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Beyond Borders: Diverse Careers That Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

April 15, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Beyond Borders: Diverse Careers That Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Guest Blog by Julia Mitchell

The allure of being a digital nomad captivates many in our globally connected era. This lifestyle, blending remote work with the freedom to travel, isn’t just for tech-savvy freelancers or writers.

A variety of career paths, some quite unexpected, cater perfectly to this nomadic existence, offering both professional growth and the liberty to roam. If you’re ready to get started as a digital nomad, this guide shared by Capt. John Kumiski’s Spotted Tail Fishing And Travel can help you find your path.

Transform Fitness Passion Into Online Coaching

Embrace a career as an online fitness coach, ideal for health enthusiasts seeking a nomadic lifestyle. By obtaining relevant certifications and establishing an online presence, digital nomads can offer virtual training and lessons, personalized fitness regimes, and nutritional advice to a global clientele. This path not only feeds your passion for fitness but also allows for a flexible schedule, fitting seamlessly into the nomadic way of life.

Learn How to Code

Learning how to code is a crucial step towards securing a remote programming role, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere. By taking advantage of free online learning resources, aspiring coders can build their skills at their own pace. These platforms offer a variety of programming languages and technologies, ensuring learners can find courses that align with their career goals. Committing to a self-directed learning path can open doors to numerous opportunities in the tech industry, making it an accessible option for anyone with an internet connection and a willingness to learn.

Navigate the World of Teletherapy

As a licensed therapist or counselor, TheraPlatform notes that you can take your practice virtually, offering teletherapy services. This career choice is perfect for those who wish to provide mental health support from any corner of the world. Teletherapy not only offers flexibility and mobility but also meets the growing demand for accessible mental health services, making it a rewarding and feasible option for digital nomads.

Secure a Future in Healthcare

The field of healthcare offers immense potential for remote work. Fortunately, a healthcare degree can be earned online, which will equip you with the skills to enter a variety of roles. This career path not only promises job security but also aligns well with the digital nomad lifestyle, offering ample work opportunities around the country — check this out.

Engage in Online Teaching and Tutoring

Preply points out that the digital age has revolutionized education, opening doors for online teaching and tutoring. This career path allows digital nomads to conduct virtual classes or offer personalized tutoring to students across the globe. Whether you specialize in a specific subject or teach a language, online education provides the flexibility to work from anywhere, aligning perfectly with a nomadic lifestyle.

Explore the Past as a Digital Archaeologist

Digital archaeology, an emerging field, marries historical exploration with technology. As a digital archaeologist, you can collaborate with global organizations to analyze historical data, artifacts, and records, all while being location-independent. This career path not only feeds your curiosity about the past but also lets you travel, exploring new cultures and histories firsthand.

Capture the World as a Travel Photographer

For those with a creative eye, becoming a travel photographer is an enticing career option. This path allows you to traverse the globe, capturing stunningtlandscapes and cultural moments, and selling your work online or to travel publications. Travel photography is not just a job; it’s a journey that feeds your artistic soul while fitting perfectly into the digital nomad lifestyle.

Plan Dream Weddings Remotely

Online wedding planning is a unique career choice for digital nomads. Specialize in planning destination weddings, helping couples organize their dream day in exotic locations, all from your laptop. This career requires organizational skills, creativity, and a knack for understanding client needs, making it a fulfilling and flexible option for those who love to travel.

Embracing the digital nomad lifestyle opens up a world of opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. It’s an invitation to redefine professional success on your own terms, blending work and wanderlust. This lifestyle isn’t just about the destinations you’ll explore but the personal and professional growth that comes from stepping out of the conventional office setting. As you venture into this dynamic way of life, remember that the key to thriving as a digital nomad lies in adaptability, continuous learning, and the willingness to explore uncharted career paths.

 

Julia Mitchell, incredibly passionate about the activities that fill her days, wants to share her adoration for her favorite lifestyle topics with the world and encourage others to turn their INspiration into OUTspiration.

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Ways to Brighten Your Mental Landscape

February 14, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Ways to Brighten Your Mental Landscape

A Guest Blog by Michelle Hartman Photos courtesy John Kumiski

In our increasingly fast-paced world, maintaining mental health can be challenging – but it’s also crucial. While therapy and exercise are beneficial, there are other, less conventional strategies worth exploring. Today, John Kumiski Outdoor Communications shares methods to brighten your mental landscape, offering a fresh perspective on achieving a healthier, happier you.

