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Summer Solstice Central Florida Fishing Report

June 20, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Summer Solstice Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this summer solstice central Florida Fishing Report. Saturday is the solstice! I will celebrate by using a lawnmower.

Sunday evening Susan and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary at Bonefish Grill. Sister Cheryl tagged along, perhaps as a chaperone? We sat outside, of course. A thunderstorm came through, booming and spitting at us. It made for quite a memorable meal, our only restaurant visit since the COVID incident started. We are still on self-quarantine.

Monday was the actual anniversary. I had installed a new livewell pump in the Mitzi, and took it out on the St. Johns to check for leaks. It’s all good!

The old livewell intake tube could not pick up water while the boat was running. On this installation I added an EZ Pump to the transom. This device forces water into the intake tube while the boat is running. It works great, I am so happy I did this! I’m not big on using bait, but when I have it I want it to stay alive.

The EZ Pump scoops water into the live well water pickup when the boat is on plane.

After dinner I loaded three kayaks onto the roof of the chariot. We drove to Haulover Canal and launched them as darkness fell. The bioluminescence is heavy now. Every paddle stroke makes the water glow electric blue, as do all the mullet and other sea creatures. The Big Dipper was nearly straight overhead, pointing at Polaris, Leo, and Arcturus. We watched Scorpius rise, and saw several satellites and meteors. It was a fantastic way to finish off anniversary day!

Wednesday looked like I could cruise the deep blue. I launched at the Port, clearing the jetties as the sun cleared the horizon. Tarpon were the goal.

I found a few rolling near the cape. Blind-casting a black and purple streamer in the vicinity, I had a bump. Not a take, but a large fish rolled behind the fly. Had it eaten, the 10-weight would have been inadequate. That was it in two hours. I pulled the boat, trailered to Haulover Canal.

The water at the south end of the lagoon is fairly clear. There is no grass. I visited all my old best spots down there. Between 10 and 2, I saw one trout, one redfish, one bonnethead, maybe a dozen black drum, and caught three trout on a plastic minnow, two of which were slot fish. There were decent numbers of finger mullet. Don’t need to go back for a while!

Thursday Susan and I paddled around on Lake Mills for a short time. Water looks nice! Didn’t see much in the way of fish. Lots of ski boats and jet skis moored around the margins of the lake.

Friday I was going to go out. Cancelled because of a forecast. Bad move! Ended up working on the hurricane panels, a tougher job than anticipated.

I think there is a connection between thinking and fishing, mostly because you spend a lot of your time up to your waist in water without a whole lot to keep your mind busy. – Anthony Doerr

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, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , ,

Visited Old Spots Fishing Report

June 13, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Visited Old Spots Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Visited Old Spots Fishing Report.

I moved to Florida in 1984. Was a fisherman when I got here. I fished and guided the Banana River Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon, the Mosquito Lagoon, the near-coastal Atlantic from both Ponce Inlet and Port Canaveral, and the St. Johns river system as my local waters, and have travelled and fished all over the state. Since I got here, and particularly over the last five or six years, I have watched the water quality decline, and the quality fishing areas shrink, to the current pitiful state. There are many places I have fished where I’ve thought at the end of the day, “I don’t need to check here again for a long time.”

This week was dedicated to visiting some of those areas again.

Monday I visited what used to be a favorite St. Johns River system lake. It was full of vegetation- milfoil, eelgrass, dollarweed, bulrushes, others. The bass fishing was fantastic. A couple years ago, when the FWC declared herbicide war on all aquatic vegetation, I visited this lake with Tom Van Horn. The vegetation was all dead or dying. The bullfrogs were silent. There were no alligators, and no fish. I don’t need to check here again for a long time.

Best fish of the day.

Monday’s visit was nostalgic. The marsh is beautiful. Bullfrogs sang loudly, and so did the blackbirds. Tilapia chased each other around. I snuck up on a four-point buck, in velvet, that was feeding at the water’s edge. I fished hard for six hours, came up with four dink bass. There is still no vegetation, and not many fish. I still don’t need to check here again for a long time.

Wednesday I launched the Mitzi at Kelly Park and ran it down to Pineda Causeway. Was hoping to see tarpon, and the weather was perfect for it. No tarpon, though.

Used the electric motor to work my way most of the way to Georgiana Island. Found one small school of large redfish. I didn’t think they existed anymore! One slurped up my bunny leech in plain view and I caught it, the largest red I’ve gotten on fly in 10 years. That was way cool! Truly, God smiled on me. The entire episode was so unlikely.

I could not lift this fish into the boat.

