Mixed Bag Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report

Mixed Bag Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Mixed Bag Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report!

Thanks to all of you who bought books. Shipping all those books reminded me of the good old days!

FISHING

Tuesday
Tammy and I took the Mitzi out of Port Canaveral. The ocean looked like a pond. I tossed the net a few times north of the jetty, and was finally rewarded with a couple dozen pound-and-a-half menhaden. Truly, I’ve caught much smaller fish while using hook and line. But we had some bait.

As we cruised along the beach looking, there were scattered outbreaks of Spanish mackerel and little tunny. I got a nice mack on a Sting Silver.

Finally we saw what we were looking for- rolling tarpon! I shut the boat down and dropped the trolling motor. For a couple hours it looked like Sea World- strings of tarpon cruising just under the surface, monster jacks running by, five foot sharks making their presence felt, even a few king mackerel attacking the baits. There were loggerheads copulating all around us. We had several tarpon bites and Tammy put a big one in the air a few times.

copulating sea turtles

Turtles were copulating all around us.

The bite slowed down and we made the mistake of thinking we could find more fish by searching again. We were wrong.

copulating sea turtles

More copulating turtles!

We returned to the hot spot to find only an occasional roller. But there were thousands of five pound jacks, many with fins in the air. A fly rod appeared, and several fish cooperated by crushing a Krebs popper.

Tammy lays the cast out.

 

A fish cooperated.

 

Mission accomplished!

All-in-all it was an awesome day, as fishing with Tammy usually is.

Thursday
Scott Radloff and I took the Mitzi back out of Port Canaveral. The ocean did not look like a pond. It was choppy and sloppy. I could not catch any bait.

I used the tried-and-true tactic of returning to the place where the fish were last time I was out. The fish did not use that same tactic, however. NO one was home.

We ended up off the tip of the cape. Northern sennett were thick and aggressive. Bluefish and blue runners were there. We got a few small jacks and ladyfish. We saw a few tarpon roll. So we caught a lot of fish, but they were all small ones.

Friday
Nils Johnson and Allen Dronko joined me at Port Canaveral for some ocean fishing. We cleared the jetties. It was choppy and sloppy. There were three of us the skiff instead of only two. So I turned around, loaded the boat, and went to Mosquito Lagoon. The trout bite had been good. It seemed like a solid plan.

The trout had left the building.

We worked it hard all day for exactly two slot trout, basically touring most of my trout spots in the process. It was a tough, frustrating day. But thank you for fishing with me, gentlemen!

As I left Haulover I realized that I had blown a wheel bearing on my trailer. Jim Savage used to tell me, “Trailering is the weak link in boating.” I had been meaning to do bearing maintenance, had procrastinated, and now probably have to replace the axle. Argh!

That’s this week’s Mixed Bag Central Florida Saltwater Fishing Report! Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

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

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

Optimistic Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

An Optimistic Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Optimistic Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report!

Summer has certainly arrived in central Florida, with the thermometer hitting the mid-90s every day. Start your fishing trips early!

FANTASTIC OFFER
This is the final week we run the book offer- three of my book titles are now available for five cents each, only from my website. Thanks to all of you who have already taken advantage!
–Flyrodding Florida Salt
–How and Where to Catch Redfish in the Indian River Lagoon System
–Fishing Florida’s Space Coast
Shipping is still $5.95 each. The mailers cost money, the post office wants a cut, and the mail boy has to bring the package to the post office. But you can have each of these titles delivered to your door for six bucks. Act now!
———————

FISHING
MONday
Just did some retention pond fishing with son Alex, only for an hour. We got three bass between us, all modest size-wise. Alex hooked a larger one, but you know what happens to the Big One.

Tuesday
Alex and I took the Mitzi out of Port Canaveral after waiting for a submarine to sail. We ran south, close to the beach, as far as Patrick AFB, finding very little other than two rolling tarpon. Alex caught a small bonnethead, using a jig.

I turned east and headed out to sea a couple miles, then headed north. The water was BEAUTIFUL, clear, blue, oceanic water with Sargassum. But we did not see any bait or fish.

We ran to Cape Canaveral, fishing around the breakers for a while. I got a dink ladyfish, also on a jig.

We followed the beach back to the jetty where we anchored, tossing out a chunk of mullet. That resulted in a sizable ray, and an exit from the fishing excursion.

Wednesday
Scott Radloff and I took the Mitzi out on Mosquito Lagoon. Recognizing I had been in somewhat of a rut I looked in places I had not been in a long time.

The first fish we saw was a tailing redfish. We did not get a shot. We found a couple dozen reds in water shallow enough that I was pushing the boat through mud. The fish were very spooky, giving us only two shots, neither of which was converted. But it was so good to see them!

Changing locations, I was happily surprised to find the water was much cleaner than it’s been lately. We hit a few dink trout. Then I saw a real one. It struck my bait (soft plastic shad) without hesitation. It was at least four pounds, perhaps more. I did not take it from the water before releasing it.

spottedtail.com

The best fish of the day, caught and released by Scott.

