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Everglades City Report

February 4, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Everglades City Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Everglades City report. Got some fishing in this week!

But first, something out of the ordinary for this blog. While watching musicians on youtube, I ran across a woman by the name of Jackie Venson. This lady can lay down some tasty guitar licks! I’ve never seen a woman play guitar like this. Not surprising, she’s a Berklee School grad. Anyway, check it out. If you don’t like it, just turn it off!

Her guitar work on this cut sends shivers down my spine!

If you like it, she’s got a couple concerts recorded on youtube. One of them is at this link…  If you like her, spread the word. She’s relatively new and could use the support…

Monday, went to the eye doctor. I have a bad cataract in the right eye, needs surgery. My Uncle Leo always told me, gettin’ old ain’t for sissies. Sadly, he is spot on.

When I got home, I packed my stuff and drove to Everglades City ranger station, got a backcountry permit for two nights on Jewell Key.

Tuesday morning, I packed the gear into the kayak and caught the outgoing tide all the way there. It was kind of windy. Before I even stopped to make camp, I went to the gulf side of the key and started fishing. I had to wade- it was too windy and rough to fish from the kayak.

I started with a spin rod, three-inch shad, trying to find out if anyone was home. Jewell Key has been good to me, but last time there, there were no fish. Before long I got a ladyfish, then a trout. I put the spinner away and started tossing a Clouser Minnow.

In this file photo from an earlier trip, Maxx holds a typical sized Jewell Key trout.

I worked my butt off. Did get a few more trout, though, and one diminutive snook. In the meantime, the water was rising, and I was getting hungry. I went to the campsite – no one else there! – and took care of all that camping business.

I laid around for a while, watching clouds and ospreys. Watching the clouds is an exercise in creativity. I see some strange things in those clouds!

I saw a chicken’s body with a seahorse’s head in this cloud. No chemicals involved.

I picked up the spin rod and started casting from camp. A Bite! A Puffer! Then I got a ladyfish, and then the best snook of the trip, not saying much. Maybe three pounds? I just let it go. A few hockey-puck-sized jacks attacked my lure, too.

Any day you catch a puffer is a good day!

Did a little kayaking on the lee side of the island. One trout, another dinker snook. Slow fishing. Watched three guys in a Boston Whaler, in the wind and current, not far off. I wasn’t going out there. They kept making the same drift. Fair amount of hollering going on in that boat. Good for them!

In this file photo from an earlier trip, Alex holds a snook of the size that I caught on this trip.

Back to camp. Pulled the boat up onto the island, got ready for night. Clouds made me think there wouldn’t be much in the way of stargazing, so I lit a campfire. First time in a couple of years. It was nice, watching the flames in their sameness and infinite changes, thinking about the chemical reactions going on in there, feeling the heat.

Built a campfire, first time in a long time.

Watched it get dark. I love watching it get dark. I love dark! Civilization’s fear of darkness makes me sad. I was at least 80 miles from Miami, but it lit up the night sky like a beacon.

The clouds cleared some, so I put out the fire and stargazed until I was almost too cold to get up. Some of my favorite constellations were almost straight overhead. Any Tauruses out there, reading? Geminis? Leos? On the US east coast, your stars are up there right now, as soon as it’s dark.

I crawled into my tent, my sleeping bag. It felt awesome! Checked my phone- 8:30! I’d catch up on some sleep tonight! I wish I had a video camera that could record my dreams. I could make such bizarre movies…

Wednesday was almost a carbon copy of Tuesday. I waded the entire gulf side of the island, fly casting in the wind. Hope springs eternal in the heart of a fisherman. I hit trout fairly regularly, the best being 19 or 20 inches. Never did get the killer strike, though. Got a small pompano. Did get to watch the sun make a complete arc across the heavens, too.

Got a small pompano.

Fished from camp again – nothing. Kayaked the lee side of the island – one trout. The guys in the Boston Whaler were back at the same spot, still hollering. Still good!

No clouds this night – stars should be out. As it got dark, Jupiter and the slimmest of crescent moons followed the sun to the sea in the west. Orion and all his friends came out. I saw a single satellite, pretty odd for the couple hours I laid out there to only see one, especially the way Elon Musk has been tossing them up there.

Jupiter and the crescent moon followed the sun into the sea…

 

The learned observer can find Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Canis Minor in the photo. Leo was lost in Miami’s glare.

Went to bed, wanted to get up early. A little after eight…

Thursday, there were still stars out when I got up- the Great Bear and Scorpius were easily recognized. Packed everything into the boat, ate a simple breakfast (all my meals this trip were simple- no cooking), and hit it. I caught the tide getting out there. I’d have to fight it to get back. Then I had to drive home. So, no fishing this day. Hardly saw any fish, anyway.