Other than that, there were small scattered trout. Ran north of 528 and checked from the Barge Canal to KARS Park. Saw a few reds, a handful of five pound black drum, and two small snook. Got one dink trout, did not touch another fish. I don’t need to check here again for a long time.

One dink trout.

Back at the ramp two guys had an open fisherman on a trailer. One of them came over to me. “You got a screwdriver?” he asked. “Of course, I have a screwdriver,” I said. “He doesn’t,” the man said, pointing to his buddy. “Then why did you go out with him?” I said. Seriously, if you have a boat, you need some basic tools. It doesn’t get more basic than a screwdriver.

Friday On a perfect morning Scott Radloff and I went kayak fishing on the Indian River lagoon. Our boats hit the water at sunrise, and we were out until mid-day. Not a fish did we see. I hardly made any casts. Beautiful morning, lovely birds, I don’t need to check here again for a long time.

All other things being equal, the experiment will continue next week.

Non-exclusionary by its nature, fishing embraces all creeds and colors, all manner and kind of man and woman, gay or straight, whole or broken in body or spirit; every seeker, every pilgrim, every hopeful traveler who believes that in the art and sport of angling something purposeful, meaningful, traditional, wonderful, fun, and spiritual can be found. – Paul Quinnett

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, Orlando Fishing Report, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Another Central Florida Fishing Report

May 23, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Another Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading another central Florida fishing report. I hope you are still maintaining your health and your sanity through this pandemic thing. In spite of what you may have heard, it’s not over yet.

Sunday– With a beautiful morning, and tired of being in the house, I again got the bicycle out and headed to what was for me a new area on the Econlockhatchee. A ride of about a mile put me at the river.

There were people fishing there.

I hid the bike and went through the woods the other way, picking up a few chiggers while I was at it. The river was tiny, just a creek. I did not see many fish. I did get to watch two otters (one at a time) frolic in the river right in front of me, very cool. A barred owl, right over my head, had an owl conversation with a friend a ways off.

I hooked one 10 inch bass on a riptide sardine. The fish shook off before I could land it. I had a great time walking through the woods, but I wouldn’t go back for the fishing.

Tuesday the wind was something less than 20 mph. I launched a kayak at Mosquito Lagoon and worked it hard.

The fish were not on. I saw two reds, did not get a shot. I saw a few black drum tailing. When the tail disappeared, the fish disappeared. The only bite I got was from a five pound black drum that took a redfish worm, and I felt lucky to get it.

I was asked for a photo of the redfish worm. It is a very simple fly.

Thursday was another beautiful day so I tried kayaking Mosquito Lagoon again. While hunting, I spotted a redfish as I passed it. When I turned to try to get a shot I couldn’t find the fish again. I waited and watched. The fish finally tailed, right next to the mangroves. I thought my cast was off, but the fish must have heard the fly hit the water. As I began to lift the rod for another cast the fish took the fly. Of course it shook right off.

Another redfish falls to the redfish worm.

A while later I ran over three black drum. I staked the boat, stood up, and waited. I got several shots over the next 40 minutes or so and pooched all of them, missing a few bites in the process.

I turned around and three redfish were cruising the shoreline. I dropped the fly on them on the backcast- BOOM! First fish of the day. It was almost one o’clock.

A fish crashed along the shoreline a few times. A saw the fish and made the cast- too long, right into a mangrove branch. I jerked the fly off, used that as the backcast, and splashed the fly down, hard, a couple feet in front of the fish. BAM! My second, and last, redfish of the day, and you’re not likely to get many in quite that way.

I’ve had some people ask me about chartering- while I could certainly use the funds, I’m still on self-quarantine. I’m staying there until everyone in my household thinks it’s safe to end it.

“I remember the good evenings I have fished, even the ones that realised material hopes not by the fish that came to the fly, but by the color and movement of water and sky, by the sounds and scents and gentle stirrings that were all around me.”
-Roderick Haig-Brown

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: , , , , , , , , , ,

Econlockhatchee River Exploration Report

May 15, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Econlockhatchee River Exploration Report

Thank you for reading this Econlockhatcheee River Exploration report. I hope you are maintaining your health and your sanity through this pandemic thing.

Since I have more time available than normal, I have been reading more, both on-line and in print. Today I read a fascinating article. Here is an excerpt-

“…our institutions are still profoundly anthropocentric. We deny even the most basic rights to other parts of nature, including our close animal relatives, some of which share more than 97 percent of our DNA. We pollute our environment with close to zero regard for the well-being of its ecosystems—and we fight pollution only if and when it inconveniences us. Scientific experiments on human beings are not only illegal, but are considered barbarous even when they could provide some useful information. This is in sharp contrast to our practice of experimenting on lab animals…  Even in the purely abstract realms of knowledge, one often hears the complaint that physical sciences are “cold” and “inhuman” exactly because they are less permeated by anthropocentrism than, say, philosophy or the humanities or arts. Almost 500 years after the onset of the Copernican revolution, we have a relic belief in the exalted nature of the human mind.”

