April Fool’s Fishing Report

April Fool’s Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this April Fool’s Fishing Report. No pranks were perpetrated by this reporter, nor were any played on him.

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Monday Caleb Vogl joined me in the Bang-O-Craft for some Indian River Lagoon exploration. I was surprised in a good way at how clear the water was. Even saw some seagrass trying to grow! What we didn’t see was a ton of fish. There were some redfish at one spot we visited, enough that I was able to get two modest specimens on spin with the plastic shad, which apparently are now referred to as swimbaits. Whatever. My buddy only got a couple puffers, which made him unhappy. But Rodney Smith says there’s no such thing as a bad fish.

The Econ

 

There were a few late irises.

Tuesday I did a walk-in to the Econlockhatchee. The stumpknocker bite was hot! And mind you, I was bass fishing. The stumpies were hitting and getting hooked on plastic worms rigged with a 3/0 hook, and were some of the largest ones I’d ever seen. And a half-dozen bass ate my baits too, five nice ones up to a four-pounder, and one dinker. It was a pretty good day.

These lizard-tails made the woods smell sweet.

 

And the woods looked great, too.

The rest of the week I spent working on the van that I thought I was almost finished with. Honestly, I think I can wrap it up tomorrow. It’s wiring and plumbing I’m working on, so it could be weeks….

Last week I wrote about the recent on-line webinar, “A Conversation with Dr. Duane De Freese and Keith Winsten” which reported on the current and future state of our Indian River Lagoon. The link to see this event came today, and you can see it here-

And that, folks, is the April Fool’s fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Blown Out Fishing Report

Blown Out Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Blown Out Fishing Report. I re-learned this week what I used to practice when guiding- don’t cancel a trip due to a weather forecast.

Monday’s weather was yucky, with winds not conducive to fishing and a spot of rain besides.

The forecast for Tuesday was similar, with strong winds predicted to be from the southeast. But the sun would be out! “If I fish in the Indian River Lagoon, the shoreline will block the wind,” I thought. I got to the fishing spot. It looked like NASA was using it for a wind tunnel test. So much for the blocked wind theory.

At another spot where I could somewhat hide from the wind I launched my kayak. Hadn’t been there in a long time. Paddled around looking for fish and fighting the wind for about two hours. Did see a blue crab, and a lot of guppies, and a few mullet. Did not see or touch a gamefish. “This is stupid,” came to mind, so I paddled back to the launch and loaded up. Hey, at least I tried.

On Tuesday or Wednesday night there was an online symposium about the IRL, much of which I attended. A recording was made, and I’m supposed to receive a link to it, but that hasn’t happened yet. I will post the link when it becomes available. The presenters seemed optimistic the situation with the lagoons was improving, and I guardedly concur. It will never go back to what it was, though.

Thursday may have been fishable, but I had an appointment right in the middle of the day.

Friday may have been fishable, but I cancelled going due to a forecast. Worked on the near-finishing touches on the van’s interior. Probably should have gone fishing- it was a beautiful day.

And that, folks, is the blown out fishing report. Sorry it’s pretty sad! Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Looking for Tarpon Report

Looking for Tarpon Report

Thanks for reading this Looking for Tarpon Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, but I paddled one day, and walked another.

Happy father’s day to all the dads. The solstice is this week. Pagans, get ready to celebrate!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday I took the Bang-O-Craft (which had been very lonely) and launched at Port St. John, with intent to go looking for tarpon. It was a long shot, but I have found them around there in the past. When I went to put the trolling motor on the boat, I realized the battery was still in the garage, on the charger. At least it was fully charged! With more breeze than I expected, I did not find the tarpon this time, and didn’t find much else, either. There was nothing at the power station.

I pulled the boat and drove up to Titusville, where I launched it again. I poled a long way and did not see much, except at one spot, where I managed to get a nice red on a plastic shad, and two snooklets on fly. No skunk for me this day.

Tuesday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up, then drove to Port Canaveral and launched his boat. We went north up the beach, looking for tarpon. We found and netted menhaden, which was the highlight of the trip as far as fishing goes. Although we saw a handful of tarpon roll, we drove home reeking of skunk.

Wednesday morning I paddled my canoe around Lake Mills. The cypress trees are gorgeous, and I spend a couple minutes observing an otter. Didn’t see much rooted vegetation (other than trees) in the water, or any fish. Wasn’t expecting tarpon there, though.

Wasn’t expecting tarpon at the wetlands park either, where I went walking Saturday morning.

Green heron.

 

White ibis, adult and juvenile.

 

Anhinga.

 

Four-spotted pennant on pickerelweed.

 

Four-spotted pennant on arrowhead (Sagittaria).