That was the theme this trip – there was no bait. The water was cold! I was glad I had waders. But no bait, no fish. And it’s not like there were no fish, I got six species, but there were not many. Nonetheless, I had two full days of getting my nature on, and anything more than that is just a bonus at this point. I might just be a biophiliac…

That’s my Everglades City report. Thanks for reading!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

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

Two Days Out of River Breeze Report

January 22, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Two Days Out of River Breeze Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Two Days Out of River Breeze report. Thanks to everyone who bought some fishing rods! I’ll be donating the unsold rods to some charity, I suspect.

The talented Patrick Young has sent me another guest blog piece, about kids and camping. Read it here…

Last week I wrote, “Tuesday was even more exciting search for tile, orchestrated by Susan!” Needless to say, that story did not end there. I also wrote last week, “Thursday, more car maintenance.” That story did not end there, either.

Monday and Tuesday I started emptying everything out of my office to prepare it for the tile installers. There is no better way to clean a room, or a house, than by completely emptying it. My office is not completely empty yet, but it’s getting there. The installers come Monday, so I know some of what I’ll be doing over the weekend.

I botched the maintenance job I attempted on the van. The gents at Pep Boys made it right on Tuesday. As long as the van was there, I had them do the other job, too. Car should be good to go for a while.

Wednesday, a beautiful, crisp, cloudless day, I put the kayak in the water at River Breeze and paddled to Marsha’s Pond, where I intended to fish. When I got there, there were already two boats there. I pulled up on a shoreline anyway.

A small black drum on a white slider fly.

I was pleasantly surprised how clear the water was. I was also pleasantly surprised to see some fish! The water was cold and clear, there were other boats around, and the fish were not biting very well. I got a small black drum on a white slider, then spooked fish occasionally for a couple hours.

Then I saw something I never expected to, perhaps never again, in the Mosquito Lagoon- a school of redfish.

Granted, it was a small school, maybe two dozen fish. And unfortunately, I moved them by not-quite-running them over. I circled around, staked out the boat, grabbed the fly rod, and went wading, hoping they sat right down again.

They did not. After 30 minutes of looking, I gave up and got back in the boat. Standing with the spin rod in my wader belt, I went looking for them again, now standing in the kayak. Pretty amazing, I found them. A good cast with a DOA Shrimp garnered an immediate strike. This caused the school to vaporize, but I sight-cast to a school of reds and got one, by gar!

Redfish on DOA Shrimp.

Later, I got a rat red on the DOA Shrimp by blind-casting. That was it for the day.

Thursday I went back to River Breeze. Lots of trailers were parked there. I decided that Marsha’s Pond might be too crowded- the water is still high enough for skiffs to go anywhere.

When I got to the first spot I wanted to fish, there were three kayaks there.

When I got to the second spot I wanted to fish, there was a boat anchored there.

When I got to the third spot I wanted to fish, there was a boat anchored there.

When I got to the fourth spot I wanted to fish, there was no boat anchored there. Yay! There were no fish there, either. Boo!

I worked my way into a small tidal creek. Good current was flowing, and this place has been good to me. I got were two redfish which, laid to end, may have made one legal-sized fish. Yes, they were small. But they did take that white slider.

Yes, it defines “dink”.

There were no fish at the next spot. I crossed an empty flat to another small creek, deeper than the first. Good current, again. Wadable. I staked out and went wading, after tying on a Clouser Minnow. I’d cast to the far bank and swing the fly, like fishing for salmon. I kept getting “pinfish bites.” I finally stuck one, a small ladyfish. There were lots of them- I probably caught fifteen. I wore out three Clousers in that creek. The ten-inch reds were in there, not thick, but enough I got ten or so. So I was getting bites, if all small fish.

This was a real one, though.

Then a real fish took. It actually pulled drag! It was the first of a pair of five-pound trout I got. Made my day! Got four or five smaller, in-the-slot trout, too.

The barb on all my fly hooks is crushed down, so I’d like to think I didn’t hurt any of the fish too much. I did not take either of those big trout, beautiful fish, out of the water. Better a live fish and a crappy photo than a great photo and a dead fish!

The weather was awesome, I found a place that had fish, I had it to myself. Fantastic! When the current stopped running the bite stopped. It took me an hour and a half to get back to River Breeze. Aye, ’twas a full day, laddie…

Friday Susan and I went to Blue Spring State Park. The sign at the entrance said there were 431 manatees there that day. I thought one of the rangers had a weird sense of humor (something I know quite a bit about), but there were actually that many there. Incredible, beautiful.

Plenty of beef in the spring run!

The spring run looks great. The water was almost limpid. There were loads of fish in there, including tarpon and snook. There were also tilapia and Plecostamus. There were many hominids on the bank, too.

The entire run comes from this boil.

 

I could not tell what these were.

 

Knew this one, though!

 

 

Kayak tours and rentals available.