Read the entire piece here- https://getpocket.com/explore/item/our-attitude-toward-aliens-proves-we-still-think-we-re-special?utm_source=pocket-newtab

If you are in central Florida, and have been paying attention, you know it’s been breezy to the tune of 20 mph every day this week. Boating was out. But, if you fish in the woods, the wind is not an issue. So I fished in the woods.

Tuesday Tammy and I went to Tosahatchee, hoping to stroll through an almost-dry St. Johns River bed and catch some fish. The river is not low enough yet. We left and did some upper Econ work. We did more walking than fishing but managed to catch a few bass, using the RipTide Sardine. I got a stumpknocker, on a 3/0 hook! That river is very low.

Wednesday I parked at 419 and the Econ and walked upstream. There were pools with water, separated by riffles that are almost dry. I did not see much in the river, and only hit two dinkers. I found a retention pond that was an ugly shade of green but got two more dinkers there. Lovely morning, though.

In the afternoon I stopped at Hidden River RV Park, on the Econ at SR 50. At one time you could pay to launch a paddle vessel here. They got out of that business due to concerns about liability, very sad.

I went to Old Cheney Highway to see if I could access the river there. On both sides of the river there’s a six-foot chain-link fence with a sign, “No Trespassing per order Orange County Commission.” That piece of river is hard to get to.

Thursday I used my bicycle to try to access the river. I rode a way, then hid the bike in the woods, then bushwacked about a mile to the river bed. It was mostly dry. I found one shallow hole that had some fish, small ones. I got a few and then they stopped biting. Other than that I could not find enough water for anything more than guppies.

I did find some pitcher plants, though. And my face found several spider webs.

Friday I again used my bicycle to access the river. Again I hid the bike in the woods and worked a stretch of river. This piece had some water between the riffles. I only saw a single bass. I only had a single strike, a dinker.

Around noon I figured if I were going to hit fish it would have already happened. I went back to get my bike. I hid it so well even I couldn’t find it. It took me about 30 minutes to locate it. Silly John!

This week I rode my bike about 15 miles and walked about five more, enjoying the entire episode. But the catching part of the equation could certainly have been better.

“Soon after I embraced the sport of angling I became convinced that I should never be able to enjoy it if I had to rely on the cooperation of the fish.” – Sparse Grey Hackle

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, Orlando Fishing Report · Tagged: , , ,

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

May 9, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Mosquito Lagoon fishing report.

In what seems to be a trend, I got out kayak fishing two days this week, and took the bride out to the lagoon on a non-fishing trip for a day, too.

Battling the beast.

While paddle fishing Monday I got two slot reds on the redfish worm. Both fish had their backs out of the water, which is so dirty it’s the only way I could have seen them.

Red on redfish worm.

I tied up some redfish worms with plastic eyes, trying to reduce the landing splash. The fish are skittish.

Red on plastic eye redfish worm.

Testing those flies on Wednesday I got one redfish and one black drum, which surprised me. Both fish were tailing. Two-fish days seems to be becoming the norm. Better than no fish days!

Black drum on brown plastic eye redfish worm.

Friday was a no fish day. I didn’t fish. We just took the bang-o-craft to a spoil island, set up a couple beach chairs, and dozed for three hours. I thought it a great use of my time!

The water is low.

“If you introduce kids to fishing, they become good citizens.” -Rex Hunt

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: , , , , ,

May Day Central Florida Fishing Report

May 2, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

May Day Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this May Day central Florida fishing report. I hope you enjoyed your May Day!

I forgot to put a fishing quote in last week, so we get a double scoop today.

A fisherman is always hopeful- nearly always more hopeful than he has any right to be. -Roderick Haig-Brown

FISHING!
Monday
On Saturday Mike Conneen called me and asked me to join an Econ party on Monday. I didn’t see how to maintain social distance while doing the shuttle between Snow Hill Road and CS Lee Park, and regretfully declined. Monday morning the weather was great, though, so I asked Susan to give me a ride to the river crossing and drop me off. I’d call when I got to CS Lee. I started paddling at 0900.

If you’re looking for Plecostamus, the Econ is the place to be. There are thousands of them. I don’t know that they’ve affected the native fish, but I do know there are a lot fewer natives than there used to be.

A particularly interesting cypress tree.

