You are here: Home / Archives for Paddle Fishing Florida

Another Central Florida Fishing Report

April 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Another Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading another central Florida fishing report. Given the self-quarantine I’m working under, readers will likely see a string of these.

Due to weather and other constraints, only got out twice this week.

FISHING!

Monday– took a kayak to a spot in Mosquito Lagoon I hadn’t been in a while. Weather was cloudy with some breeze, water color was a thickening green. I was not expecting much.

The water color was a thickening green…

Slowly coasting along a lee looking, I came close to running a redfish over- could have touched it with the paddle. It was the color of a brick, easy to see even though stationary. I backed up a few feet and hit it on the back with a DOA Shrimp. It struck in the middle of my wincing. I caught it!

The bait was a DOA Shrimp.

I’d like to be able to say, “Yeah, it was like that all day. I thought it was the old days.” Shots were hard to come by. I had six good ones in five hours, got two more fish. On the last one I was using a gurgler. The leader was in the rod. The fish slurped the fly less than 15 feet away, and I caught that one too.

The leader was in the rod when this fish struck.

I’m not always that competent.

On the way home I thought it a rewarding day.

SR 419 paddle launch.

Friday– Susan dropped me off at the 419 bridge crossing at the Econlockhatchee. Weather was cloudy and windy, water was low and clear. A vast majority of the fish seen were exotic species, Plecostamus and Tilapia. There were some mullet. Redbreasts were spawning. I’ve seen the beds more packed together. Tilapia are spawning too.

Redbreasts are spawning.

I did not see many bass and only got one small one on a mouse fly. I paddled more than fished. I took pictures more than I fished.

Coreopsis growing along the Econ.

 

Water hemlock growing along the Econ.

Last week I wondered where all the alligators went. I got that answer today. Probably saw 30 gators. The smallest was about seven feet long. The biggest ones didn’t even move when I approached. I could feel Godzilla thinking, “It’s gonna take something bigger than you to make me move.”

This critter did not want to move. I saw bigger ones.

When I got to the take-out at Snow Hill Road there was a new sign there.

Susan picked me up about 3 PM.

Last week this observer reported sending emails to the Seminole County Sherriff and my county commissioner about motorboats on the Econlockhatchee. Sgt Chris Stronko, SCSD, sent me this email-

“…we were able to locate the registered owners of the tags you provided. We don’t believe the young men who belonged to the boats were involved. For whatever it is worth, we had the full support of their parents. According to their story, the two young men were travelling in a group of 4 surface drive boats and stated they do not go west of the bridge. Further, the young men stated they saw the other pair of boats who they believe were the violators. In addition, there are signs being made to indicate paddle craft launching only for that landing which should be installed in the next week or so. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone if you have any additional concerns. Thank you.”

As long as the stupid boating behavior stops I have no conditional concerns. I was glad to see it was important enough to the Sheriff’s office that they stayed on it and got back to me about it.

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report

April 4, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report

Thank you for reading my central Florida saltwater fishing report. We will be discussing some things in addition to fishing this week.

All of us have been affected by the COVID virus. Florida’s governor issued a shutdown order, effective as of midnight April 3. Only essential activities allow one to leave the house.

The following activities are included as essential in the executive order:
-Attending religious services
-Participating in recreational activities (in alignment with social distancing guidelines) such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, or swimming (consistent with social distancing guidelines)
-Taking care of pets
-Caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend.

So ah is a’ goin fishin, wit de blessin uv de guhvnuh!

I know that this entire episode is taking in horrible human toll in lives, sickness, lost productivity and income, family disruption, etc. One observation I’ve made is that driving is much more pleasant with the deserted roads, though.

Referring to the COVID virus, last week I wrote, “I’m in a high-risk group- if I get it, it will probably kill me.”

One of my subscribers, a Ph.D. cancer researcher, sent me this in an email- “Regarding COVID 19 mortality, I don’t think we know for certain that age, alone, is an independent factor. Age is strongly associated with a large number of underlying co-morbidities, such as kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and probably obesity. We don’t yet have enough data to say that age is a significant factor in an otherwise healthy person, someone who doesn’t have any of those co-morbidities.

“I am 74 years old and in good health. Until I see better data I’m going to assume that age is not an independent factor. I hope I’m right, for both of our sakes.”

I wrote him back, “Age ain’t the problem, buddy. I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis almost a year ago. I’ve already lost quite a bit of lung function.”

Truly, I’m in a high-risk group- if I get this virus, it will probably kill me. I’m being cautious and am not taking anyone other than my wife and sister fishing with me until either I expire or this whole Corona thing blows over.
———————————————————

I’ve watched several documentaries this week, available for free here- http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline. One of those I watched was about 60s counter-culture cartoonist Robert Crumb.

He’s still alive and well! One of his recent works was an illustrated Genesis. Talk about coming full circle…

———————————————————–
FISHING!
Monday, by myself, I went to Port Canaveral. It was my first Atlantic trip of 2020. I had no information as to where fish or bait might be. As it turned out I didn’t need bait because my livewell pump didn’t work. If anyone knows someone in central Florida who does good boat electrical work I would love to hear about it. But I digress.