 

That’s the looking for tarpon report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Indian River Lagoon Report

Indian River Lagoon Report

Thanks for reading this Indian River Lagoon Report. Only one day this week was spent fishing, but I did paddle the Econ and get a walk in at the wetlands park.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

The Econ

Last week’s rains have raised the water level in the Econ. I paddled it Monday. The Snow Hill Road gauge read 5.5 feet. I didn’t bring a fishing rod, just a camera…

Buttonbush.

 

Wildflowers in a small meadow.

 

Seeds from a dandelion-like flower, waiting for the wind.

Indian River Lagoon

Last week’s rains have raised the water level in the lagoon, much higher than I like. I went kayaking in a spot that’s an old friend, one I hadn’t been to for a while. One red on fly, a couple trout, and no reason to rush back. The water is just too deep. You can’t see anything.

From there I went to another spot where I have been fishing lately, with some success. I tried wading. The water, formerly knee deep, now tickled the jewels. I got right back in the kayak. I did get a black drum on a 3″ plastic shad, to my surprise. Beautiful day, great paddling, tough fishing because of the water depth.

Orlando Wetlands Park

A walk in the wetlands park followed. Who cares about the water level? It was cloudy. I got some nice photos.

 

An old and beat-up four-spotted pennant.

 

A young and virile four-spotted pennant.

 

Great blue heron. Looks a little silly from this angle.

 

Needham’s skimmer, male.

 

Needham’s skimmer, female.

 

Tilapia.

 

Eastern pondhawk, male.

 

Doctor for me, doctor for the van, week over. Enjoy your weekend, see you next time.

That’s the Indian River Lagoon Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report

Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report

Thank you for reading this Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report. There was rain and lightning every day this week, making fishing more interesting. Nothing like playing hide-and-seek with giant sparks to make fishing seem less important! In spite of that, a few fish were caught.

It’s Memorial Day weekend. Spend a moment or two silently, thinking about how lucky you are that thousands and thousands of Americans died fighting for your liberty. They deserve that much, at the very least.

The week started with a walk at the Orlando Wetlands Park. Wildlife doesn’t come any more accessible than at this artificial wetlands, where there is no admission fee.

Bullfrog.

 

Cooter turtle.

 

Night heron.

 

Great blue heron.

 

Roseate spoonbill.

 

Four-spotted pennant, ♀︎.

 

Sandhill crane.

Scott Radloff joined me for a paddle day on Mosquito Lagoon. I was hoping for great things. It was not to be. Scott got a couple trout. I stank like a skunk all afternoon. Lightning drove us off the water. We took the opportunity to cruise Biolab Road, the first time I’ve seen the south end of the lagoon for a long time. The water was fairly clear, but we did not see any fish, or fishermen.

 

I went solo to the Indian River Lagoon one day. Since I was greeted by a rainbow, you could guess what the weather was like. A red on fly, another on spin, and jumped a small tarpon with a fly. Off the water by noon, more than slightly damp.

 

 

Met some folks crabbing while checking out some old fishing spots. They were having good luck!

 

Passionflower, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

 

Who can tell me what this is?

That’s the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report

Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report

Few things in life get a fly fisher more worked up than seeing tarpon rolling all over the place. Except hooking a couple, of course! Welcome to this week’s Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report.

A walking, bank-fishing Econ trip with a spin rod started the week. I’d love to fish that stretch of river with a fly pole, but I lack that kind of skill. The fish were biting well, the song birds were singing, the Cooper’s hawks were shrieking, and I got some photos of otters. Fantastic day!

 

 

 

Next, Mike and River joined me for some Indian River Lagoon quality time. Redfish, black drum, and seatrout fell for our offerings. Water looked pretty good. That invasive exotic, grassy-looking stuff is taking over the bottom, though. We have a new exotic mussel, too. If they were larger, I’d eat them.

 

I returned to the scene of the crime a couple days later, hoping to cash in on what I’d learned from the day with Mike. That’s when I found the tarpon rolling! I hooked two, one on a streamer that jumped off, one on a gurgler that I unhooked and released. I got five other species (seatrout, jack crevalle, ladyfish, black drum, and redfish) for a total of six altogether. What was weird is, I got only one of each! All but the red were caught on fly.

 

Some serious jacks were showering mullet. It looked like the good old days! I love the jacks, I hope they stay around until after the mullet run.

Our governor and legislature keep passing one horrible, hateful, hurtful, and un-Christ-like law after another. It’s making me sick.

That’s the Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

 

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Fished a Day, Again, Report

Fished a Day, Again, Report

Regular readers of this blog know I have been working on building a canoe. But now that the frame is done, there’s not much for me to do on it until the skin gets here next week.

Regular readers of this blog also know I have a Sienna van, adapted to camping. The van has almost 120,000 miles on it. I wanted new shocks. The only way to access the shock top is through panels on the van’s interior. So all that camping build needed to be removed, which took most of the day on Monday. It looks like a cave inside the vehicle now.