After walking to the spring and back, we had a little picnic, trying to plot our next move. We decided to go to nearby Hontoon Island State Park, somewhere we had never been.

We walked three miles.

 

A short ferry ride (free!) took us out to the island. We took a three-mile loop, walking to an Indian mound at the far end of the island. It was a fine day for a walk, partly cloudy, not too hot. And after all that, we hopped in the van, and were home for supper. Another fantasmalyshtical day!

That’s my Two Days Out of River Breeze Report. Thanks for reading!

OH! I have a box of flies (a couple hundred at least) that belonged to the late Bob Stearns, many tied by Bob. It’s a mixed bag of saltwater streamers and poppers, with lots of classic Keys-style tarpon flies! I’m offering them for sale, $25 for the batch. If you can’t come get them, I’ll mail them if you pay the shipping. Contact me if you’re interested, please. home phone- four zero seven nine seven seven five two zero seven

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Econlockhatchee River Fishing Report

January 14, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Econlockhatchee River Fishing Report; Rods for Sale

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Econlockhatchee River fishing report, and my attempt to sell some more fishing rods. Like last week, subscribers get first shot at these rods, both spin and casting models.

First, a call to action!

The Tongass National Forest, of Southeast Alaska, is America’s Salmon Forest, one of the last few places on earth where wild salmon, steelhead and trout still thrive. Join us in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s to reinstate roadless protections on the Tongass.  www.americansalmonforest.org/takeaction   #AmericanSalmonForest   #TongassNationalForest   #Tongass77   #AKroadlessrule

Son Alex with a coastal cutthroat trout in the Tongass.

These roadless areas are the underpinnings of Southeast Alaska’s robust fishing and tourism industries, important recreation and subsistence lands, and are essential to the local way of life. This year, the U.S. Forest Service has announced they have a new vision for Southeast Alaska, and that includes putting an end to industrial scale old growth logging. To begin this effort, the USDA Forest Service has launched a 60-day public comment period to reinstate the Roadless Rule on Alaska. The last day to submit comments is January 24, 2022.

Susan with a silver salmon, also in the Tongass.

Take action NOW, please! http://www.americansalmonforest.org/takeaction.html

This is how thick the salmon get in the Tongass! Please take action to help keep it this way!

Now, the week including fishing.

Monday was an exciting day at Autonation Toyota Winter Park. Rocinante needed maintenance!

Tuesday was even more exciting search for tile, orchestrated by Susan!

Wednesday, I put the kayak in the river and started casting a new (for me) floating snakey-looking-foam-and-bunny-strip fly, in spite of the cool temperatures. Many casts were made where the thought was, “That one should get a bite.”

Over an hour went by- no bites. Saw a big alligator. Saw an otter- we had a bit of a staring contest, most extraordinary. But no fish. It was time to change the fly. Went for an ugly hackle fly that had been collecting dust in the box for years.

The ugly fly quickly caught this fish.

Of course, it quickly caught a fish, a nice little bass. Then a redbelly hit it. Then I got a big tilapia! Then, another bass! And then, because it sinks, it got caught on a submerged branch and was lost.

Tilapia on a fly.

It was the only one of those I had, but the box had quite a few wooly buggers. A black one was tied on. Several more redbellies, and a truly dinker bass. Time to paddle back.

On the way back, an enormous alligator slid off the bank as I approached. Some of these Econ gators must be pushing 1000 pounds.

Yes, it was very stanky.

Then I noticed a dead and decayed alligator carcass hanging from the branches of a blown-down tree. Macabre. Took a pic to share. Not a beautiful photo by any means.

Thursday, more car maintenance. Couldn’t afford to have it all done at AutoNation. And there’s still another job to do.

Friday, took a short before-lunch hike on the Florida Trail.

Glorious FT morning!

 

Love the mud bridges!

Then I took an after lunch paddle on the Little Econlockhatchee, where I found an abandoned golf club. You really have to love winter in Florida. I lost two flies to snags, did not see or touch any fish other than guppies.

That’s my Econlockhatchee River Fishing Report. Rods are below! Thanks for reading!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Fishing Rods for Sale!

All rods have been used- many were my guide rods. Priced to sell!

Spin Rods

Daiwa Sealine Graphite SG624, 7.5′ Medium Heavy Saltwater, Lure 1-3 oz., Line 12-30 lb.
I have two. Great rods for big tarpon, big jacks, sharks, etc. $50 for the pair.

Daiwa Sealine Graphite SG623, 7′ Medium Heavy Saltwater, Lure 1-3 oz., Line 12-30 lb.
Great rod for big tarpon, big jacks, sharks, etc. $25.