I ran out to the Cape without seeing anything or getting a bite. I was casting there when Jim Ross came roaring by heading north. I followed him, but the Mitzi ain’t keeping up with Jim’s boat!

While up there I found Spanish mackerel, big ladyfish, bluefish, one gafftopsail catfish, hooked and lost two tripletail. I was tossing jigs, DOA Shrimp, and DOA BaitBuster. Brought two fly poles, didn’t even break them out.

A small (for a manta ray) manta ray swam past my boat, 20 feet away. Of course I cast over and around it. It was all by itself, though. Still so cool to see it.

Tuesday and Wednesday it was blowing. I worked on my boat’s electric system. Did not find the problem, other than maybe the 12-year old switch panel.

Thursday I took a six-weight and a light spin rod on a Mosquito Lagoon kayak fishing trip. I almost ran over the first redfish I saw. I tossed a slider fly to the second. BAM! No hesitation, a nice slot fish.

There were not a lot of fish but every 30 or 40 minutes, helped by tremendous weather, I’d see one. I had a half-dozen good fly shots, hooked four, caught and released three, and hooked four on a DOA Shrimp, two of which were caught and released. All the fish that struck were very aggressive about it, great to see that!

Friday afternoon took the wife and sister on a dinner cruise- we used the Mitzi to cruise to an Indian River spoil island. There I pulled out a little grill and a salmon fillet. When the fish was cooked we had dinner. Later we packed up and cruised back to Parrish Park, and a fine excursion it was!

 

“Those who become weary of angling bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.” -Rafael Sabatini

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Fished Two Days Central Florida Fishing Report

March 14, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Fished Two Days Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Fished Two Days Central Florida Fishing Report. I wanted to fish more but circumstances conspired against me. I only got out twice.

Upcoming Events
Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Seminar, March 28. Yes, we’re back again with the show and tell seminar. Visit this link for details.
On-the-Water Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Seminar, March 29. We follow up the road version of the seminar with a trip in my Mitzi around the lagoon. Visit this link for details!

Monday I had an appointment with Dr. David Demetree, a chiropractor. Riding across the country did a number on my spine. The good doctor straightened it out.

In the evening I was a speaker at the Mid-Coast Fly Fishers meeting in New Smyrna Beach, talking about winter fly fishing in Mosquito Lagoon. A good group they are- if you are in that area you’d be advised to look them up.

Tuesday I put my back out of wack again by spending the day sitting in my kayak in Mosquito Lagoon. There were backing redfish all day, not a lot, but enough to keep me interested. The best moment came when I spotted a fish so shallow his eyes were almost out of the water. I figured it would be an easy shot. As I stalked him I failed to see the fish I ran over. That one ran smack into the side of my boat, making a loud BONK and blowing out the one I was stalking. I got neither.

But I did get two on a DOA Shrimp and two on a Seaducer, solid slot reds all, and blew at least four more shots. These days that’s a great outing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Wednesday afternoon I went walking along the Econlockhatchee, spin rod in hand. The river looked great, low and clear. I did not see a bass, not did I get a bite. I stumbled upon a retention pond where I got three dinker bass, and those were my fish for the day.

“A fishing trip without laughter is not much of a fishing trip.” – Paul Quinnett

And that’s my first fishing report since returning from California. I hope to get out more next week. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Flamingo Paddle Fishing Report

January 25, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Flamingo Paddle Fishing Report (with a bit about St. Johns Shad)

Thank you for reading this Flamingo Paddle Fishing Report. Nothing like the Everglades, although getting to or from Flamingo is becoming a traffic nightmare.

After picking up my wilderness permit from the rangers Monday morning I loaded up the Bang-O-Craft and headed to Cape Sable. My plan was east cape two nights and middle cape two nights. The weather had other ideas.

The kayak and the Bang-O-Craft!

I had to stay east of east cape because of the wind and waves. Fortunately the kayak served as a dinghy so I could anchor the boat off the beach a way, which kept it from getting pummeled.

The waves meant the boat needed to be off the beach.

 

The Bang-O-Craft, happily at anchor.

I had some time to walk the beach. The shells are amazing! The amount of plastic there, especially abandoned commercial fish gear, is close to appalling.

 

 

 

 

A shorty snook, the first of many, and a hockey-puck jack fell for my little jig that evening. After darkness fell I stayed up long enough to enjoy the stars a bit and see two satellites. Beat from a long day, I soon crashed.

As soon as it got light I was up, eating fast and loading up for the day’s fishing. After anchoring the johnboat I started paddling. I planned the trip to take advantage of the incoming tide. No one told the water. I fought current the entire way. Crocodiles of all sizes jumped off the bank upon my approach. Between the crocodiles and the pterodactyl-like blue herons it felt a little like Jurassic Park. Even sounded like it- Scraw! Scraw! Scraw! Did not see a Tyranosaur, though.