Embracing Mindfulness: A Path to Inner Peace

Mindfulness and meditation are potent tools for achieving mental tranquility. By practicing mindfulness, you can manage stress, diminish anxiety, and enhance your overall emotional health. Allocating a few minutes each day to quiet your mind and concentrate on the present can significantly improve your mental state. This practice helps in developing a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings, leading to greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Rethinking Caffeine: A Subtle Influence on Mental Health

Caffeine, often overlooked, plays a significant role in mental health. Excessive caffeine can heighten anxiety and disrupt sleep patterns. By reducing your intake, particularly from hidden sources like certain sodas, you can maintain a calmer mind. Switching to caffeine-free options or herbal teas can provide refreshment without the negative mental health impacts. This small change can lead to better sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and overall improved mental well-being.

Cast Your Line: Appreciate the Calmness of Fishing

Fishing offers significant mental health benefits, such as providing a peaceful escape from daily stresses, enhancing self-esteem through the mastery of skills, improving concentration by focusing on the task at hand, and promoting physical activity which in turn boosts mood and mental well-being. Moreover, spending time outdoors during fishing increases vitamin D intake, which has a positive impact on mental health, helping to alleviate depression and improve overall emotional well-being.

Reconnect with Old Friends: The Benefits of Staying Social

Reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances after years of lost contact can be a heartwarming experience, often bringing a sense of nostalgia and joy. In the digital age, the process of finding these long-lost friends has become easier than ever. By utilizing a search engine, one can simply input a name, graduation date, and school to swiftly locate fellow high school graduates. This efficient method provides quick results and various options to reach out, paving the way for rekindling friendships that once seemed lost to time.

Volunteering: A Path to Emotional Fulfillment

Volunteering can significantly improve mental health by providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Engaging in community service fosters social connections and offers the satisfaction of positively impacting others. This altruistic activity can reduce feelings of loneliness, boost self-esteem, and provide a sense of belonging, all of which are vital for mental health.

Learning New Skills: A Mental Health Booster

Acquiring new skills or hobbies can have a profound effect on mental well-being. Whether it’s learning a musical instrument, painting, or exploring new culinary techniques, these activities provide mental stimulation, a sense of accomplishment, and joy. They not only break the monotony of daily life but also enhance cognitive function and self-esteem, contributing to better mental health.

Walking: Therapy for the Mind

Walking is a simple, yet effective activity for mental and physical health. Regular walks, especially in nature, offer numerous benefits. They provide exercise, fresh air, and a change of scenery, which can uplift your mood and reduce stress. Walking also offers an opportunity for reflection and mindfulness, further enhancing its mental health benefits.

Natural Stress Reducers: Soothing Mind and Body

Natural remedies like chamomile tea or lavender oils can be effective in reducing stress and promoting relaxation. These substances have calming properties that help in managing anxiety and improving sleep quality. Incorporating them into your daily routine can be a simple yet effective way to maintain good mental health.

To brighten your mental landscape you don’t always require conventional methods. By embracing these unique strategies, from working from home to walking every day, you can make significant strides toward a happier and healthier life. Each approach offers a different path to improving mental well-being, allowing you to find what works best for you in your journey.

 

Michelle Hartman is a lifelong nature lover. Her love for nature inspired her to start Summer Camper. Summer Camper provides children ages 8 -16 with amazing summer camp experiences that are designed to create lifelong memories. The Summer Camper team is dedicated to offering high-quality programs that promote personal growth, friendships, and a love for nature and the outdoors.  At Summer Camper, we believe that camp should be a safe and welcoming place where everyone can feel like they belong. Summer Camper aspires to provide programs that meet the ever-changing needs of families and allow children to explore their world in new and exciting ways. Visit their website here…

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Home Waters Report

January 21, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Home Waters Report

Thanks for reading this home waters report, on Mosquito Lagoon, and with a call-to-action.

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

Subscribers, if the photos don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

OK, on Friday I was driving southbound on I-95 in Titusville. I was fairly shocked to see a full-sized billboard that said-

“Welcome to Florida, home of bears, toxic water, and dead manatees. stopthestarve.org” Naturally, I checked the website, https://stopthestarve.org. With a come-on like that, how could I resist?