Daiwa Sealine Graphite SG213H, 7′ Medium Saltwater, Lure 3/4-2 1/2 oz., Line 15-25 lb.
Sporty rod for big tarpon, big jacks, sharks, etc. $25

Striker Graphite SPR704, 7′ Light saltwater, Lure 3/8- 3/4 oz., Line 8-17 lb. Redfish, trout, snook, largemouth bass, etc. $25

Daiwa Power Mesh Procaster PR213, 7′ Medium Light Saltwater, Lure 1/2- 1 oz., Line 6-17 lb. Redfish, trout, snook, largemouth bass, etc. $25

Shimano Stimula SI-070PMB, 7′ Light Saltwater, Lure 1/8-1/2 oz., Line 8-17 lb. Redfish, trout, snook, largemouth bass, etc. $25

Shimano Compre CPS70M, 7′ Light Saltwater, Lure 3/16-1/2 oz., Line 8-17 lb. Redfish, trout, snook, largemouth bass, etc. $25

The El Rod Custom-Built Spinning Rod, 7′ Light Saltwater, Lure 3/16- 1/2 oz., Line 8-17 lb. Redfish, trout, snook, largemouth bass, etc. $25

Casting Rods

Daiwa Power Mesh Procaster PR52-T5, 6 1/2′ Extra Heavy, Lure 3/4- 1 1/2 oz., Line 14-40 lb. $25

Browning Gold Medallion Graphite MC-56M, 6 1/2′ Medium, Lure 1/4- 3/4 oz., Line 8-17 lb. $25

Lew’s Laser TXS, 6’10” Medium Heavy Freshwater, Lure 3/8- 5/8 oz., Line 10-20 lb. This baby almost glows in the dark! Shows signs of wear. $10

Rhino Titanium RHTC 602M, 6′, two-piece, Medium, Lure 1/4- 3/4 oz., Line 8-17 lb. $10

Thanks for looking!

Filed Under: central florida destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Santa Fe River Fishing Report

January 7, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Santa Fe River Fishing Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Santa Fe River fishing report. It was an interesting, and brisk, trip up there to Alachua county.

Jimmy Jacobs stimulated me to make the trip with this article in On the Fly South. I’d been to O’Leno State Park before, with Susan, during our USA tour last year. Jacob’s article made me want to go back and fish the river.

I drove up on Monday (as a cold front came through), intending to float the river Tuesday. The Santa Fe Canoe Outpost rents boats and runs shuttles, for a fee of course. Surprise! I got there Monday only to learn they are closed Monday and Tuesday. Time to punt!

River Sink, O’Leno State Park

I’d been to River Sink. I took the remaining daylight as an opportunity to go see River Rise. For those who have no idea what this means, the entire Santa Fe River disappears at River Sink. It flows underground for three miles, then reappears at the surface at River Rise. It’s not unique, but it is rare, for a stream to do this.

River Rise, River Rise State Park

When I awoke Tuesday morning it was 36 degrees. Didn’t make me want to jump out of the sleeping bag. I’m sure the bass felt the same way. Florida bass like Florida weather, which 36 degrees is not. I fished with a spin rod in the state park, did not touch a fish.

The cooters were trying to get warm.

I went wading with a fly rod, parked at the High Springs Boat Ramp. There’s a little rapid there caused by a limestone shoal, which Suwannee bass  supposedly like. I fished it well, I thought, with a bunny strip fly, crawfish colored. Did not touch a fish.

Having been skunked before after cold fronts, I figured I should use the rest of the day to check out the area. I went and visited both Gilchrist Blue Spring and Poe Spring. Had I not fished, it would have been possible to visit other springs, including Ichetucknee. But after Poe Spring the day was old, so I went back to my campsite at O’Leno State Park, ate, and had the pleasure of reading Josh Greenberg’s Trout Water. Anyone who enjoys fly fishing would enjoy this brilliantly written book. Highly recommended!

Wednesday morning rolled around, soon enough. Forty-six degrees! A heat wave! I got up and did the morning stuff, then drove to the Canoe Outpost. They were open, and for 22 bucks I got a shuttle down to Poe Spring Park, where I left the van. We returned to the Outpost, where I hopped in the kayak and started floating, under heavy overcast, the seven miles down to Poe.

This stumpknocker hit the mouse fly. How hungry can it be??

My first fish, on the same bunny strip fly, came within minutes. It was a stumpknocker. My next fish came within a couple more minutes. It was a bass, not much bigger than the sunfish. Jacob’s article said something about big streamers, so I tied on the biggest eelworm I had. After an hour of tossing that thing, which seemed like real work, I had not touched a fish. I cut it off, tied on the foam mouse, and went back to work.

The first real fish of the day.

The first bite surprised me, but I got the fish anyway, a bass of a pound or a little more.

Stumpknockers kept hitting the mouse. Every now and again I’d hook one. That fly is ridiculously too big for them!

This was some of the stuff I was casting to. The entire river looked very fishy!

I checked my phone when I reached the SR 27 bridge. One o’clock, and I was only half way. Some paddling would have to be done. Not yet, though.

