A Fishing Smorgasbord Report
Thanks for reading this week’s post, A Fishing Smorgasbord. Definitely fished around this week.
Please check out Patrick Young’s guest post on how to turn a business trip into a vacation here…
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Last week I ended my post with this- “Might have to try fishing somewhere else.” I did. Sunday I drove up to Little Talbot Island State Park, to do some fishing in the spectacular salt marshes around there. Last time I was there it was borderline fantastic.
A tiny piece of the spectacular salt marsh around Jacksonville.
When I reached my campsite, I stepped out of the car, and thought maybe I’d gone to Flamingo by mistake. Yeah, the mosquitos were bad. Immediate gratification from the bugs, not what I wanted.
In the morning I launched the kayak at close to dead low tide, going straight to my best spot. I worked it hard, getting a single bite, a fine enough seatrout. Thought I should continue down the creek and see what was to be seen.
My one trout on fly. Got a twin on the rubber shad, too.
Nothing was to be seen, at least in the way of fish.
Floated back up to the Good Spot, tossing the shad now. Got one more trout.
Continued floating up the creek. Found a spot thick with bait. Heard a fish pop here and there in the marsh grass. Actually saw a redfish near some oysters, but it disappeared into the murky water before I could act. Now at the top of the tide, I paddled back to the put in and put out.
Went to the beach, brought a fishing rod. The water was really dirty, didn’t make a cast. A big storm was on the horizon. The bugs were awful, so was the fishing, and a big storm was on the way. Cutting my losses, I got on I-95 and headed home.
Tuesday was clean-up and put things away, other errands, some writing.
Wednesday saw me tow the Bang-O-Craft to Port St. John. A cold front had come through. There ought to be some fish at the power plant.
Wind was supposed to be northwest. It was stronger than I expected, but I thought I’d be OK and launched anyway.
Second power plant fish, on fly.
Joke was on me. Power plant is shut down, undergoing some kind of construction. I went around the end of the berm, figured the back side would be calm. Not only was it calm, but there were some fish there too!
Third power plant fish, on fly!
On a Clouser Minnow I got a brace of slot trout, a slot red (if reds were open, which they are not), a snooklet, and a fat, ugly sailcat. Then I got a bigger redfish and several skater trout with the spin rod.
Another power plant fish, on fly! Note the heavily slimed leader.
And a final power plant fish, this one with a spin rod.
Then I had to get back to the ramp. The wind had shifted more north and gotten stronger, and there was solid, white-cappy chop. A rolly, spray-y and slow ride back to the ramp. If two guys at the ramp hadn’t helped me load the boat onto the trailer, I’d probably still be there. Thank you, good samaritans!
Thursday I got an hour or so in at the retention pond near my house. Bluegills, four of them, on a foam spider. When the bass hit, I popped it off. That was it!
One of several.
Friday I tried the Indian River Lagoon again. I saw a few redfish by running them over (no shots). I found some rolling tarpon. Thought myself blessed to be fishing for bass one day and tarpon the next. Got one to bite on the first cast, on an Electric Sushi. Changed flies three or four times in the next two hours I threw to them, could not get another take. Got a ladyfish to chase the skunk, though.
That’s the A Fishing Smorgasbord post. Thanks for reading!
Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!
John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog
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