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.

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.

Fished Around Central Florida Report

Fished Around Central Florida Report

Thanks for reading this Fished Around Central Florida Report. Was fortunate enough to get out four days, and visited the dermatologist again. The weather maintains a fantastic level between fabulous and awesome.

Subscribers, if the photos don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

Saturday

 

Bob Hosking and I went to the Econlockhatchee. It being Saturday, I was expecting a plastic horde, but we had the place to ourselves. We got quite a few fish, and while there were no monsters, a couple four-pounders came to hand. Bob used a plastic worm. I used a fly rod mouse and a Senko. It didn’t seem to make much difference.

Bob, average-sized Econ bass.

 

Monday

noting the water was low, I visited the Banana River Lagoon. The water makes up for its low level with a distinct lack of clarity. I got a nice trout blind-casting the Senko, and a couple shoreline redfish (the only way I could have seen them) on a black Clouser Minnow. Don’t need to go back for a while.

The fish threw saltwater all over my camera.

Tuesday

I tried Mosquito Lagoon again. I could copy and paste what I just wrote about the Banana River Lagoon. Low, dirty water, the only fish I could see were on the shoreline. Incredibly, managed three reds on fly. Took zero photos, somewhat of a relief, actually.

Thursday

Took a solo Econlockhatchee trip. It’s been good, the water is at the right level. Flies and soft plastics are what I’ve been using. Saw lots of gatorsaurusses.

 

Friday

my PA (I feel like we’re developing a relationship at this point) at the dermatologist froze another pre-cancerous lesion off my face. That’s what I get for spending so much of my life in the sunshine.

That’s the Fished Around Central Florida Report 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.

Central Florida Fishing and More Report

Central Florida Fishing and More Report

Thanks for viewing this Central Florida Fishing and More Report. I thought I was to see the doctor on Monday, hoping to get off probation then. Imaging my dismay when I realized my appointment wasn’t until Wednesday, and I didn’t get off probation fully anyway. No paddling for another couple weeks.

Subscribers, if the photos (not many this week, and all file photos) don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

Sunday-

I went walking with Bob Hosking at the Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford. Not to be picky, but there are no wilderness areas that are only 1600 acres. Let’s not dilute the meaning of the word “wilderness”. If I can hear internal combustion, if there are boardwalks, it ain’t wilderness! Anyway, nice enough walk. Didn’t see any black bears, but did see several black feral hogs. Lots of songbirds, too.

Monday-

After the seven-mile walk I was a little gimpy, and just took it easy.

Tuesday-

The weather was fantastic. I’m going fishing! Took a spin rod and walked along the Econ, tossing a 3″ plastic shad. My third cast landed in a branch on the far side, one lure down. Rust shaken, I got serious and managed to take four bass, none very large. I then tried under the Snow Hill Road bridge for shad, without any luck.

Wednesday-

I saw the surgeon. She liked the way I was healing, but I can’t immerse the hand in bacteria-laden waters for two more weeks. I never thought much of Vibrio, anyway…

Thursday-

Took the Bang-O-Craft onto the St. Johns for a feasibility test. Got one big redbelly, two nice shad, and a half-dozen crappie on crappie jigs in four hours. Test passed!

 

Friday-

Took the Bang-O-Craft to Mosquito Lagoon  to see if the fish I had been catching almost three weeks ago were still there. As best as I could tell, they were not, although there were boats on a couple of my spots. The water is much cloudier than it was, too. My spin reel was seized up, so it was fly only. I had several shots at shoreline reds, and actually hooked one. Final tally was one red and one trout, both blind-casting while wading.

I also realized the Bang-O-Craft needs transom-replacement surgery, and soon. Not surprising, it’s close to 40 years old.

I also finally got the cedar boards I need to start building my canoe, which hopefully I can start soon.

That’s the Central Florida Fishing and More 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.

Not Much Fishing This Week

Not Much Fishing This Week

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Not Much Fishing This Week. The weather has still been iffy, and other projects take my time on marginal weather days.

I bought plans for a canoe build from Cape Falcon Kayak. I’ve been prepping in order to start the actual canoe building process- building sawhorses, purchasing needed tools and materials, etc. So when a cold front comes through, like happened this past week, I have another outlet for my nervous energy.

Also, I’m writing for the Global Outdoors Blog , and Rivers and Feathers . Gotta pay for that canoe!