Took a break and saw a hummingbird looking for flowers. I could not have been more than three inches long. Also saw an eagle and a blue heron in the same place, just for size contrast. The birding was pretty good, and there were some reptiles too- gators, and cooter turtles, and slider turtles. No snakes though.

I found a dead fish. A catfish with a big lesion behind its head swam past me.

I didn’t fish hard, since I got a late start and had a long way to go. Fishing was not good though, with two bass and two stumpknockers coming to hand, all on a mousy gurgler.

Lousy photo, but the best bass of the year for me.

I got to where the trees end and the pastures start and caught up to Mike and Tammy. We paddled together for a few minutes, then I went on ahead. Susan picked me up about 1630.

Tuesday– went to Mosquito Lagoon for some kayak fishing. Went to a new spot. Got two nice reds on the redfish worm fly (haven’t typed that in a while). It was another spectacular day weather-wise.

file photo

I am re-wiring the Mitzi myself, and working on a book. That took up some of the rest of the week. Keeping me sane while I remain in self-quarantine.

Friday– took Susan to Mosquito Lagoon in the Bang-O-Craft for a little island hopping. We brought folding chairs to sit in, watching the passing boats in the ICW. God had brushed the sky free of clouds, amazing weather again.

Enjoying the day!

I fished a little bit with the DOA Shrimp. I had been using the same one for a month or so. A puffer ended that streak, the only bite I got. I saw a bonnethead shark swim by, the only fish other than mullet that I saw.

Dolphins always seem to enjoy the day!

We saw a hog, and three manatees, and a couple dolphins, along with the usual bird life.

An appropriate quote for the time of year- Anyone can be a fisherman in May. – Ernest Hemmingway

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 · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Short Central Florida Fishing Report

April 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Short Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this short central Florida fishing report. I’m in the middle of a project and took a few minutes off to crank this out.

FISHING!
Monday– went to Port Canaveral. There must be some mahi running, because the parking lot was completely full. In the Mitzi I am not going mahi fishing, not here at least.

I was able to net a couple dozen menhaden. I saw a kingfish skyrocket so I set out a bait. It captured a northern sennet. A second bait was mangled by a bluefish.

I went out three mikes and looked around a buoy. There were three great barracuda there. The buoy barracudas never bite. These three didn’t, either.

Close to the beach I saw two tarpon roll. I put out a bait. A bluefish mangled it. I did catch a bluefish on a jig, the only other fish I got.

Did not see much other than what’s reported.

Tuesday– went to Mosquito Lagoon for some kayak fishing. The wind was blowing hard enough to be invigorating. I had two good fly shots, neither fish ate. I pooched a few more with the help of that invigorating wind. The two reds I did get both happened the same way- the fish were shallow, pushing a wake. I threw a DOA Shrimp in front, and they nailed it.

The bait was a DOA Shrimp. Same photo as last week!

Saw some spoonbills among many other bird species, and as a bonus a rocket went up!

 

Snotty weather precluded fishing the rest of the week.

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, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , ,

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 Fishing Report

April 11, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading my central Florida fishing report. Got out four times this week.

FISHING!

Monday- took a kayak to the no motor zone. Had not been in months. Was pleased to be able to see the bottom. Water clarity wasn’t great but it’s the best I’ve seen there in at least two or three years. There’s green stuff that looks like a rooted plant growing on the bottom, something other than seagrass. It looks like Caulerpa brachypus, a nonnative species originating in the Pacific Ocean. I’ve been seeing whatever plant this is growing in the Indian River Lagoon, too. The Caulerpa is yet another invasive exotic. Once it’s established is there any hope for the manatee grass to recover?

Caulerpa prolifera, another Caulerpa species. A new exotic for the Indian River Lagoon?

There was quite a bit of bait- mullet, what I think were pinfish, and schools of bay anchovies. I saw relatively few predator fish, maybe 25-30 altogether in about six hours, mostly seatrout and small snook, one redfish. No catfish. Relatively few rays, no manatees, only a few sheepshead.

At least one dolphin is still trying to make a living in the Banana River Lagoon.

Using a DOA Shrimp I got three bites, caught a one-pound snook, an eight-inch trout, and quite a nice trout, 22 inches or so. I wanted to photograph the snook and the bigger trout- both shook off while I was getting the camera ready.

For a fine overview of the Indian River Lagoon system, visit this link- https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf

Tuesday- I went bank fishing in the Econlockhatchee. I worked it hard with plastic worms and plastic shad. While I saw a few fish, I only had a couple bites from dink bass. Both jumped off. Did not catch a fish. Spent some time taking pictures.