Jursassic Park, Or Everglades National Park?

I couldn’t tell if the wind caused it or not, but the water was dirty. Between that and the wind, sight fishing with a fly rod, what I hoped to do, was impossible. Perhaps a half-dozen nice snook were spotted, all after blowing out. A single redfish tail went up and right back down again. The fly rod remained untouched. By lunchtime no bites had happened.

After lunch the current of the now incoming tide pushed me between two islands. Blind casting a DOA Shrimp produced the first bite of the day, a dinker snook. I got a dozen or so there, one after another, before realizing I was in the nursery. I went hunting again.

I found nothing but large reptiles (Where’s Steve Irwin when you need him?) until I got another dinker snook blind casting a small jig with a chartreuse twisty tail. At this point it was getting on in the afternoon. I waited at that spot for the tide to turn, catching small snook, until deciding to paddle against the current again to get back to the johnboat. You would think there would be a decent snook in there, but no, all little guys. Oh, and a solitary, lost, seatrout.

The stars again were spectacular, the Milky Way in as much glory as you’ll get in south Florida, and three satellites to boot. Venus was visible as soon as the sun set. The first stars to appear were Rigel, Aldebaran, and Sirius. Orion soon blazed. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/betelgeuse-supernova/605251/?utm_source=pocket-newtab The gems of stargazing, to me, are meteors, but not one did I see this trip.

The cold sent me to bed after a while. I struggled to stay warm all night.

The next morning the wind was still blowing hard. Florida Bay looked like a wavy bowl of mud. It was cold. My fishing spot didn’t work, and the weather kept me from trying much else. I loaded up and went back to Flamingo. I’d check the weather and if it were to stay the same, well, I would hit the road.

Forecast for the next day, north at 5-10. I got a campsite at Flamingo Campground. Once again the stars were awesome. Eight satellites!

In the fog I packed up, launched the boat, and headed out. After anchoring I negotiated a tiny creek in the kayak. The creek was full of fallen trees, and lots of snook. I was optimistic the lake would be good.

Another dinker snook!

Where the creek entered the lake I tried a cast. Bam! Dinker snook. I tried the fly rod with a streamer. Every cast. A snook on every cast! It wasn’t heavenly. They were all dinkers. Again I was in the nursery. I went looking for real ones.

I poled and paddled around the entire lee shore of the lake and did not see a fish. I paddled the length of the lake, back to the creek mouth. The dinkers were still there, no big boys.

The spin rod I brought has a history. I purchased the rod, a whippy fiberglass cheapy, at Lechmere Sales in Cambridge, right after I got my driver’s license. After stripping all the hardware off I wrapped new guides on the blank and put a new handle on, and mounted a Mitchell 308 loaded with four pound monofilament on it. With that rod I fished for bass and pickerel, and sunfish and crappie and perch, and stocked brown and rainbow and wild brook trout. And carp. Let’s not forget them.

Let’s not forget the carp. The author, circa 1969.

It didn’t get used at all for a long time and for years hung on our wall as “art”. Since our kids moved out we’ve been changing things around in the house. The old rod found its way back into my arsenal recently. I mounted a Shimano Nasci 1000 with 10-pound braid on it. That’s what I was using on this trip.

It wasn’t what I would have chosen to battle snook in a tiny creek loaded with lumber. But no way could I fly cast I there, so I went for it. The lure was the good old plastic shad.

The first several fish were dinkers. Then a real one hit.

The fish were in a lot of lumber.

The fish went around a mangrove root. The line was stuck in the little mussels on the root. I opened the bail while I worked the boat around the fallen wood to actually get at the place the line was caught and after fumbling around for a while got it free. The rod was passed around the root, the bail closed, the line tightened. The fish was still on.

There was more, similar stupid stuff, but I ended up getting the fish, by miles the best of the trip. I laughed like a maniac after releasing it, the whole thing was so crazy.

I cast the shad again. A bigger snook hit it. He did not mess around, immediately wrapping the line around a sunken branch and breaking off.

I considered re-rigging but that would have resulted in more fish with jewelry- no way could I get them out of that jungle. I paddled back to the johnboat, ran back to Flamingo, loaded up, and hit the road.

I left Flamingo at about 1440. I don’t want to say it was the ride from Hell, but it rained hard a good part of the way and I did not get home until 2200. The Florida Turnpike Authority ought to be ashamed of charging people to use that road.

St. Johns River addendum- last weekend I went to the St. Johns to try the noodle rod on shad. It got a workout! Fishing wasn’t hot, but it was pretty steady. About a dozen shad were released in about four hours, with lost fish and missed strikes of course. The rig used is pictured.

 

And that’s my Flamingo Paddle fishing report. I had a great time! Thanks for reading it!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , ,

A Short Central Florida Lagoons Fishing Report

January 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

A Short Central Florida Lagoons Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this short central Florida Lagoons Fishing Report. Like last week, I got out two days this week.