On a different note, 15,000 redfish fingerlings were just stocked into the Banana River Lagoon. Read the press release here- 

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

Tuesday I went kayaking on Mosquito Lagoon. The water is so high! I found a load of baby tarpon- true babies, like yearlings. Many couldn’t get the fly in their mouths. I was WAY overgunned with a four-weight. Got four babies, and three snooklets, and two slot reds, on a mix of fly and spin. I wanted a trout to finish the symmetry, but it didn’t happen.


Wednesday I took the Bang-O-Craft to Mosquito Lagoon, different spot. Did not touch a fish with the fly rod, but got two snooklets and a trout that maybe could have held batter, by using the rubber shad. Pretty slow fishing, and then the front came.

As another public service announcement, in the area I fish around the Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has closed all taking of red drum, effective July 2022. Seatrout season is closed all of November as well. Read the regulations here… Don’t get caught with illegal fish! The lagoons need those fish more than you do, anyway.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to count your blessings…

That’s Not Much Fishing This Week. 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 Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report. Fished four days this week, all with spectacular (if a little breezy) weather.

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

Monday

Met Dave Caprera at Spruce Creek. Tide was low falling when we started. We paddled around Strickland Bay. It was real quiet as far as the fish went. I saw two redfish, got a shot at neither. No fish breaking. No jacks. No rolling tarpon. The tide turned, but nothing else changed. Blindcasting with a plastic shad, I got a bite near the island cluster, a seatrout about 18 inches long, chasing the skunk. Spruce Creek has been good to me through the years, but it will be a while before I go back.

One of the several colors of the plastic/rubber shad that I use.

Tuesday

Having heard about seagrass growing and some clean water in Mosquito Lagoon, I towed the Bang-O-Craft over and went on a search mission. The Haulover gauge was at 1.8 feet, so I could go anywhere I wanted to. The wind was out of the east. Tin boats are noisy, so I stayed in lees as much as I could.

I did find some seagrass, and some clean water. As always, there was no logical pattern to why one place was clear and another murky. I saw some dolphins, and some manatees, and two bald eagles, and a sea turtle, and two sizable sharks, and a single redfish (no shot). I got a single redfish that may have been a slot fish by blindcasting the plastic shad. Seeing the grass was very encouraging.

Wednesday

This is a file photo that in no way implies that this is what the fishing was like on Wednesday.

Tom Van Horn picked me up. We went to Mosquito Lagoon to further the search for seagrass and clean water. We went to the north end of the lagoon and started blindcasting, using the Deadly Combo. Tom released a half-dozen trout before I got a bite. Unfortunately they were all running pretty small. Then I started catching them, too. We did manage to get a few decent trout.

The Deadly Combo. It is not illegal to replace the shrimp with a jig.

Cruising along with the trolling motor in the lee of an island, I spotted a redfish right against the bank. I got a shot at it, and, using the plastic shad, actually caught it! I figured it was about 32 inches long, but the ruler on Tom’s boat said it was 21. I think the ruler was defective!

This is what I thought I had, but really? It was only 21″.

I followed that up with a snooklet, finishing up a pretty weak slam, but these days you’d best be happy with what you get.

For anyone who might be wondering, a snooklet is merely a very juvenile snook.

Thursday

Twenty knot winds forecast. Didn’t fish.

Friday

The forecast was for fifteen knots out of the east. After looking at next week’s forecast, I went anyway. Fifteen beats 20!

This is a file photo that in no way implies that this is what the fishing was like on Wednesday. Mine was about a pound-and-a-half.

My first fish on the fly this week was a jack crevalle. I haven’t gotten one of those in the Mosquito Lagoon in at least five years, it was pretty awesome. Then I got a mangrove snapper! Fly was a Polar Fiber Minnow. Then I put the fly rod away- fighting the wind got to be too much.

On the spin rod I got several trout and hooked and lost two snook. Saw a few reds, either didn’t get a shot or pooched it if I did.

Saturday

Volunteered at Secret Lake Park’s Hook Kids on Fishing event. The kids were excited, but fishing is more fun if the fish participate. Great event, though!

That’s the Three Mosquito Lagoon Days 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.

A Fishing Smorgasbord Report

A Fishing Smorgasbord Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, A Fishing Smorgasbord. Definitely fished around this week.

Please check out Patrick Young’s guest post on how to turn a business trip into a vacation here…

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

Last week I ended my post with this- “Might have to try fishing somewhere else.” I did. Sunday I drove up to Little Talbot Island State Park, to do some fishing in the spectacular salt marshes around there. Last time I was there it was borderline fantastic.

A tiny piece of the spectacular salt marsh around Jacksonville.

