Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report Archives - Page 3 of 25

A Tale of Two Fishing Trips

February 2, 2024 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

A Tale of Two Fishing Trips

Thank you for reading this Tale of Two Fishing Trips. With the weather around here, you’d think it was winter or something. Wah-wah, woe is me- at least there’s no snow.

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

The astute reader may remember that, about a month ago, I mentioned seeing sponges growing in Mosquito Lagoon. Since I was there Thursday, and since the sponges were still there, and since I had a point-and-shoot camera with me, Boom! Here’s your sponge photo:

A small, not-very-pretty sponge, growing in Mosquito Lagoon. My guess is it filters 25-30 gallons of water a day. Give me more!

A biological database I visited says sponges are superior water filters- up to 24,000 liters of seawater per day for a 1-kg sponge! Guess my guess was low.

Wanted to fish Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures and winds nixed those ideas. Worked on the van conversion, building a couch/bed, nearly done with the frame. I’m pretty happy with the way it’s turning out so far. If anyone out there knows of someone who does upholstery for boats in the central Florida area, I would love to hear from you.

In the bed position.

In the couch position.

Wednesday’s forecast was NW at 5-10, high about 65 degrees. I went to the Banana River Lagoon, launching the kayak at 8 am. In two hours saw one fish, by running it over, of course. A few minutes later there was a tiny “blip” on the surface. It was a red, swimming in shallow water, it’s fins intermittently disturbing the water’s surface. I tossed a plastic shad in front of it and the bait was crushed. Pretty nice to get the fish on the first shot of the day!

Nice skunk chaser!

A while later a similar scene played out again, with the same result. Feeling pretty good, it was time to use the fly pole.

I waded to three different tailing fish and spooked all three. Did not get a red on a fly that day. However…

…I found some black drum tailing. They were not bitey on my fly. A cruising single followed it (a wool crab). I was able to convince him to take it and I got it, about a 15-pound fish. I was wading away from the boat (and camera), no photo. It was just released when there was a viscerally loud, low-frequency rumble. The rocket was already a mile up. As I was wading, away from the boat, no photo. But as the earth rumbled I had the thought, “The fish ain’t gonna like this.” Spectacular day for a launch close-up, though!

Hardly any shots at fish forthcoming after the launch. Loaded up the boat about 1630.

Thursday, after the enjoyment of a pulmonary function test, I deluded myself into thinking it was a nice day, so I loaded up and drove to Mosquito Lagoon, launching the kayak at about 1230. On arrival I nearly turned around and went home. It was cold and windy out of the northeast, the lagoon with a nice patina of whitecaps. Already there, I went fishing.

In 10 minutes I had a redfish, then another. Switching to the fly rod, I got reds to 24″ and slot trout steadily at the first spot until it was worn out.

Slot trout, steadily.

Except for two puffers I got on fly, the second spot was barren.

The third spot again gave up numerous under-slot reds and slot trout. It took me an hour to paddle back, going with the wind, and I saw nothing the entire way. The leader on my fly rod needs replacement from all the knots I put into it casting into that breeze. We were on the road home about 1730, heat on the entire way back. My waders may have developed a couple leaks?

And that, folks, is A Tale of Two Fishing Trips. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Two Fine Days on Mosquito Lagoon

January 6, 2024 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Two Fine Days on Mosquito Lagoon

It’s wintertime, which means even in central Florida, you have to pick your fishing days around the weather. I had two fine days on Mosquito Lagoon this week, both beautiful days. I went to different places. Although the water was remarkably clear in both places, the results (from a fish-catching perspective) were markedly different.

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

One thing I noticed in both places was that wherever there was hard substrate (rocks and/or oyster shells) there were sponges growing. I don’t know what species they are, or if they are native or exotic. How many sponge experts are there??? When’s the last time you saw a field guide to sponges of the southeastern United States?

The closest I found, on Amazon.

I do know sponges filter enormous quantities of water, and provide hiding places for small fish, shrimp, and crabs. So I was glad to see them, and am hoping they are not a sign of a coming apocalypse.

Best fish of the day!

Wednesday I fished around spoil islands. Nothing, nothing, nothing, then a load of fish on a small spot maybe 50 yards long. Seatrout and red drum, lots of little guys, but a couple decent ones, and no puffers were caught. I used one of those synthetic Clouser Minnows I tied last week- one fly all day. No collateral puffer damage, mission accomplished. Saw a few fish along the shoreline of the return trip, had one good shot using a bendback, got an eat, pooched it.

Same fish, different perspective!