The trend was, each bass was bigger than the previous one.

A few minutes later another big surprise- a real bite! This was a solid fish, too. There were houses on one side of the river. Vain me, I wondered if anyone was watching. The fish was fat, easily two pounds, probably more. Got a photo, released the fish. Time to paddle.

I put the boat in the fastest flow and hit it. The bank went by quickly.

Fish of the day.

A sign let me know I’d reached the boundary of Poe Springs Park. I changed to a foam frog and started casting again. Only a few casts in, another bite, an even better fish. With this trend, if I’d had more time, I may have gotten a ten-pounder! As it was, after I released this one I was 100 yards from the van.

The CCC built this bridge in the 1930s.

Thursday morning, 43 degrees. I took some pictures in the state park, then got in the van and headed home.

The bridge has residents.

The fishing had been slow. A front had just passed and it was cold. The river looks great. There are lots of small fish, and turtles, and apparently frogs. I think I just hit it wrong, and would certainly go back and try again.

View from the bridge.

 

The Santa Fe, a beautiful river.

That’s my Santa Fe River 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, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy New Year Fishing Report

December 31, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Happy New Year Fishing Report

Happy New Year Pie, by Cheryl Kumiski

Happy New Year! Thank you for reading this Happy New Year Fishing Report. I wasn’t going to write one this week, but weirdly enough, I missed it. I miss my readers, my friends!

Since it’s January first, we all need to start hoping for a strong shad run. The advance scouts should already be here.

The weather has been incredibly nice! I lost track of the days!

We gotta back up. The Sunday before Christmas I drove to Hillsborough River State Park, an unpleasant drive of about three hours, no matter how I go. The park is almost worth it, though. I was supposed to meet Nick Colantonio, famous the world over as the Comatose Angler, a real treat for me. I beat him there, though, so decided to scout the river.

I paddled upstream until I came to a fallen tree that blocked further (easy) access. I rigged my fly pole (4-wt), tying a mouse fly on the end of the leader, and began floating downstream.

It took all of four casts to hook a bass. They came pretty steadily, and a few of those aggressive little stumpknockers managed to impale themselves on that hook, too. The day’s best fish jumped off, of course. All in all, a splendid afternoon.

Nick and I repeated the process the next morning. The fish weren’t as bitey, and the ones I caught were smaller. After the previous day it was all house money anyway. Beautiful day on a beautiful river with great company, and I didn’t need the 1st aid kit! Any fish were a bonus!

A few days later I went paddling on the Indian River Lagoon. I saw three redfish all day, only got one shot, and the fish spooked off the fly. Good thing the birds and weather were both incredible. Pepe Le Pew came home with me.

Christmas came. It was less festive around here with our boys (men, now) in California. We muddled through!

A few days later I went paddling on Mosquito Lagoon. For hours without seeing anything. I stood up to rest my bum, and there was a redfish up ahead of me, rooting around. I sat again, dropped the fly, and bam! Got him! So rare to convert that first fish of the day. I made sure it didn’t happen again…

I took my jonboat up the Econlockhatchee from the St. Johns, past the cabin, and fished my way part-way back down. Got two dink bass on plastic worms, which beats no cheese. The river looked lifeless. It’s still too high for my tastes.

I took my kayak down the Econlockhatchee from SR 419. No fishing tackle involved. There are some freaking DINOSAUR-sized alligators in that stretch, very impressive creatures. Small ones slide into the water as you approach. The big ones just eyeball you as you float by because they don’t see you as a threat. I had to wonder if they saw me as a snack. Other than the reptiles, the river still looked lifeless.

Thursday, went to a different spot on the IRL. Saw a redfish on the shoreline right away. My weighted fly plopped too close to him. I changed the fly, to a Seaducer. A few minutes later, something blew up some mullet. I dropped the fly on the spot, and Bam! Snook, to my surprise, about 22 inches and very feisty!

It was the 30th of December, and I saw at least two dozen tarpon roll, altogether amazing. It’s not like we’re in the Keys or the Everglades. Although none bit my flies or lures, I did get a decent trout while throwing to the rolling tarpon, on a DOA Shrimp. Saw a few more reds too, but did not get another shot, mostly runovers. Fishing wasn’t great, but the day was.

I found this boat abandoned in the marsh, if anyone needs a reclamation project for 2022. The paint is nice.

That’s all I have. Thanks for reading!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Saint George Island Fishing Report and Photo Essay

November 5, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Saint George Island Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Gulf sunrise, St. George Island

Thank you for reading this week’s Saint George Island Fishing Report. I left home at 0645 Sunday morning with a kayak on the van, got home 1500 or so Thursday, three and a half glorious days of little other than fishing. It was everything a fishing trip should be.

Fish around the oyster reefs.