When I reached my campsite, I stepped out of the car, and thought maybe I’d gone to Flamingo by mistake. Yeah, the mosquitos were bad. Immediate gratification from the bugs, not what I wanted.

In the morning I launched the kayak at close to dead low tide, going straight to my best spot. I worked it hard, getting a single bite, a fine enough seatrout. Thought I should continue down the creek and see what was to be seen.

My one trout on fly. Got a twin on the rubber shad, too.

Nothing was to be seen, at least in the way of fish.

Floated back up to the Good Spot, tossing the shad now. Got one more trout.

Continued floating up the creek. Found a spot thick with bait. Heard a fish pop here and there in the marsh grass. Actually saw a redfish near some oysters, but it disappeared into the murky water before I could act. Now at the top of the tide, I paddled back to the put in and put out.

Went to the beach, brought a fishing rod. The water was really dirty, didn’t make a cast. A big storm was on the horizon. The bugs were awful, so was the fishing, and a big storm was on the way. Cutting my losses, I got on I-95 and headed home.

Tuesday was clean-up and put things away, other errands, some writing.

Wednesday saw me tow the Bang-O-Craft to Port St. John. A cold front had come through. There ought to be some fish at the power plant.

Wind was supposed to be northwest. It was stronger than I expected, but I thought I’d be OK and launched anyway.

Second power plant fish, on fly.

Joke was on me. Power plant is shut down, undergoing some kind of construction. I went around the end of the berm, figured the back side would be calm. Not only was it calm, but there were some fish there too!

Third power plant fish, on fly!

On a Clouser Minnow I got a brace of slot trout, a slot red (if reds were open, which they are not), a snooklet, and a fat, ugly sailcat. Then I got a bigger redfish and several skater trout with the spin rod.

Another power plant fish, on fly! Note the heavily slimed leader.

 

And a final power plant fish, this one with a spin rod.

Then I had to get back to the ramp. The wind had shifted more north and gotten stronger, and there was solid, white-cappy chop. A rolly, spray-y and slow ride back to the ramp. If two guys at the ramp hadn’t helped me load the boat onto the trailer, I’d probably still be there. Thank you, good samaritans!

Thursday I got an hour or so in at the retention pond near my house. Bluegills, four of them, on a foam spider. When the bass hit, I popped it off. That was it!

One of several.

Friday I tried the Indian River Lagoon again. I saw a few redfish by running them over (no shots). I found some rolling tarpon. Thought myself blessed to be fishing for bass one day and tarpon the next. Got one to bite on the first cast, on an Electric Sushi. Changed flies three or four times in the next two hours I threw to them, could not get another take. Got a ladyfish to chase the skunk, though.

That’s the A Fishing Smorgasbord post. 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.

Storm Aftermath

Storm Aftermath

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Storm Aftermath. This was a survey week, with hope to find a fish or two. Susan was ill, which affected my liberty- I didn’t want to leave her alone while I went fishing.

For subscribers- if the photos (only one this week!) don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday, though, she joined me for the preliminary survey. I needed to see how high the water was, and which boat ramps were open. We went to Kelly Park, Port Canaveral, Port St. John, Kennedy Point, Parrish Park, Biolab, and Playalinda. Playalinda was open to Parking Lot 7, meaning you couldn’t get to the boat ramp on the Mosquito Lagoon side. Everything else was open. There were surprisingly few trailers at Port Canaveral. The water looked high and brown in the lagoons.

Tuesday found me in a kayak on the high, green, and nearly opaque waters of the Indian River Lagoon, armed with both a spin and a fly rod. I saw two redfish, one tailing right against the bank (no shot) and one that I ran over. I ran over two or three black drum. I caught three small snook, one by casting a rubber shad, the other two by dragging the same lure while I paddled. I found a few baby tarpon rolling, and one bit my streamer, leading to this not very good photo-

It’s hard to fight the fish AND get the jump shot at the same time. I used my Dr. Slick pliers to unhook the beastie. When I got home, Susan was sick, and I was sorry I wasn’t there.

Friday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up and we went to Mosquito Lagoon, launching at Haulover Canal. Tom spent the summer at Katmai Lodge in Alaska, then went to Europe for a few weeks. His boat had been sitting for over three months, so of course it didn’t work right. We hid from the wind and waves behind the spoil islands while we made our way back to Haulover Canal. I cast a DOA Deadly Combo, coming up with a single, skunk-chasing 12″ seatrout. I was home at noon.

I saw very little bait anywhere, and the water doesn’t look good anywhere. Might have to try fishing somewhere else.

That’s the Storm Aftermath post. 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.