You could tell it rained recently. The resurrection ferns look hydrated.

 

Cardinal flowers are blooming.

 

Wednesday- after lunch I thought I would go sunfishing. I have a 6.5 foot Kunan four-weight, an awful rod, but took it hoping to catch some redbellies and stumpknockers. I parked at Snow Hill Road and walked up the Econ a way, then started wade fishing back, tossing a sponge rubber spider. Catching was terrible. In three hours I got a small bass, a small redbelly, and a small bluegill. That’s it!

It was small, but was the best fish I got.

The highlight of the afternoon occurred when a swallow-tailed kite soared directly up the river, flying right over me. Those birds are so beautiful, I love watching them.

I heard a loud combustion noise coming up the river. I thought it was an airboat. Turns out it was two jonboats, each powered by a go-devil. They ran right past me without slowing down, close enough the spray off the transom of the second boat got me wet. I was furious. Back at the bridge there were two trucks with boat trailers. I photographed their tags, came home, and wrote the following letter, which I sent to the Seminole County sheriff and my county commissioner:

While wading in the Econlockhatchee River today, upstream of the Snow Hill Road bridge, I was nearly run over when two aluminum jonboats, each pushed by an air-cooled go-devil style engine, operated by two inconsiderate young men, ran right past me at speed. They were close enough that the spray coming off their transom got me wet.

There were two trucks with boat trailers (Florida tags IN5 8AX and IKZ Q81) parked at Snow Hill Road. They use the kayak launch like a boat ramp, damaging it in the process.

Lots of paddlers use that stretch of river, one of the few in Seminole County conducive to a peaceful day on the water. Those jerks in the motorboats have the entire St. Johns River system at their disposal. They don’t need to be tearing up a small, intimate waterway. I think motors should not be allowed on that stretch at all. As it is I believe there’s a 5 MPH speed limit there. These folks were way out of compliance.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to getting your response about this matter.

I got the following lame response-

I am sorry to hear about your experience on the river. With all of the stay at home orders we are seeing a lot of people on the river just trying to get out of the house.

I have copied Lt Pete Kelting on here who oversees our Marine Patrol function and can address your concerns.

Thursday- I took sister Cheryl to Port Canaveral. We launched the Mitzi and ran the beach. The wind was blowing pretty hard out of the west- running the beach was really my only option.

Big ladyfish and typical Florida bluefish, plenty of both, was all I got. I did see a couple tarpon roll. There was not a lot of bait. There were not a lot of boats, either! We saw a lot of dolphins and a couple of breaching manta rays in the distance. Also saw several free-jumping spinner sharks.

Friday had a small craft advisory posted. I stayed home.

I wrote back to the Sheriff’s department Friday morning-

I understand that. They shouldn’t be breaking the law and endangering people’s lives while they’re at it, though.

Lt Kelting has not contacted me. Evidently the incident is not very important. I write a blog every week and will be putting this entire correspondence in it this week. The men operating those boats should at the very least get a warning from the Sheriff’s department.

Later Friday I received a call from Sgt. Chris Stronko, Seminole County Sheriff’s deputy. He said that his office, the entire Sheriff’s department, was very busy. I can understand that! He also said they would track the boat operators down, give them a little education and a warning not to do it again. Which is really all I want. He also promised to get back to me next week.

I also got an email from Bryttany Workman at the Sheriff’s department-

“Thus far, we created an AP for the landing. We will assist the ER in monitoring as this area can be easily reached by patrol car. We will be on the Econ monitoring this weekend. In the AP are instructions for the enforcement of vessels exceeding the 5 MPH ordinance past the bridge. As I know you are aware, this ordinance does not exclude motorized vessels, just the provision that they cannot go over 5 MPH. In addition, I will talk to Jim Duby about the signage at that location. Currently, there is no exclusion in the signage for launching a boat on a trailer. If there is destruction to the river bank, we can address that in conjunction with DEP. We have launched our mud boat in the same location and stayed on the concrete erosion protection and not caused any environmental damage. I agree that this area has primarily been a canoe and kayak launch, and that was the primary intention. Let me see how the County feels about the designated use of this area and labeling it as such, as I have copied Jim. One concern for only designating “canoes and kayaks” would be language excluding small jon boats that could be hand carried similar to a canoe or kayak.”

I don’t know what APs and ERs are but assume the deputies do. I’ll let you all know what happens!

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.

“Most fishermen swiftly learn that it’s a pretty good rule never to show a favorite spot to any fisherman you wouldn’t trust with your wife.” -John D. Voelker

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, Orlando Fishing Report, port canaveral fishing report · 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: , , , , , , ,
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