Last week I wrote this about fishing in the Mosquito Lagoon: “There is no seagrass at all. The fishing was definitely not great.” Reader Mike Schafer responded with this email, reprinted with his permission:
“Just to let you know that I have been out on average 4 days a week since Oct. 1. I live in Light House Cove in Oak Hill and had many years of spectacular fly fishing on the lagoon but I’m afraid we are seeing the total collapse of the lagoon ecosystem and fishing. I have not been able to find a single blade of grass and the fish have all but disappeared. I don’t know what the future will be but I’m afraid I may not be here long enough to see a recovery.”

Another reader, Noel Bachtel, sent me a YouTube link about a topic I have touched on in the past- herbicide spraying in Florida’s freshwaters. Here it is-

What a mess.

FISHING

Tom Van Horn took me out on the Indian River Lagoon on Tuesday. He showed me the black drum around the bridges with his fancy sonar system. We did not fish them, instead opting to search the flats. Wow, that was a mistake (mine). We looked for hours and saw nothing until the end, when we found a school of- you guessed it- black drum. Tom hooked one on a Gulp!. After a lengthy battle it came unbuttoned. Other than puffers they were the only fish we saw, and that was the only bite we got. Ouch.

Thursday I went out in the kayak from River Breeze. Karty Sills was at the ramp, just coming in. I asked him if there was anything out there. He said, “Not really. I got a couple black drum at Haulover.”

I went out expecting nothing. Wasn’t I surprised when on an early blind cast I got a bite. In a few minutes I released a lower-slot red. A couple casts later I got a trout that may have held batter. Several more fish came to hand, one red and fifteen or so trout, before the boat got loaded up. All were shorts. I saw two reds, nice slot fish, cruising the shoreline. No grass. Water didn’t look great. My best spots didn’t work. But it was a beautiful day, with spoonbills, and pelicans, and herons, and eagles. Beats sitting at home.

And that’s my short central Florida Lagoons fishing report. Thanks for reading it!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , ,

Everglades Solo Paddle Fishing Report and Photo Essay

December 20, 2019 by · 2 Comments

Everglades Solo Paddle Fishing Report

Wishing a most blessed Christmas to everyone.

Thank you for reading this Everglades Solo Paddle Fishing Report. It’s going to read like a full length magazine article so you might want to save it for when you’re at work. 🙂

Launched the kayak at the Everglades City Ranger Station about 11 am Sunday morning. I hoped to catch the last of the outgoing tide out to the Gulf, but I hit the nose of the incoming tide and had to paddle against it for a way. It hadn’t started running hard yet. The weather was amazing.

Don’t know what it’s trying to do. This is the beauty you see while paddling.

My plan was to camp two or three nights at Rabbit Key and two or three nights at Jewell Key, fish, watch stars, play harmonica, and be alone with my thoughts for a few days. It was a great plan.

Someone was watching over me.

While paddling I dragged a plastic shad behind the boat. Something hit it. A few minutes later I was surprised by a large Spanish mackerel, a beautiful fish. Wasn’t going to attempt to one-hand it for a photo!

Hit a young snook off a root wad, another that was banging bait. Reached Rabbit Key without further incident. The old campsite wasn’t there, a hurricane victim. I found quite a lovely alternate.

Home sweet home, Rabbit Key.

One of the best things about kayak camping is I can afford the finest of unspoiled waterfront properties, if only for a few days. Hit a small jack from my front porch.

My front yard at sunset.

I watched the sun set and darkness fall. Watching darkness fall is the best thing you can do while it happens, every single day. It’s magical. None of us do it enough. I spotted two satellites while admiring the Milky Way. Tired from a long day of travel, I then turned in.

It took me a while to get going in the morning. I headed to Rabbit Key Grasses, wondering if there was still grass (none I found). The path I intended to take was unavailable to me as it was lacking water, it being low tide. A small tidal stream drained a huge, dry flat with lots of birds on it. I thought the stream should be a fish bowl but, no bites. I saw a few black drum. Some big sharks swam in water that didn’t cover them, the sunlight glinting off their back and dorsal fins. They are so supple, so beautiful.

The fish is ON!

Once the water started rising I found myself standing and more or less poling in skinny water. Happily surprising me, a redfish cruised. I tossed the shad in front of it. A very satisfying eat happened. Wished I had the fly rod ready but was certainly happy the way things turned out.

This red nailed a plastic shad.

Saw a few other reds but no shots. Hit a few small trout on the way back.

Watched and savored darkness falling again. I was able to stay up for a while this evening. Saw three more satellites. Distant lightning dotted the horizon. Incoming clouds finally broke up the sky show.

Dawn view.

I woke up at 5 AM and started packing, not without enjoying a different sky. Orion was on the western horizon. A meteor fell out of Gemini and looked like it might hit me. The third-quarter moon was in Leo. It was so nice. Getting to see things like this is one of the main draws of making these trips. The fish are a bonus, man!

This trout hit a trolled shad just as the sun rose.