Friday I went to River Breeze. Water looked great clarity-wise. Not much grass, lots of Rhodophyta. A saw maybe a dozen fish, some quick math, it came out to about one fish seen per paddled mile. Not gonna catch much with that density. Had one bite all day from a trout, watched it take the RipTide shad, and I missed it to complete the skunking. I went to several of my favorite winter spots up there, too. While I very much enjoyed the day and the paddling, I won’t be visiting again for a while…

And that, folks, is a Two Fine Days on Mosquito Lagoon Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: fishing mosquito lagoon, fly fishing mosquito lagoon, getting skunked mosquito lagoon, kayak fishing mosquito lagoon, redfish mosquito lagoon, sponges mosquito lagoon

One Day Fishing Report

November 24, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

One Day Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my One Day Fishing Report. There was that Thanksgiving thing you may have heard about, and with the exception of Monday, the weather was shaky the rest of the week.

Ordinarily at this point you’d read, “Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.” I don’t that link works right now. Feel free to try. If it doesn’t work, there will be no recourse until I straighten out the website.

The website! I believe I saved all the content on the old one that I wanted to. I believe spottedtail.com moved to the new host. The domain isn’t pointed that way yet. If I have time on Saturday, I hope to work on it. If not, it will be at least a couple weeks.

Either way, most likely there will not be a post next week.

OK, Fishing!

Wednesday Scott Radloff and I took the Bang-o-Craft out from Haulover Canal. Wanted Beacon 42, but the bridge was closed. We headed east, then north. The water was fairly murky. No sight fishing happened, but it was cloudy.

Scott, tossing a small jig, hit a solid fish on his first cast. Unfortunately, it came unglued. I got a juvie redfish, then an eight-inch snapper, then had a suicidal seatrout, a fairly large one, attack my tail-amputated-by-a-puffer plastic shad right next to the boat. Usually, panic ensues and the strike is missed. Somehow I caught and released this beast. It was probably pushing four pounds, quite a nice one.

We went to change spots, and the motor decided it didn’t want to work anymore. With minor difficulty, we returned to the boat ramp and loaded the boat, just after noon. We’d gotten three hours in.

I shoot photos of clever signs and bumper stickers I see. Below, please enjoy a few of them.

That’s the One Day Fishing Report. My next report, two weeks hence, should have some solid fishing and photo action. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a trip! 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Uncategorized · Tagged: bumper stickers, clever signs, mosquito lagoon fishing report

My First Intracontinental Fishing Report

October 29, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Happy Halloween, and My First Intracontinental Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my first Intracontinental Fishing Report. And, happy Halloween! (which adults now get way too wound up about. Leave it for the kids, please.)

I have a guest blog this week. https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/guide-to-packing-for-a-fishing-camping-adventure/

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

Sunday’s weather forecast predicted high winds for the entire week, except for Monday morning. Monday morning found me launching the kayak in Mosquito Lagoon. A short time later, I found a redfish crawling around on a shallow shelf. Amazingly, it did not realize I was there. I dropped the fly out in front of it, and when it was close enough that I thought the fish would see the fly if I moved it, I moved it. Two feet and a cloud of mud- BAM! Fish on!

On a Tedesco Slider.

I had a couple other decent shots but did not get another redfish bite. A trout, the first one in several trips, did bite a puffer-damaged soft plastic shad while I was blind-casting, though.

It was a beautiful day, and I pretty much had the entire lagoon to myself, so I was a happy boy driving home.

Thursday found me on a United Airlines aircraft, flying to San Francisco from Orlando. The astute reader may already know both my sons live in California.

Friday, Maxx, Catalina, I and drove from Castro Valley to Red Bluff by way of Chico. Had to stop at Fish First Fly Shop for some needed supplies, licenses, etc., getting ready for Saturday.

Saturday dawned cold, especially for this Floridian. When we reached the river, temperatures were in the 30s. The stream was small, intimate, beautiful, in the Lassen National Forest. No stockers.

Catalina, ready to chase the wily trout.

Of course, the fish weren’t very cooperative. They were all trying to stay warm. Maxx struck first, with a rainbow trout that still had parr marks, all of six inches. Then he got another, similar one. Then Catalina got one, her first fish with a fly rod. I wanted to get it mounted for her, but was voted down, a good thing.

O, successo! Photo courtesy Maxx Kumiski.

In spite of the cold, there were quite a few bugs hatching, both mayflies and caddis flies. Very few risers, however. I didn’t get a bite. Alex missed a couple small ones. We had a lovely walk in the woods on a spectacular if chilly day. Some of us had leaky waters.

Alex at work.

Fly fishing crew. Photo courtesy Catalina Kumiski.