Minor construction around the house took most of Tuesday. There’s more to come.

FISHING DAY Wednesday I dropped my kayak into the Indian River Lagoon’s brown water which was loaded with Rhodophyta and a filamentous green alga. Yuk.

I did not see a dolphin or a manatee. I did see what was for me a new organism. There were small mussels, quite a lot of them, growing on the stems and roots of the black mangroves. Some research followed. There are a couple native mussel species in the lagoon. There are also a couple invasive species. I have no mussel expertise, but I did contact Dr. Walters at UCF, who does. I will keep you informed.

I did see a few fish. Fishing was tough- it was windier than I expected it to be. I hardly touched the fly rod. When it’s windy it’s nearly impossible to control the boat and fly fish at the same time. I got six bites using spin tackle, and caught them all- two trout, two reds, and two snook. Got a bad picture of the best red, which I sight-fished.

It was swimming down the bank. I cast ahead of it while the kayak drifted, not moving the lure until I thought the fish would see it. When I twitched the bait, he crushed it. It was quite gratifying, best fish of the day.

Thursday, fun with cars. Put those new shocks in. It’s something I do infrequently, so a 30- or 40-minute job takes all morning. But they’re in. After I get the camper build back in there, I need to do the struts on the front end…

And there’s always the house construction, and the exotic ferns to keep me off the water. The joys of home ownership. It seems to come in waves, that sort of thing.

And that’s the Fished a Day again report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

An Ode to Redfish

An Ode to Redfish Photo Essay, and a Merry Christmas to All

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Ode to Redfish. I only went fishing one day this week. Weather was fine when I left home, started pouring as soon as I put the boat in the water. I waited in the car for an hour, hoping it would stop. Then the boat resumed its place on my car’s roof, and we went home. No fishing.

And a Merry Christmas to all! And the Winter solstice 2022 in Northern Hemisphere will be at 4:47 PM on Wednesday, December 21!

Wanting to post this week because I won’t again until 2023, the Ode to Redfish idea struck. Here it is!

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

The Copper Coated Crab Cruncher

By John Kumiski

The copper coated crab cruncher
just crunches crabs all day.
He’ll also eat some shrimp and fish
to while his time away.

You’ll find him sometimes tailing.
Sometimes he just sits still.
Sometimes he keeps a-cruising,
hoping his gut to fill.

He’ll sometimes be all by himself.
Other times he’ll be with friends.
No one can say why he does what.
On him it all depends.

They come sometimes as little rats.
They come as big bull reds.
I’d rather see them live and swimming
than in someone’s cooler, dead.

I catch them while I’m wading.
I catch them from my boat.
Some days I catch none at all.
But always I have hope.

I catch them with my spinning rod.
I catch them with my flies.
No matter how I catch them,
It almost gets me high.

I really love that redfish,
though he’s a simple beast.
Spending a day where redfish live
is a wonderful sensory feast.

I know this is a silly poem,
but I’m a silly boy.
One thing you can be sure of though,
redfish make me jump with joy!

I don’t know if Santa likes to fish. Rodney Smith, Banana River Lagoon. Merry Christmas!!!

 

Scott Radloff, off Cape Canaveral.

 

The late Joe Mulson casts, Tom Mitzlaff poles, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

The late Lefty Kreh, Indian River Lagoon.

 

River and Mike Conneen, St. George Sound.

 

Mark Marsh with a fatty, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Mosquito Lagoon tailers.

 

Son Maxx, first redfish on fly, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Patrick Phillips, Banana River Lagoon. I still use the kayak, 20 years later!

 

The inimitable Tamazon, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

George Allen, early morning Mosquito Lagoon.

 

My brother-in-law Richie Surprise, Indian River Lagoon. This image was a Florida Sportsman cover.

 

Laurel Boylen, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Maxx and Alex, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Redfish portrait, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Bryan Carter, Ken Shannon, Plaqueman’s Parrish, Louisiana.

 

Austin Warmus, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Bob Duport and Terri, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Tom Van Horn, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Alex and Maxx, Banana River Lagoon.

 

I forget this guy’s name, unfortunately. He got this big red and it squirted milt all over his legs. Indian River Lagoon.

 

Kevin is holding what looks like a redfish but is actually a trip to the Haunted House with Dad at Disney World.

 

Susan, Little Talbot Island.

 

Redfish school, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Valentine redfish, East Bay.

 

The late Steve Baker, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

A deformed redfish, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Charlie Chapman, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Marcia Foosaner, Indian River Lagoon. The Space Shuttle, carrying John Glenn, goes up behind her.

 

Redfish portrait, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Redfish portrait, Indian River Lagoon.

That’s the Ode to Redfish. Thanks for reading! And a Merry Christmas to all!!!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout

Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Fished 1.25 Days and an Ode to Seatrout. The weather has been unpleasant! We had Thanksgiving to deal with! Actually, I fished less than 1.25 days, but that will come out in the text.

