Last Shuttle Night Launch On The Indian River Ever?

Fishing this weekend on the Indian River Lagoon was pretty much out of the question this weekend.

NASA's scheduled night launch of Endeavour, that was supposed to go early Sunday morning never materialized due to the windy conditions and excessive cloud cover.

I managed to get down to the causeway bridge, amid thousands of out of town visitors hoping to get a last glimpse of history in the making, to see how the shrimpers were faring.

There were only 4 or 5 left on the bridge and all had about a quarter of a bucket filled with medium to large sized shrimp.

I asked Ralph, a regular who I have seen there on many a night, how the shrimp were running, and according to him; shrimping was beginning to "pick up". Pretty non committal to say the least, but that's how it goes.

Anyway, launch time approached and went, I didn't even get one hit on my lures, and I was freezing with only a light wrap on; so I went home to the comfort of my bed.

Since the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was closed to the launch, my wife and I decided to work around the house and get caught up with some work.

After I learned why the shuttle was never lit, I decided to try again Monday morning to get a glimpse of history.

This time the results were somewhat better; here is the video I took of the last launch possibly ever from the cape.



Hope you enjoy the sound, much of the video looks like a UFO after the initial launch but being there live is much more impressive.

If the weather warms up next weekend, I plan on taking the Maverick out on the Lagoon to snatch up some of the redfish I hear are hitting.

The cold water is crystal clear, the fish are extremely wary, and the fun is about to begin.

Till next time, Tight Lines!

Endeavour Shuttle Launch

This morning's beautiful daybreak was bright and cloudless, however my planned fishing excursion to the Mosquito Lagoon was thwarted by the Endeavour shuttle launch scheduled for 7:39 p.m. ET.

Here is a collage of shuttle shots that might be of interest.

I had planned to fish "whale's tail" , one of my favorite spots in the southern part of the lagoon, to pick up some of the large gator trout that are still mauling the baitfish pods but forgot about the area being off limits before and just after a launch.

Late Friday evening, my wife and I drove down to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to get in some culvert fishing before dark, but were turned away at the entrance by the KSC officers that were closing off the area for the launch.

I totally forgot about it until this morning when I was setting up the boat.

If all goes well, the launch will allow the areas to be opened tomorrow, however NASA officials estimated only a 40 per cent chance for Endeavour's planned lift off. Thunderstorms are threatening this evening's launch which is already running a month past due.

We may go out this afternoon to get in a bit of fishing but with the storm activity will probably get some work done around the home front.

Hope you guys get some fishing in, and until next time; tight lines!