There will be more trout fishing before I go home, and that’s My First Intracontinental Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a plane trip! 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, travel blog · Tagged: fly fishing for rainbow trout, fly fishing mosquito lagoon, kayak fishing mosquito lagoon, lassen national forest, mosquito lagoon fishing, Mosquito Lagoon redfish, Mosquito Lagoon seatrout

Short Mosquito Lagoon Report

October 21, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Short Mosquito Lagoon Report

Thanks for reading this short Mosquito Lagoon report.

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

Fifty-two degrees Monday morning when I hopped in the chariot, Bang-O-Craft in tow. Wanted to try the east side of the lagoon. Once I got to the ramp, that idea was trashed. Three- and four-foot waves meant crossing was a stupid idea.

I stayed on the west side, found what lees were there. Saw some snook, saw some reds. Had one good shot at a red with the fly while wading (with my waders on). I thought it took the fly. I was mistaken. Shot blown. Ran over what fish there were all day. Late in the afternoon, had two shots on spin, from the boat, and converted both. Eureka!

First fish. Note the water clarity.

Soft plastic shad works again!

The second fish was larger, but I didn’t photograph it.

Tried it again Tuesday. Water on the east side was nasty, and water everywhere is high (gauge at 1.6 feet). By now the wind had come up, making that crossing dangerous again, but now I had no choice. Fished the west side, had three shots, converted none. Did get a couple pinfish on fly, though.

Discovered a wet leg when I took off the waders. Where’s the Aquaseal?

That’s the short Mosquito Lagoon report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a road trip! 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report · Tagged: dirty water in mosquito lagoon, fishing mosquito lagoon, fly fishing mosquito lagoon, high water in mosquito lagoon

Ignored the Weatherman

September 26, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Ignored the Weatherman

I ignored the weatherman Monday. The forecast, once again, was, “Showers likely in the morning, with scattered thunderstorms, increasing into the afternoon. Rain chance 70 percent.”
I went fishing anyway.

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

There was a lightning show all the way to Mosquito Lagoon. At the St. Johns River I got out of the car to get a photo of an incredible sunrise. All the lightening looked far away from where I was, and my destination. I continued on my way.

This was worth the trip had I not seen a fish.

Launched the boat under mostly cloudy skies. Didn’t see much for an hour, hour-and-a-half. Got a few trout at a culvert on the spin rod. Then there was a redfish crawling along the bank. I pooched the shot. It would be a recurring theme.

Ha! Got one!

I got shots, too. There weren’t a lot of fish around, but enough that in spite of significant rust I finally caught one, a nice redfish. I soon hooked another, only to have it become unbuttoned. When I checked the fly, the hook had snapped.

It doesn’t matter how many bites you get- this fly is not a good fish-catching tool.

A dry spell followed. Then some drum tails started popping up.

Mosquito Lagoon black drum are actually pretty easy to catch with flies- if you can see everything. When the water is murky and the light is bad, then it’s all guess work. Guessing right doesn’t happen a lot. In spite of that, finally got one, after at least 20 shots.

Dr-r-r-rum.

A while later I was staked out, standing up, when I spotted a drum near the shoreline, an easy cast. It took three casts, but I put it on his nose and got the eat.

Finally, paddling back, I spotted a red pushing along the shore and got it to take the fly. Of the four fish I caught with the fly, three of them were hooked with the leader in the rod. Which was pretty awesome!

The water on Tiger Shoal is still pretty clear.

There was no rain, and no lightning. Glad I went!

There will not be a report the next two Saturdays. I will be doing research, and won’t be bringing the computer.

That’s the I ignored the weatherman 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: fly fishing for black drum, fly fishing for redfish, fly fishing mosquito lagoon, ignored the weatherman, kayak fishing mosquito lagoon

A Skunking on ML

September 16, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

A Skunking on ML

Got out only once this week, to a skunking on ML (Mosquito Lagoon). Our sons flew in this week to finish moving Alex to California. It’s kept us pretty busy…

Addendum to the Maine Trip

On our Maine trip, we left home on 6/18, got home 9/3. In that time we put 6963 miles on the van, burned 304 gallons of gasoline (I don’t know how much carbon that added to the air, but it seems selfish of us), spent $1150 on that gasoline, and got 23 mpg. At least we (in our 2013 Toyota Sienna) were moderately efficient.

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

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Fishing

Tuesday saw the Bang-O-Craft hit the water at the Beacon 42 Boat Ramp about 0800 hours. The plan was to do a little high(er) speed scouting, something hard to do in a paddle vessel.

The water was murky the whole way across to the east side. Although there were lots of mullet, I only pushed a single fish as I ran across the lagoon. Once I reached Tiger Shoal the water cleared up nicely; however, I only spotted a single redfish. Considering the numbers of mullet, the lack of gamefish was a mystery. The manatee grass on the flat inside the shoal is as thick as I’ve ever seen it, and I do mean ever. The floating dead grass kept fouling the outboard, causing cavitation. I’d have to stop, put the motor in reverse to blow all the grass off the lower unit, then continue. Again and again. Nice to have that problem!

