 SPACE COAST BOASTS FISHING, BOATING HAVEN -- ANGLERS, KAYAKERS AND WILDLIFE BUFFS HEAD TO MOSQUITO LAGOON FOR A NICE DAY TRIP Orlando Sentinel -- Friday, September 21, 2001 By: Stephanie Erickson, Sentinel Staff Writer TITUSVILLE -- It's not called Mosquito Lagoon for nothing. The sun hadn't risen on a recent Saturday morning, yet the northern end of Mosquito Lagoon was already bustling with churning boat motors, and eager fishing buffs swatting away mosquitoes. Lots of mosquitoes. It didn't seem to matter if you had on three kinds of insect repellent. But those who brave Mosquito Lagoon, and the rest of the somewhat less buggy Indian River Lagoon on Florida's Space Coast, know what's worth a few bites. About a two-hour drive from Lake County, the coastal area provides residents with endless day-trip possibilities. First, there's the opportunity to boat, kayak and fish among hundreds of species of animals that make their home within the Indian River Lagoon, which is not a river, but a long bay with no current. Among the animals are river otters, manatees, green and loggerhead sea turtles and dozens of birds and fish. Within minutes of leaving a dock in Mosquito Lagoon, boaters saw a pod of Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins playing in the wake of boats. As boaters skimmed in 6 to 8 inches of water in the early morning hours to get to the western shoreline, the sun rose over Kennedy Space Center, its launch pads and Vehicle Assembly Building. Others prefer to head out late in the day, risking afternoon showers, to catch a spectacular sunset. The Indian River Lagoon is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a series of protective barrier islands. It stretches more than 150 miles, from Ponce de Leon Inlet at the northern end to Jupiter Inlet at the southern end. It's made up of three bodies of water. First, there's Mosquito Lagoon, which runs from Ponce de Leon Inlet southward 20 miles and ending just north of the space shuttle launch complex. Then there's the Banana River, which branches off the Indian River just south of Satellite Beach and runs for 20 miles, ending just south of the space shuttle launch complex. Last, there's the Indian River, which runs just north of Titusville southward approximately 140 miles to Jupiter Inlet. For those who own boats and want to explore beyond the Indian River Lagoon, there are five inlets that cut into the ocean. But those who don't own boats can find a slew of guide services for the area in telephone books or on the Internet, for both fishing and kayaking. Shallow water means there are many opportunities for kayakers to get out of the boat. Some guides take kayakers to the Banana River National Manatee Sanctuary, where electric motors are not allowed. The sanctuary is inside Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses the Kennedy Space Center. Fishing is the No. 1 activity in the Indian River Lagoon, and this time of year, anglers have their eyes on redfish. Boaters on a recent Saturday saw schools upon schools tailing, and plenty were biting shrimp and spoons. All in all, the dolphins and other wildlife, along with the sunrises over Kennedy Space Center, make a day-trip to a place sometimes ridden with mosquitoes worthwhile. Copyright (c) 2001, Sentinel Communications Co. |