Fishing Reports Archives - Page 10 of 63

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

Skonker Paloozer

December 9, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Skonker Paloozer Photo Essay

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Skonker Paloozer. Mike Conneen came up with the name, ‘though I doubt that’s how he’d spell it.

Mike and I just finished a fishing road trip. Although the trip was great, fishing was WAY less than stellar, thus the name.

We started at Raysville Campground, on Clarks Hill Reservoir in Thompson, Georgia.

Nice place, nearly deserted when we were there. The first evening, fish were breaking in the lake. I went down with a Clouser Minnow and got a 10-inch bass almost immediately. I took this as a good omen. It was not.

My tent on our site.

Lake at dusk.

Launch sequence initiated!

Mike and River, on the lake.

We launched our vessels the next morning. I got a 12-inch bass at my first stop on the same fly. I took this as a good omen. It was not. Neither of us had another strike all day. And, I lost my favorite pocketknife besides.

How River goes fishing.

Dawn, Hunting Beach.

Our next stop was Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina, a beautiful place. I went fishing just as a cold front arrived. I later had to use a dryer to get the water out of my clothes, including my raincoat. I did get a redfish and a flounder while fishing through the deluge, the only ones I would get the entire trip. Mike stayed ashore during the rain and launched after it stopped. His luck was identical to mine, minus getting soaking wet.

The Lone Redfish, Kimosabe.

Night sky from the beach. Mars is the brightest “star”, and you can see Taurus and the Pleiades as well as Orion.

Boardwalk through the Marsh at HISP.

Bridge to Hunting Island. The marsh is tremendous. You know there are fish there somewhere!

We tried a creek through the marsh the next day, launching on a low rising tide. Neither of us touched a fish all day.

Marsh dusk, HISP.

Fort McAllister.

River and Mike get silly.

Another day, another move. Next was Fort McAllister State Park. The fort is a well-preserved Civil War earthworks fort, with a museum, very well presented. We launched on a salt creek on a high, outgoing tide and hit it hard all day. Neither of us touched a fish, on anything we tried. We did not try bait, however.

We were camped on an island.

There was lots of wildlife!

Mike is amazing!

Dawn, Fort McAllister State Park.

Sunset, Fort McAllister State Park.

Our final stop was Crooked River State Park. We launched on the Crooked River on a high, outgoing tide and hit it hard all day. Mike got a few reds and trout at a single spot he lucked into. I got a small trout and hooked and lost one other one. The redfish habitat here looked superb- mud flats interspersed with large and plentiful oyster mounds (featuring live oysters), surrounded by thousands of acres of Spartina grass. But I did not see or touch a red all day.

Local wildlife.

There were lots of oysters.

This guy is still waiting for his first Crooked River bite.

So, in ten days, I got five small fish. Skunkapallooza, indeed! As frustrating as the fishing was, we had wonderful if chilly weather most days. The stargazing was tremendous. Sunrises and sunsets likewise, awesome. We saw plenty of wildlife. The company was awesome. And we didn’t need the first aid kit! It certainly could have gone worse.

As some clever shmuck (me) once said, “I usually have to pay a lot of money to get fishing like this!”

We got home Tuesday. Thursday I launched the kayak in Mosquito Lagoon- one snooklet, two redfish, including one about 20 pounds, and three solid trout, one on fly. And a fly-caught puffer, as a bonus I guess. It helps to know the spots, since none of them were sight-fished.

First fish. Took about 20 minutes.

A couple trout in, this red took the lure.

Attack of the snooklet!

This beast decided to play, too.

That’s the Skonker Paloozer 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports · Tagged: camping, crooked river state park, fort mcallister state park, hunting island state park, mosquito lagoon fishing, raysville campground, redfish fishing, seatrout fishing

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…

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.

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.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Photo Essays · Tagged: fishing photography, florida fishing, fly fishing, Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon, seatrout fishing

Not Much Fishing This Week

November 19, 2022 by john kumiski · 2 Comments

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.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing News, Fishing Reports · Tagged: florida fishing, kayak fishing, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, mosquito lagoon fishing report, tarpon fishing

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

November 5, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: adventure fishing, DOA Lures, fishing spruce creek, florida fishing, Mosquito Lagoon, mosquito lagoon fishing report, Mosquito Lagoon redfish, redfish fishing, seatrout fishing

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

October 28, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

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.