I realized about two hours from home that I’d left all the food that needed some refrigeration in the refrigerator. I mostly lived on oranges, boiled eggs, and nuts and berries. It was good- no weight gain.

Home, sweet home.

The photos are a mix of new and file photos. Was more interested in fishing than photography this trip.

The island is losing to St. George Sound, and the saltwater is killing the pine trees.

Upon reaching the put-in, I found Mike Conneen and River Dog ready and waiting for me. Sorry, it takes time to get here- like six hours or so!

After sunrise on a windy morning.

We paddled to the campsite and set up. Let’s fish! In my exuberance I paddled quite a distance, wanting to visit last time’s hot spot. That spot was so eight or so months ago. I got some trout there, but not like it was then. What a surprise.

The water was almost crisp.

I had to call Mike on my way back. I didn’t know where camp was (big ERROR on my part), and it was nearly dark. He was kind enough to brave the bugs and shine a flashlight to give me an approximate location. In the meantime, redfish started tailing. I got two on a white slider, the second almost by starlight. It was so cool! And I managed to find camp.

You can wade and sight fish with fly tackle here.

Shunning the known spots, we explored new territory the next day. We caught a few reds and trout, but had to work for every one. We had clouds a good part of the day, and the water was not as clear as on previous trips. It was hard to see all day.

Mike and River combined to get this redfish.

The seagrass there is still healthy. That in itself was enough reason to make the trip.

River failed to opine about the release.

Those clouds caused a stunning sunset. The redfish did not tail, though.

Stunning? Methinks so.

Mike had to leave on Tuesday. We slowly paddled together, fishing our way back to the put-in. Mike got a redfish and a nice trout, too.

Fishing around the oysters. Photo courtesy Mike Conneen.

After he left, I went wading around oyster bars. Fish, mostly reds, came through in little clumps. I was able to sight-fish them with a variety of flies. The best of a dozen or so was about ten pounds, again on the white slider.

Flounder will hit flies! Kind of hard to sight fish them, though.

Being able to wade, with a fly rod, in water that was clean enough for me to be able to see the fish take, was thrilling! I remember when where I used to fish all the time (Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons) was like that.

More dead pines…

Went looking for tailers after sunset. Did not see any. The water was still too deep, and low tide was now a couple hours after dark.

Looking for trailers at sunset.

Went wading near camp the next morning, somewhat sheltered from a stiff breeze. The water was startlingly clear (almost crisp), but I only threw to a single fish. He said no.

Sunrise over the Gulf. Different morning.

After breaking camp, I went back to the previous day’s spot, hoping for a repeat. The wind had caused waves, which stirred up the bottom. I could not see my feet. I cast a jig into the now-muddy water with the spin rod, hitting three fish in about that many hours.

Then the tide changed, the wind changed direction, and the water cleared. I fished through again. this time with a white Clouser minnow, blind-casting as I went. I only saw two fish, getting a shot at neither. But I got two reds and seven or eight nice trout on that fly, which was in tatters at the end of the day.

I did not look for tailers that evening, opting for a shower and some beach time.

My last morning, with an overcast sky.

Thursday morning, I again visited the beach under an overcast sky, where I watched someone else catch a nice bluefish. Almost as good as getting it myself! Then I hopped in the van and drove home, well satisfied!

In other news, the Braves won the World Series!

Not wanting to let the mushroom thing go, you can watch a fantastic program on them on netflix here… 

That is this week’s Saint George Island Fishing Report. Thank you again for reading! Life is great and I love all my readers!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2021. All rights are reserved.

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

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report and More!

October 23, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report and More!

Thank you for reading this week’s Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report and more! Got out twice this week, once by myself and once with son Alex. I also grew some mushrooms, and had that tooth pulled…

Mushrooms

Five days after I started spritzing, I had this!

I got a mushroom grow kit from northspore.com. It was fun, easy, and delicious. I was eating the tastiest fresh mushrooms only five days after opening the kit! You can read my blog about it at this link, or go directly to https://northspore.com.

Flies

A few people asked about the “new fly” I wrote about last week. If you’ve been following me a while, you’ve seen similar flies tied with different materials. But I took a picture of it.

If anyone needs tying instructions, let me know and I will make a new webpage with them.

FISHING and other…

Weather was fantastic. Water, not so much.

Tuesday
Went paddling on the Mosquito Lagoon. Weather was fantastic, water was decidedly not. High and dirty, really hard to see. I ran a few fish over, then spotted a wake coming right at me. Dropped the fly (a redfish worm) almost on his nose. He crushed it.

The fish crushed it.

 

The redfish worm, such a good fly!

 

Double spotter.

 

Releasing it back into the nasty water.

Played hide and seek with a manatee. I swear it was following me around.