I’ll be on the road next week, so do not expect a post. I won’t be able to deliver one.

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday’s weather made me stay home, but I got tired of hanging around. Went to my favorite local retention pond for a couple hours, bugging for bass. Got one bite, a feisty one-pounder that was, of course, released.

Tuesday Scott Radloff joined me for a Bang-O-Craft trip to Mosquito Lagoon, where the water is still too high. We fished in the rain. The seatrout were on! We probably got thirty, maybe more, all on soft plastics. Most were at the bottom of the slot, a few smaller, a few larger. All were released, since the season is closed! Scott got a single ladyfish in the interests of variety. We fished until we were soggy, about four hours.

And now for that Ode to Seatrout

Blindcasting with a Clouser Minnow on Mosquito Lagoon produced this fish.

 

Tom Van Horn, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Alex and Vic, Banana River Lagoon.

 

A BIG sea trout, Mosquito Lagoon, caught blind-casting with a Bouncer Shrimp.

 

I used to make poppers I called Floozies from an old boogie board. Clearly, they lacked durability. Banana River Lagoon.

 

Maxx, Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Dr. Aubrey, Indian River Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

The Texan’s biggest-ever sea trout, sight-fished, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

My use of purple flies has fallen way off, but they work well. Banana River Lagoon.

 

Capt. Chris Myers, Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Rusty Chinnis revives a big trout caught in the Indian River Lagoon near Stuart, on a DOA Shrimp.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, blind-casting.

 

Banana River Lagoon, blind-casting.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fishing.

Trout aren’t as exciting as tarpon, but I love them anyway!

That’s Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Three Lagoons Fishing Report. Fished three days this week- one day for each lagoon! The three lagoons are on the east coast of Florida, wrapped around and extending north and south from the Kennedy Space Center. The length of the system is about 160 miles, so three days in a kayak is likely to leave a few spots totally unexplored…

October historically has the highest water levels of the year. A hurricane passed recently, dumping LOTS of rain. The water is high and dirty brown everywhere I went. Sadly, dirty brown has replaced crystal clear as the new normal.

I like the gauge to read below 0.5. Maybe after New Year’s…

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday

Sight fished with a fly.

The idea was to try and sightfish with fly tackle on Mosquito Lagoon. This required finding areas that are often dry during normal water levels. I wouldn’t say the trip was a resounding success, but it was a spectacular day, I had five or six shots, and actually hooked and released two fish. Mission accomplished!

Wednesday

This guy didn’t know it was a tarpon fly.

Indian River Lagoon was on the menu this day. I knew where there were baby tarpon, and had tied some new flies for the attempt. Regular readers may recall when last I fished these guys, I had a bite on the first cast and then nothing but one ladyfish afterwards. A classic tarpon fly called a Cockroach was tied onto the end of my leader. I saw some fish rolling, so cast it into the area (no seeing these guys in that water). A bite and I had… a redfish! A beautiful, nine-spot fish it was.

It had four more spots on the starboard side.

A while later the line came tight again. The fish finally jumped, and it was a tarpon. Small, five or six pounds. I was able to photograph it. It was the last fish the Cockroach would catch.

I went a long time without a bite.

I ran into another fly fisherman. He’d gotten a variety of fish on a weighted streamer, just chucking it. I kept tossing a Polar Fiber Minnow at rolling tarpon, and got a seatrout, a decent one.

I went a long time without a bite, again.

Changing tactics, I tried the spin rod with a DOA Shrimp. A bite! A snook! Another bite! A redfish! Tried a Closer Minnow, and got another redfish. And then, to complete my Indian River Lagoon Super Duper Fly Rod Grand Slam, a snooklet!

I went a long time without a bite, again. I tried the tarpon again- they all said no. I paddled back, loaded up, and went home.

Thursday

I tried Banana River Lagoon, launching at KARS Park. The gate guard told me no one had fished the previous day, and I was the first one there at 8 AM. So clearly the fishing wasn’t very good. Hurricanes have knocked a lot of trees into the water along the shoreline, and it looks extraordinarily fishy. Looks can be deceiving. I paddled all the way to Buck Creek, getting a trout while trolling, a snook while casting the shoreline (both on the rubber shad), and spotting one redfish and three black drum in all that distance, maybe four miles. Mind you, there was no wind. You could have seen a fish move from a quarter mile away.

You would think there would be oodles of fish here. How many does it take to make an oodle, anyway???

At Buck Creek, two or three tarpon rolled in almost an hour. Blind casting a streamer got me casting practice.

I got another trout dragging the shad behind me as I paddled back to the launch, at which point I loaded up, having gotten plenty of exercise. But I wasn’t skunked once in three days.

That’s the Three Lagoons Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.