Crossing over to the west side, I fished the outside of the spoil islands for a couple miles, using a weedless spoon. The puffers are thick, and on a mission to destroy all soft plastics. Only a handful of gamefish were seen, and no bites happened. So I can state unequivocally that no fish were harmed in the making of this report. The boat was on the trailer at 1300.

Maxx came in Wednesday, Alex Friday. They roll out Sunday (they think) or Monday (I think).

That’s the skunking on ML 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report · Tagged: florida fishing, Mosquito Lagoon, mosquito lagoon fishing report

No Place Like Home

September 8, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

No Place Like Home

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

Yes, you saw it. Everyone has. Although on our trip we saw no flying monkeys, or munchkins, or wizards. We made it home anyway.

The summer was wonderful. We had some weather go our way, and met lovely people, and the vibe around Lovell is outstanding, and our accommodations exceeded expectations. Maine wasn’t the original plan, but what of that? It worked out great. A huge thank you goes out to Ralph Tedesco!

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

Three hundred yards from my driveway a tire went flat. Divine intervention, I’d say. Eight hours on the interstate and it gives up down the street from my house? Someone is watching out for us.

Thursday I took the canoe to the Indian River Lagoon, catching a snook (on spin) before the sun was up.

A short time later a small tarpon joined the party. In spite of the number of tarpon rolling, the party was small- those were the only bites I got in five hours. The water is brown and nasty- wading in knee-deep water, I couldn’t see my feet. No bait to speak of, either.

Friday the canoe and I tried Mosquito Lagoon. The water was quite clear in places. A handful of reds were observed, and two large trout, and a few snook, and some jacks chasing the plentiful mullet. Two trout, two reds, two snappers, a pinfish, and a puffer fell for my offerings. It sounds like I was flinging bait, but soft plastics and flies are what I tossed. All the caught fish were modest in size. Some impressive-looking (and sounding) clouds appeared, ending the outing about mid-day.

Looks like time to quit to me.

It’s all I got- that’s the No Place Like Home 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.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report · Tagged: indian river lagoon fishing, mosquito lagoon fishing

Home Waters Report

January 21, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Home Waters Report

Thanks for reading this home waters report, on Mosquito Lagoon, and with a call-to-action.

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

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

OK, on Friday I was driving southbound on I-95 in Titusville. I was fairly shocked to see a full-sized billboard that said-

“Welcome to Florida, home of bears, toxic water, and dead manatees. stopthestarve.org” Naturally, I checked the website, https://stopthestarve.org. With a come-on like that, how could I resist?

Truly, FWC does need to stop spraying herbicides.

FWC contracts hundreds of these guys to spray hundreds of gallons each of toxic herbicides daily on into our waterways. This was on Rainbow River.

After arriving home, I checked the new Florida Sportsman magazine. Blair Wickstrom used a full page of editorial space to plug a new constitutional amendment, the Right to Clean and Healthy Water. Basically what he’s saying is, the Legislature and a string of Governors have let the water quality in Florida go to hell, so the people need to get an amendment on the ballot to change the state constitution. If you’re registered voter in Florida and would like to see clean water and seagrass again in your lifetime, go to https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org RIGHT NOW and sign the petition- 223,000 signatures are needed by March 1.

Please help, and please help spread the word! Thank you!

Yes, I did fish this week, two days. Errands and home maintenance took the rest of my time.

Tuesday, on an absolutely stunning day, Rodney Smith and I took the Bang-O-Craft out onto Mosquito Lagoon. The water was clean and beautiful, Rodney and I maybe not so much. We’re getting old and decrepit looking. Better than dead and decaying! Anyhow, the trout were biting well. We didn’t get any big (or small) ones, all slot fish. We took one for Mr. Smith’s dinner. We hooked a couple reds, Rodney got his, mine broke off. Check those knots, John. All the action was on the 3-inch plastic shad.

Rodney and his dinner fish.

Friday I took the kayak out, same place, on another stunning day. The trout weren’t biting quite as well, but I still got a dozen, all but two on Clouser Minnows. I also got two beautiful fat reds on the same fly.

John and the day’s first red.

Both days I really enjoyed the company!

For those looking for shad information, I don’t have any. Haven’t been. Sorry.

That’s the home waters 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, opinion · Tagged: https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org, kayak fishing, Mosquito Lagoon redfish, redfish fishing, seatrout fishing, stopthestarve.org

Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout

November 26, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

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…