By 630, everything packed and breakfast eaten, I was off to Jewell Key, dragging the shad again. As the sun breached the horizon a trout nailed the shad. The fish was only about 18 inches long but was the best one I would get.

Said sunrise.

A short while later a serious tarpon rolled, only 30 feet away. Fortunately, he did not eat the shad.

A serious tarpon rolled, 30 feet away.

Soon after this a bluefish whacked the shad. I had another specie.

The wind came up to about 12 mph. It was not an impediment to my progress.

I stopped on a long bar.

I stopped on a long bar. The current flowed strongly, out towards the Gulf. I thought there should be some hungry fish there. There were, but only hockey-puck-sized jacks and some blue runners. Got some of each on an olive Clouser minnow. A shark threatened a couple as I played them, but it failed to commit.

Same bar, different view.

When I got to Jewell Key there was a young guy there who had paddled out for the day. I introduced myself. He said to me, “My parents were hippies. They named me Orion.” I told him I liked the name, and had admired his namesake constellation that very morning. I told him they could have chosen worse, like Zeus or Odin. Then again, I don’t have to deal with Orion.

A canoe with three young guys paddled up. Three guys with camping gear in a 17 foot canoe was quite a feat of packing, methinks. Now I had neighbors. Hardly saw them, they were awesome.

Morning glories in my yard on Jewell Key.

I set up my camp and went fishing, Gulf-side on Jewell Key. Between the wind, current, and waves I could only fish by wading. It was too rough and windy to fly cast so I flung a shad, on a light jig head, over and over again, out into the Gulf. It was a manly thing to do.

Generally it was pretty slow but there were two flurries that produced fast action for about 15 minutes each. Redfish, trout, jacks, and ladyfish fell for my deception. A mangrove snapper was fooled too. He got in the rocks and damaged my leader before I could work him out. I stupidly did not retie the leader. Yes, I absolutely should know better.

Shortly afterwards a large snook took the bait in plain view. I hardly felt the leader break, it happened so fast. Completely deserved it.

Typical mangrove forest in Everglades National Park.

Late in the afternoon the water got too deep for comfort. Back at camp there was a new neighbor, a solo paddler who may have been around my age. Quite a nice guy with an “American normal” kind of name, Paul. We chatted a bit, then I made my dinner and enjoyed it.

I spotted a fleet in the distance. After a few minutes it was clear they were headed our way. The sun was close to horizon- would they make it to land before it set?

Nine or ten tired, hungry paddlers from the University of Tennessee joined us that evening. Setting up camp, cooking, eating, and cleaning up were higher on their agenda than watching night fall. Woe is me- their flashlights disturbed my views. I managed to survive. Lightning flashed on the horizon. I even saw a satellite and a meteor before Orion rose, at which time I turned in.

Pounding rain and winds woke me later. It was like a fire hose blasting at my tent! I pulled my fly shut, fairly astonished how heavy and loud the rain was. The wind pulled out the stake that was holding down the fly. Water began joining me in the tent. Somehow my bedding stayed dry. After at least an hour the rain subsided to a gentle mist. I slept until daylight.

I got up, ate breakfast, and went fishing. A ladyfish school ran into me. That was entertaining.

Got a nice red, even more entertaining. Several trout and another red followed.

By now it was time to go back to camp and clean up the mess. The sun was even poking out a bit.

The canoeists and solo paddler were gone. The Volunteers were just launching. If no one else came I’d have the place to myself. I had already decided to go home the next morning.

Getting everything dry and tidy took a couple hours. For my afternoon fishing shift the winds were light. It would be fly casting only.

I started with a pink Clouser minnow, flinging it as far as I could into the Gulf. No sight-fishing here!

This red took 30 minutes of casting.

It took 30 minutes, but finally a bite. A solid redfish, about four pounds. Smile on John’s face!

Little feller snook!

Minutes later, a bite. Little feller snook!

If I catch a trout I’ll have some kind of slam. Trout, where are you?

Another bite. Hockey-puck jack.

This was an aggressive little fish.

 

So was this!

I switched flies, putting on the only Hootchie fly I still had. It fooled a variety of fish species- redfish, ladyfish, snapper, baby jewfish, and some solid jacks. On my last cast, as I was reeling up the line, a fish crushed the fly and ran into my backing for the first time on the trip. It was a jack of five pounds or so.

This jack went into the backing.

On the way back to camp I realized the wind had increased in intensity. I’d been fishing on the protected side of the island.

That evening solid overcast prevented stargazing, so I made a small fire, and of course watched darkness fall. My tent rattled and shook all night long. I was glad I had weighted the stakes down with chunks of wormrock. I did not sleep well, and got up when it got light.

I planned on leaving. Doing so would have been foolhardy. I don’t need NOAA to recognize a small craft advisory. Until the wind died back some I was stuck. I packed what I could and went on standby.

The back yard on Jewell Key,

Around noon I realized the tent wasn’t shaking as bad. My intended route did not look like a wedding cake any more. Paddling into the wind that was left would be hard, but it was no longer dangerous. I packed up.

