bite. If you need any help please don’t hesitate to call us. If you have some pictures to share for the Coastal Angler brag board please send them to firedupcharters@gmail.com. Have a great October from your premier fishing guide charter of Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, Orlando, Disney, Florida area. Good luck this month and we hope you do well! Capt. Chris Cameron Firedupcharters.com • 407-222-3573 726 Scallop Drive, Cape Canaveral FL 32920
11 VOLUSIA
The Fly Shop for Mosquito Lagoon
12 VOLUSIA
OCTOBER 2014