The best part was, it was one of four that size, plus several smaller ones. So while we did not hit a red we got about 20 trout including some real nice ones. And the water was cleaner.

Nice day!

Sunday brothers Chance and Charlie Moore, Texans both, joined me for some Mosquito Lagoon fishing. We first went to the redfish spot. I thought they would be tailing- WRONG. There were fish there, hitting bait. I thought we should have gotten a few-WRONG. Nary a bite. So we changed it up and went fishing for trout.

Trout fishing was pretty good. We got about twenty, with the best a fat fish close to five pounds. All were taken on 3” plastic shad, and all were released.

orlando fishing charter

Thank you for fishing with me, gentlemen!

The water looks pretty good, as clean as its been in quite a while

That’s this week’s Optimistic Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

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

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

A REAL Short Port Canaveral Nearshore Fishing Report

A REAL Short Port Canaveral Nearshore Fishing Report

Only got out one day this week, out of Port Canaveral with Tammy. I did not take any pictures. Thank you for reading this short Port Canaveral Nearshore Fishing Report!

While you’re out enjoying yourself this weekend please make a moment of silence to thank all those whose sacrifices made your enjoyment possible.

FANTASTIC OFFERZ
We are still running the book offer- three of my book titles are now available for five cents each, only from my website. Thanks to all of you who have already taken advantage!
-Flyrodding Florida Salt
-How and Where to Catch Redfish in the Indian River Lagoon System
-Fishing Florida’s Space Coast
Shipping is still $5.95 each. The mailers cost money, the post office wants a cut, and the mail boy has to bring the package to the post office. But you can have each of these titles delivered to your door for six bucks until June 15. Act now!
———————
Susan had me clean the garage, so I am also selling some rods and reels. The rod link is here…

The reel link is here…

IF you are in the market for such.

I also have a Wang shallow water anchor for sale. That link is here…

FISHING MONday
Tammy now works on a charter/commercial fishing boat out of the Port, and she is out fishing most days. When she tells me it’s good, I go (weather permitting). Her report was major Spanish mackerel and tunny action near-shore, perfect for the fly rod. So we went out Monday.

port canaveral fishing report

This is what we wanted!

We looked from Cocoa Beach south of the pier to the tip of the cape. We saw a fish here, a fish there, nothing very targetable by fly rod. I got a single tunny on a Sting Silver with the spin rod, and that was it for the day.

Apparently there are some redfish around the jetties, mostly being caught on bait. We did not try.

For some reason I forgot how nasty chiggers are and went for a six mile Florida Trail walk on Tuesday. I pulled a single tick off my hip when I got home.

The chigger bites didn’t really appear until Wednesday, at least fifteen of them, from my ankle to my neck. Chiggers are the gift that keeps on giving. Those bites will be torturing me at least another week.

Not a good idea to go walking in the woods here when the weather is warm!

That’s this week’s short Port Canaveral Nearshore Fishing Report! Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

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

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

Ozello/Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Ozello/Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

We fished two days in Ozello, and one day on Mosquito Lagoon, so we have an Ozello/Mosquito Lagoon fishing report.

I wanted to scout the lagoon Monday. The 30 mph winds precluded that.

Tuesday morning Scott Radloff and I left Orlando ridiculously early for our 7 am appointment with Brian Stauffer, Fish Head Kayak Charters, at the Ozello Community Boat Ramp. We were on time. We launched on a beautiful morning, and fished our little buttses off. We saw decent numbers of fish. None bit.

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

It was chilly but beautiful when we launched.

 

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

Brian was prepared- five rods!

I’d never been to Ozello before in spite of all the good things I had heard about it. The water was clean. There were mangroves, and oysters, and grass. The habitat looked healthy.

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

The habitat looked healthy.

The fish didn’t bite, well, that happens. Especially after a front goes through.

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

Scott demonstrates how to fish one’s buttses off.

We stayed at the Best Western Crystal River Resort, which I can certainly recommend. Charlie’s Fish House a few yards away makes some great dinners, too!

Wednesday we met Brian again, same place. He took us in the opposite direction. The first time I stood up I spooked three reds. In spite of the fact I saw about two dozen fish, all I could muster was a small lizardfish and a modest trout. Brian got a small slot red and a flounder.

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

Brian foiled the skunk here.

 

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

A fish and his man.

Once again we saw good numbers of fish but could not get the sales job done. Maybe Brian needs a higher quality of angler.

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

He added this beast for good measure.

 

ozello/mosquito lagoon fishing report

Brian was awesome! Thanks for taking us fishing, sir! Fish Head Kayak Charters!

Thursday Pete Azur joined me for some Mosquito Lagoon fishing. We tried a few spots that had a few fish, and we had a few bites that were missed. But it was a tough day. At the final spot Pete hit a nice trout, 21 inches long, on a plastic shad, thereby keeping Mr. Skunk off my boat. But it was pretty close.

And that is the Ozello/Mosquito Lagoon fishing report!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2018. All rights are reserved.

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