I thought the tide was about dead low when I left. It wasn’t. I kept hoping the nose of the incoming would catch up to me. It didn’t. It was fight wind and tide the entire way. Even when it started raining I still loved every stroke.

Trips like this make me realize what an insignificant mote I am in the grand design. It’s one of the reasons I need to keep making them.

When I got to the ramp, its end was 10 or 15 feet from the water. Wading through knee-deep black ooze, I was able to drag my vessel to terra firma. Loading up, cleaning up, and driving got me home about 10 PM.

Spent most of Friday catching up, cleaning up, and getting my gear ready for the next trip. I wonder where it will be? It will have a tough act to follow after this one, which was deeply fulfilling, one of my best.

Thanks for making it through the Everglades Solo Paddle Fishing Report!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Fishing Stories, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Apalachicola Area Fishing Report

December 7, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Apalachicola Area Fishing Report

Hi Jim,

Your decision not to join Mike and I for our Florida panhandle fishing trip was probably for the best. I’ll explain why in a bit.

I apologize for not posting a report last week. I did get out three days, but between Maxx and Cat being here (They’re getting married in May!), twenty people here for Thanksgiving, and packing for the trip, there weren’t enough hours. The best things about last week were, the water in the Indian River Lagoon was pretty clear and I found some fish (they were not at all bitey), and Maxx and I went bass fishing on the Econ for an afternoon, getting five between us on Culprit worms. We saw a couple of otters, too. That was nice.

Maxx fishing the Econ.

OK, about the trip. We left Sunday morning for the drive up to the panhandle. We drove through rain produced by a passing cold front. Check-in time at Indian Pass Campground wasn’t until three PM, so we moseyed to avoid the $10 early check-in fee. What is up with that?

Our campsite was waterfront, at the lower right corner in the screen shot.

The wind was blowing hard enough that setting up our tents was difficult- everything wanted to fly away. We were the windbreak for the breeze coming across Indian Lagoon, so it wasn’t like we could hide from it. Even though the water was mocha colored, I tried casting from the beach for a while, but did not see (!) nor touch a fish. There were lots of dolphins playing though.

All that night the wind blew hard. My tent was all a-flappin! In spite of that I slept soundly.

Come morning I did not want to get out of my sleeping bag. It was about 40 degrees and we were still the windbreak for a 20 mph wind. While I went there planning on fishing the oyster bars and flats of Indian Lagoon, there was no way to do it. We did talk to a guy who had been there for five days, fishing in the Gulf with his wife from a big Carolina skiff. He’d gotten two flounder in five days.

We spent the day looking for someplace we could fish, without success. St. Joe Bay looked like a wedding cake. Apalachicola River was running fast and brown, covered with whitecaps. I don’t think it went above 50 degrees all day. Our timing was terrible.

The sky was clear and at night the stars were awesome. I could actually see the Milky Way running through Casseopeia to Cygnus. It was too cold to stay up and stargaze very long though.

Do you remember that -20 degree rated sleeping bag you used to have? Mine is rated to 40. I wore everything I had to bed- wool socks, long underwear, fleece pants, fleece shirt, hoodie, fleece jacket, buff, wool hat- and barely was warm enough. It was like that every night, all week. Mike was lucky- he had the warm dog to cuddle with.

Because of the cold there were no early morning starts.

The next morning we checked out and instead of going to Little St. George Island, the original plan, we changed it up and went to Ochlockonee (pronounced o-CLOCK-nee, don’t know why) River State Park and set up camp. From there we drove to Bald Point State Park from there to check out the fishing potential. There was no good way to launch a kayak there, so after being in the panhandle three days we still hadn’t gotten the boats wet or caught a fish.

Yay! A fish!

That changed on Wednesday. We launched the kayaks at the ORSP boat ramp and paddled about six miles down the river to where it dumps into the bay. On the way Mike got a redfish on a Vudu Shrimp. Yay! A fish! River Dog the Fish Hound was curious, and surprisingly well behaved considering he was stuck in a kayak all day.

On a flat at the river mouth we got a few more fish- Mike, a couple nice trout, and I, several trout, a small red, and a few ladyfish, on a Clouser Minnow. Then of course we had to paddle back up the river to the campground. The sun was warm and there was no wind, so it was a nice paddle.

I got a chance to observe human behavior at the campground. Many people spend over $100,000 for a luxurious tiny house on wheels that they can jam into a campsite in a state park to enjoy nature for a couple days. Doesn’t the house defeat the entire purpose of camping?? I served in the Army so that Americans were free to engage in such ridiculousness. Please don’t mind that I laugh at you folks and your stuff, and feel free to laugh back at my minimalism.

Americans are afraid of the dark. While we were at the state park we had a first quarter moon. It was bright enough to throw shadows. The only people not using electric or flashlights were Mike and I. Heck, the RVs had motion detectors to turn the exterior lights on, which were exceptionally annoying. Darkness is beautiful! Embrace it!