Wednesday
The dentist removed part of the dental bridge I had, then Alex and I went to Mosquito Lagoon again, paddling a canoe. Lots of looking, not much catching. He did get a fine redfish while blindcasting the rubber shad, the only fish of the day.

Alex and friend.

Thursday
Dr. Campbell yanked a molar out of my lower jaw with a pair of fancy stainless steel pliers. I recommend him if you need this done, but take care of your choppers and avoid it if at all possible.

After that was not in any condition for anything else.

That’s what I got. Thank you again for reading this Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report and More. Life is great and I love all my readers!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2021. All rights are reserved.

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

Great Weather IRL Fishing Report

October 15, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Great Weather IRL Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this week’s Great Weather IRL Fishing Report. Got out four days this week, all solo trips by kayak. I need a fishing buddy who has a sense of discretion…

Last week I had a question, if anyone had seen mullet working down the beach. NO ONE responded. Either you folks need to get out more, or there are no mullet on the beach.

FISHING (and other) Report

The high water is killing me! The Haulover Canal gauge has hovered around 1.5 feet all week.

Monday

Spruce Creek, still beautiful.

Went paddling at Spruce Creek. Hadn’t been there in a year, did not know what to expect. It’s still beautiful! Did not see jacks raising hell, or ladyfish either. Did see a few tarpon rolling. Did see a few fish bust along the shoreline.

Got several snooklets and jumped one tarpon on fly. The hook must have hit the bony part of the tarpon’s mouth- it jumped right off, and bent the Gamakatsu hook besides.

As the tide got high, I just blind-cast the rubber shad, and got surprised by a redfish pushing 30 inches. I unhooked it without removing it from the water, a growing trend. Nice way to finish the trip!

Tuesday

Went paddling on the Indian River Lagoon. Weather was fantastic, but my optimism was fairly crushed early. Ate lunch without having seen anything other than mullet.

Showed two different flies to two different redfish in the afternoon. Both turned and fled. I just blind-cast the rubber shad, and got surprised by a seatrout pushing 26 inches, my nicest trout in a long while. I unhooked it without removing it from the water…

Wednesday

A consulting visit to the oral surgeon. Move along folks, nothing to see here…

Thursday

Went to the Indian River Lagoon, different place. Weather was extraordinary- even had light rain for a while, very pleasant. Saw exactly one redfish as I ran it over. Did not get a shot with the fly rod all day. Got a few marginal trout by blindly pitching the rubber shad. Did thrill to a pair of eagles flying together.

Trout on rubber shad.

It’s so easy to enjoy these days, watching the kingfishers and the ibis, watching the clouds grow and shrink as they travel through the sky, listening to and watching the dragonflies of all different sizes and colors. I watched a dragonfly catch a mosquito I had shooed off me one morning. That was awesome!

Friday

Went to the Indian River Lagoon, a different different place. Weather was again extraordinary- what a run we’ve had! Wind from the east for weeks, but whatever.

Snoook on the new fly.

 

Black drum, actually hooked in the chin.

Got a snoook on my third cast- guess that new fly works! The fish tore it, and its partner, apart. Guess I need to armor plate them! Ended up with five snook, two ladyfish, one each of redfish and black drum, and hooked a tarpon that I got three jumps out of. There were no IGFA world records here, folks. But all were on fly, and I’m not complaining!

Yeah, I need to beef these flies up. Never saw one fall apart in quite this way.

That’s what I got. Thank you again for reading this Great Weather IRL Fishing Report. Life is great and I love all my readers!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2021. All rights are reserved.

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

Southwest Florida Travel Post

March 6, 2021 by · 1 Comment

Southwest Florida Travel Post and Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s Southwest Florida Travel post.

Yours truly was a guest on the Fish Untamed podcast. I listened to it half expecting to be embarrassed and was pleasantly surprised that I came off as well-informed and perhaps even thoughtful.

Thanks for having me on the show, Katie!    https://fishuntamed.com

——————————————————-

Monday morning found me driving to Everglades City in the wee hours of the morning. I wanted to catch the outgoing tide all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and low tide was at 11 AM. I mostly made it.

The kayak on the return trip, after eating and drinking for a couple days.

Paddlers need to know how to time the tides. Paddling against the current isn’t hard if the current doesn’t run fast. The moon phases where the highest volume of water moves are the new moon, closely followed by the full moon. Much less water is moving on quarter moons.

Another good thing to know is that 1/12th the total water volume moves during the first hour of the tide. One-sixth the volume moves during the second hour. During the third and fourth hours, half the total volume that’s moving does so. During the fifth hour the flow slows again, with 1/6th the total volume moving. And during the last hour, 1/12th, all that’s left, moves.

So if you must paddle against tidal flow, the best time to do it is on a quarter moon, near the top or bottom of the tide. If only the wind speed were so predictable.

