| 15 March 2011
Azalea buds and blooms signal the arrival of the 'Brown Clowns' - Cobia - along the beaches and near shore waters of the Space Coast.
Experienced anglers can predict the bite from their backyards.
"Spring Fishing in Florida is not defined by any specific dates", writes Capt. Tom Van Horn, "but more so by temperature and weather patterns." Capt. Tom watches his lavender Formosa azalea bushes and buds as a signal of the beginning of the spring cobia run, (see photos of latest trip below), and similar signals tell him what's happening in nearby waters with Redfish and other species.
"I've learned over the years to watch for subtle changes in the local flora. These changes can be slight or quite dramatic, they're easy to recognize and correspond with the activities and migration patterns of fish." Tom's latest charter bears out the flowers' forecast.
Roland Van Arsdale, age 82, landed the largest of two big cobia in the 40 pound range, fishing with Capt. Rodney Smith, Guided by Capt Tom Van Horn -March 15, 2011
"When looking for cobia and rays in the spring, I like to head south, and then return in the afternoon when the sun in high and to my back, which affords the best visibility for sight fishing.
Yesterday we did just that, traveling south to just offshore of Melbourne, and began working our way back. Although we did see a lot of rays jumping out of the water, we didn't find any on the surface until about 3pm. We knew the rays and cobia were there, so we waited them out and were rewarded when several giant manta rays popped up with big cobia all over them. Within an hour we had triple hook-ups landing two big fish in the 40 pound range with Roland catching the largest one. Between the two cobia we kept, we couldn't zip up my fish bag, so we headed back to the port with enough fish to feed three families. We located the rays offshore of Patrick AFB in 70 feet of water, so if you like cobia fishing you might want to take a day off and join the circus while the getting is good and the clowns are in town." Capt. Tom Van Horn
In Central Florida, the fragrance of orange blossums subtly signals anglers out for Redfish.
Other signs?
Sure, the fragrance of orange blossoms drifting across the Indian River Lagoon on a southwest wind, tells Capt Tom that redfish are forming schools on the flats, getting ready for the spring bait migration northward.Not everyone is tuned in to the subtleties of Florida seasonal flowers, but most anglers take note of their targeted gamefish's favorite food - for instance, when the spring mullet run starts, big trout and snook will come out on the flats.
Snook bite when the poinciana bloom, according to Snook Foundation chairman, Brett Fitzgerald
Seatrout Spawn at Easter
According to Grant Gilmore, Ph.D. author of Sportsman's Biologist, and independent research scientist for Harbor Branch and the FWC, (also a member of Snook Foundation's advisory council), "Spotted seatrout, weakfish and sand seatrout begin to toss their eggs just as the Easter bunny begins to toss eggs in baskets, usually on the same night.
"Water temps are the key with the trout, around 73 degrees Fahrenheit. When waters hit that temp, the trout start calling their mates, and it's right around Easter.
Capt. Jason Stock, finding big Reds & Snook in Tampa Bay."Humans pick these holidays based on the natural seasonal changes. We tend to separate ourselves from the animals but really we fall right in there with them. We have these lunar cycles with celestial phenomena, but today when we can't even see the stars around the big cities you just forget that you're tied in the cycle with the fish, too."
- Here's a report from Capt. Jason Stock on how the fine spring weather is affecting fishing patterns on Tampa Bay.
The Big gator trout have been on fire with average 20-25 inch trout on a daily basis on the top water and sub surface lures.
Snook are finally creeping out onto the flats and we are just starting to see nice healthy snook! Snook season still remain closed for harvest in our region but many people enjoy catch and release as much if not more.
The redfish are starting to school up and we're catching some big bull reds out of big groups of a hundred or more fish.
Be sure to read the Spring time article by SF Member Guide Capt. Jason Stock, in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine's March/ April issue. Also, check out the Feb issue of Florida Sportsman Magazine for more tips on Fish & Flowers, and such. Pick one up and show your friends!