Please don’t mind that I laugh at you folks and your stuff, and feel free to laugh back at my minimalism.

Pardon my rant, please.

Thursday was another long paddle day. We launched at the Ochlockonee Bay Bridge boat ramp, and paddled to Bald Point, about five miles. The water was clear. The bottom was mostly bare sand. The sun was shining and there was barely a breeze, just beautiful. We spotted the occasional redfish on the way, running them over first. The sun was right in our faces.

At a creek mouth Mike hit several redfish. Around an oyster bar he hit several trout. I was fishless and frustrated.

I came around a little oyster bar point and spooked several reds. Casting a plastic shad at them I got an immediate eat and got my first fish of the day, a slot red. After releasing it I grabbed the six-weight and went wading. There was a clump of fish. The slider fell among them and got immediate gratification. The entire clump followed my hooked fish right up to me, at which point they all spooked off. So out of maybe 30 fish at that spot, I got two.

The slider got immediate gratification.

At the next point there were more redfish, and I spotted them before running them over. Using the slider I got four slot fish, all by sight casting, for the best 30 minutes of fishing I had on the trip.

The water was beautifully clear.

Friday we went to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The water was spectacular! You could see stuff (like seagrass!) on the bottom in eight feet of water. In a shallow cove we got 15 or so fish, reds and trout mixed. Mike was still on the Vudu, and I was using a light jig. It was the only place we got fish there, in spite of hours of searching.

River the fish hound inspects Mike’s redfish.

After fishing all day we drove back to the campsite, broke it down and loaded it up, and headed home. I got in at 11 last night. Mike still had an hour and a half to drive.

So we caught some fish. There were no easy ones. We worked hard for every one. In spite of the cold and the tough conditions we had a good time fishing in places we had never been. It just makes me want to go back when the weather is a little warmer.

Sorry this was so lengthy. Thanks for reading it!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

St. Johns/Econlockhatchee Rivers Fishing Report

November 23, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

St. Johns/Econlockhatchee Rivers Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this St. Johns/Econlockhatchee Rivers Fishing Report. In a rare event, only fished in freshwater this week. Didn’t carry a camera, all photos are from the files.

Fishing!
Monday
On an overcast and windy day, I fished the Econ on foot. It’s a bit higher than I like but is fishing anyway, not that it was great. I got two bass in almost three hours, one on a plastic shad, one on a Culprit worm. In their defense they were both decent fish. Quite a pleasant outing.

Tuesday
Launched the Bang-O-Craft at Mullet Lake Park. Goals were to check out some new (to me) areas and hopefully find some breaking fish. First goal was accomplished easily, even got kind of confused at one point.

I trolled quite a bit with a Shad Rap and crappie jigs, and cast quite a bit too. I got one stumpknocker on the plug while trolling, the only touch I got.

It was a nice day if a bit breezy. There was only one truck in the parking lot when I got there- I figured it would be slow.

Wednesday
Had Susan drop me off with the kayak at the 419 bridge crossing over the Econ, about 9 am. Wasn’t out of earshot of the road before I had my first bass, on a Culprit worm. It was a spectacular day and I hardly paddled, just letting the current push me along. Fish didn’t come frequently, but it was pretty steady. I got a dozen or so to maybe three pounds, losing a bigger one.

I tried fly casting a little bit but didn’t touch a fish.

Wore my waders for the first time this season, and was glad I did. The air was chilly in the morning, and the water was chilly all day.

Godzilla was there.

I didn’t see another soul on the water, which was nice. In the morning I had the river to myself. In the afternoon there was a reptile at every river bend. They came in two sizes- large and gargantuan. I saw a half-dozen 1000 pound gators. Usually when an alligator realizes you’re there they slide into the water, but a couple of the biggest didn’t move from the bar as I passed. They just watched me. Were they salivating???

I don’t know what those Econ gators are eating, but they’re eating plenty of it- they are all fat and healthy.

At 1 pm I still had a long way to go. I put the fishing rod away and started paddling like I meant it, arriving at Snow Hill Road about 430.

Friday
About noon I launched the Bang-O-Craft at CS Lee Park. My idea was to run up the Econ and float back down. I never made it past the confluence.

Crappie on the fry minnow.

There were breaking fish there. Using both fly and spin rods I got at least 30 fish- three crappie, three striper hybrids (I love those!), a dozen or so bass, and a lot of bluegills and redbellies.

This is the largest hybrid I’ve seen in the St. Johns, caught on an Al’s Goldfish.

For flies the fry minnow worked well. On the spinner I got a few fish on an Al’s Goldfish, but most came on a Creme Spoiler Shad.

Bluegill on the Creme Spoiler Shad.

One weird thing was that fishing was best at mid-day and got slower and slower as the afternoon progressed. You would have expected that to be reversed.

And that is this week’s St. Johns/Econlockhatchee Rivers Fishing Report. Thanks again for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , ,

North Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report

November 2, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

North Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report

Fished four days this week on the Indian River Lagoon. It was good! Fished one day on the Banana River Lagoon. It was a pleasant paddle.