I got out to Jewell Key near mid-day. Other campers were there, but there was plenty of room for me. After setting up camp I tried fishing. At my favorite spot the water was too deep to wade, and too rough to fish from the boat. So I tried other areas.

My favorite spot at low tide. These rocks usually hold fish. Not this time…

It was slow. I managed a couple each of jacks and ladyfish and one small snook, all on plastic shad.

Same area, same tide, different angle.

By the time sunset came around, I was ready to get horizontal. It had been a long day!

Sunset, into the Gulf.

Tuesday morning’s low tide found me in my favorite place. I worked it hard, both on foot and from the boat. The fish were not there. I managed four trout in four hours, and it’s not like they were big ones. I tried several other spots, and got nothing. By then it was high tide, when I typically don’t do well anyway. So I returned to camp and took a nap.

Did some stargazing and star photography.

That evening I stayed up and did some stargazing, always an enjoyable pastime. The wind was sufficient that the bugs were near non-existent.

Praise the Lord for a new day!

Wednesday the wind was blowing hard, and the sky looked like rain. After the previous day I figured fishing would be a wash. Bag it, John! Go see something new! I paddled back to Everglades City, then drove to Fakahatchee Strand, where I had never been.

Lots of clouds around for the sunrise.

The Big Cypress boardwalk was a tremendous one-mile walk. Most cypress in Florida are second-growth. But this place has massive, virgin cypress trees. My regret was the walk wasn’t longer.

The boardwalk.

 

Beautiful, big cypress trees.

 

The strangler fig killed this cypress.

 

Little blue? tri-color? heron along the trail.

From there I went to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, another place I had long wanted to visit. I got there and the gate was chained. Oops!

I ended up in Cape Coral, camping in son Alex’s driveway.

Getting ready for the tour.

Thursday I took an three hour ecotour with Kayak-Excursions. It was fun and educational, and the mangrove tunnel at the end was one of the nicest I’ve seen, just awesome. I highly recommend their services, https://kayak-excursions.com.

Launching!

 

Paddling amongst the pelicans.

 

In the mangrove tunnel.

Friday? Clean-up on aisle 4. After that trip the van was trashed. Now it’s nice and clean, as is all my gear.

Thank you for reading this week’s Southwest Florida Travel post!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a kayak ecotour!!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2021. All rights are reserved.

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

Ode to Cabbage Palms Report and photo essay

January 23, 2021 by · 4 Comments

Ode to Cabbage Palms Report and photo essay

Thank you for reading this Ode to Cabbage Palms Report. There may be a couple fishy mentions in here too!

Monday and Tuesday must have been pretty dull, for I don’t remember what was done. I did repair our clothes dryer in there. My brain must have blotted out that terrible memory! On the other hand, the dryer does get hot and dries our clothes now.

Wednesday afternoon found me in the Bang-O-Craft, launching at CS Lee Park. Target, shad! Went to the mouth of the Econ, where casting commenced. The weather was fantastic. There were some signs of life in the water, and before long I had a fat crappie. A while later I got another. Shortly after I got a little one. And finally, the first shad (for me) of 2021, a little buck, which took a pink crappie jig, right next to the boat. All fish were released.

The noble sabal palm photographs beautifully.

I had been wanting to photograph some palm trees against the setting sun. The sky was spectacular, the light was golden, and I had my cameras.

They’re so Florida!

I went to a stand of sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) trees. Out came the camera. I may have gotten carried away, even trying imitate a palm tree myself.

Silly John, you can’t photosynthesize!

Would life be easier for us if we could photosynthesize? Imagine if we were green and could stand in the sun and make sugar!

Palms at sunset.

You can eat the heart of the sabal palm tree. Only once, though, as removing it kills the tree. Sabal palms are also called cabbage palm because of this edible heart.

Reflections of palms. It’s an ode to cabbage palms!

The Bang-O-Craft lacks lights, so I left before I wanted to, but got some more shots of the sky as I made my way back to the boat ramp.

St. Johns sunset, fantastic.

 

SR 46

Thursday played out in similar fashion, except I went to Mosquito Lagoon, and the photos happened at Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Note the brown slider. Eyes are bead chain.

Two black drum ignored my flies, and a redfish did not. I’m still using the brown slider. The water was quite low, and dare I say it looked a little cleaner? Some green stuff, that exotic algae from the Pacific Ocean (I can’t find the name right now), is starting to grow on the bottom of the lagoon. When that gets established we can be sure we’ll never see manatee grass there again.

The Release!

Friday began the process of installing the solar electrical system in the Sienna, which is probably how much of next week will be spent. At the moment I’m trying to figure out where all the components will go, and how to best mount the solar panel on top of the van.

The spoonbills are still at the wildlife drive.

 

Telephoto sunset.

 

Wide angle sunset.

Thank you for reading this Ode to Cabbage Palms Report blog!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or walk on a trail!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of 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 2021. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Photo Essays, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
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