Upcoming Events
On November 9 starting at noon, Kayaks by Bo in Titusville is having a “Meet the Author”/book signing with John Kumiski. His new book, Fishing Florida by Paddle, is now available!

For those unable to make it to the book signing, Fishing Florida by Paddle is available here- http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

Bugs- The Forgotten Food
I have a copy of the 1971 Professional Guide’s Manual written by George Leonard Herter for the North Star Guide Association. An excerpt is printed below-

Try an insect next time you’re hungry!

Fishing!
Monday
Itching to get out again, I tied a kayak to the roof of the chariot. My destination, picked more-or-less at random, was the Indian River Lagoon. Due to the water quality I have not fished there much in the past several years.

I got there just as the sun was appearing. The water’s surface was smooth and shiny. Barred owls hooted. Mosquitos bit me. To my complete surprise, jacks were going off all over the place. Haven’t seen that in the river in way too long. Got in the boat, started paddling, started casting a popper.

Got a jack of a pound or so. Got a trout, somewhat smaller. Ran over a pair of tailing reds. The jacks were not very interested in my popper, which was strange.

Changed flies to a small white streamer. Stood up and started looking. The water wasn’t clean, but it wasn’t algae nasty either. I could see the bottom as long as I stayed shallow. There were a lot of mullet around.

I started seeing trout. At first they were too close when I’d spot them, but as the sun got higher I was able to sight fish them.

Every good presentation got a fish. It was uncanny. The fish were all nice ones, 20-24 inches. Got a slot red for good measure. Off the water at noon, it was a heck of a morning.

Tuesday
Weather holding, went to a different area on the IRL, launching the kayak around 1030. The water was dirty. Kept paddling until it cleared up, then started looking.

There were more redfish and fewer trout at this place. There was more wind, too, which made fishing harder. I tried wading but couldn’t see anything.

I had five good shots at slot reds. Only one ate, a fly without a name.

I saw a fish and dropped a grizzly seaducer on it. It took, I struck and missed. It swam right under the kayak and sat there. I dropped the fly back in its face. I was fairly shocked when it ate again. I released it a few minutes later. It was a big trout, every bit of 26 inches.

Ended up doing well again, another great day.

Wednesday
Tammy and I were there at first light. The jacks were not there but the mosquitoes and no-see-ums were. They tore us up.

Forecast called for wind and clouds so I brought a spin and fly rod. Never touched the fly pole.

Tammy tossed a 5.5” jerk bait. I tossed a DOA Shrimp. I caught more fish, she got better quality. I did not get a red, but she got two. I got a pompano, a flounder, and a sea robin in addition to numerous trout to about 22 inches. Among other things, she got a trout about 28 inches.

Another awesome day.

Thursday


Tom Van Horn and I launched the Mitzi for some serious IRL scouting. We covered miles of shoreline, finding trout, black drum, and redfish, and hooking two snook. We could not get the drum to bite any of our soft plastics; however, the trout and reds were reasonably compliant. In most places the water was reasonably clean. Some green stuff, not seagrass, has started growing on the bottom in some places.

Fishing was never hot, but it was pretty steady all day. We did pretty well.

Saturday
Last time I went to the Banana River Lagoon I said to myself, “It will be a long time before I come back here.” I tried it today. The water is better than it was but you really can’t see the bottom. Of course the water is still pretty high. Other than a few mullet I saw no fish, got no bites. Did see one dolphin and one manatee. You know it’s a bad sign when you show up on a Saturday with nice weather and no one else is there.

And that is this week’s north Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

A No Fishing Report

September 7, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

A No Fishing Report

Electric Sushi

Left Alaska and with the help of Xanax (the greatest aid to travel ever) had a fairly restful trip home. I’d need it- Dorian was bearing down on central Florida and I had lots to do to get ready for that as soon as I stepped off the plane. Not to mention unpacking and reorganizing. So this is a no fishing report.

weighted Bunny Seaducer w/ rattle

Turns out the hurricane skirted us. We didn’t even lose power! But it dropped lots of rain, and along with the wind it precluded any fishing this past week.

Synthetic Minnow

Say some prayers and perhaps make a donation to the folks in the Bahamas. Dorian was not so nice to them.

Ghost Minnow

The Econ is running at about 8 feet. Mosquito Lagoon is at about two feet. It will take a while for them to stabilize.

Arctic fox Seaducer

I spent a good part of the week tying flies and otherwise getting ready for an upcoming trip. Fly tying so adds to the excitement of planning for trips- everyone ought to do it! Here are some instructions for tying the Electric Sushi! http://www.spottedtail.com/tying-the-electric-sushi-fly/

Sand Eel

The Mitzi had to be made water ready, too. That’s been done- I’m hoping to use it Monday.

Please tell your friends I have a new book coming out! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s no fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Flies and Fly Tying, Paddle Fishing Florida, Uncategorized ·
« Previous Page
Next Page »