Truly, FWC does need to stop spraying herbicides.

FWC contracts hundreds of these guys to spray hundreds of gallons each of toxic herbicides daily on into our waterways. This was on Rainbow River.

After arriving home, I checked the new Florida Sportsman magazine. Blair Wickstrom used a full page of editorial space to plug a new constitutional amendment, the Right to Clean and Healthy Water. Basically what he’s saying is, the Legislature and a string of Governors have let the water quality in Florida go to hell, so the people need to get an amendment on the ballot to change the state constitution. If you’re registered voter in Florida and would like to see clean water and seagrass again in your lifetime, go to https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org RIGHT NOW and sign the petition- 223,000 signatures are needed by March 1.

Please help, and please help spread the word! Thank you!

Yes, I did fish this week, two days. Errands and home maintenance took the rest of my time.

Tuesday, on an absolutely stunning day, Rodney Smith and I took the Bang-O-Craft out onto Mosquito Lagoon. The water was clean and beautiful, Rodney and I maybe not so much. We’re getting old and decrepit looking. Better than dead and decaying! Anyhow, the trout were biting well. We didn’t get any big (or small) ones, all slot fish. We took one for Mr. Smith’s dinner. We hooked a couple reds, Rodney got his, mine broke off. Check those knots, John. All the action was on the 3-inch plastic shad.

Rodney and his dinner fish.

Friday I took the kayak out, same place, on another stunning day. The trout weren’t biting quite as well, but I still got a dozen, all but two on Clouser Minnows. I also got two beautiful fat reds on the same fly.

John and the day’s first red.

Both days I really enjoyed the company!

For those looking for shad information, I don’t have any. Haven’t been. Sorry.

That’s the home waters report. 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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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Fish and Birds No Fishing Report

July 15, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Fish and Birds No Fishing Report

Thanks for reading this fish and birds no fishing report. The format of this report will be different- no fishing for me this week! My only excursion was to the Orlando Wetlands Park, so there may be a few dragonfly shots here.

Responding to last week’s posting the video of the pigeon-eating catfish and my need to tie up pigeon flies for Mosquito Lagoon, subscriber George Fleszar wrote to me, “I think you might be better off trying Sternula antillarum tied on a 12/0 Mustad 3407-DT.” Good idea, George!

George also included this link-

https://youtu.be/h4pxLHG0Wzs Awesome! Thank you, George!

Now intrigued on the subject of bird-eating fish, I found this link-

https://youtu.be/OD6cQ2dh7Mo Incredible!

I went for a hot, sweaty walk at the wetlands park one morning, looking for dragonflies. Of course, there were some, but many fewer than my last trip. The four-spotted pennants’ numbers, in particular, took a nose-dive. But I managed to get a few decent shots…

Eastern Pondhawk, female.

 

Halloween Pennant.

 

Needham’s Skimmer, male.

 

Four-Spotted Pennant, female.

I do love the dragonflies! And you may gain more appreciation for them too, if you watch this-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJi61NAIsjs Just stunning!

Birds also eat fish. I found the following links in a book I’m reading (and highly recommend) titled, Beyond Words- What Animals Think and Feel, by Carl Safina. My first thought was, “How would he know?” Read the book- you’ll find out.

You know green herons fish. Did you know they can use bait?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Porp5v5lLKk  They’re smarter than we give them credit for.

This one is of a problem-solving crow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gui3IswQ0DI  I’ve had students who couldn’t have solved that one. Heck, I might not be able to.

Finally, the Audubon Society has just published the results of its annual bird photography contest, simply outstanding and an excellent use of your time-

https://www.audubon.org/news/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-top-100?utm_source=pocket-newtab

That’s the fish and birds no 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
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

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Kids and Camping

January 19, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Kids and Camping: What to Know Before You Go

Guest Blog by Patrick Young

A fun-filled weekend in the “wilderness” is always a short drive away any season of the year. Bringing the kids camping gives them memories they’ll never forget. They’ll grow up with an appreciation of nature, the desire to pitch in, and the ability to do things on their own. If you’re bringing kids along, it can take a little more planning and some precaution. This piece shares the basics of camping with kids.

Plan Ahead

Check out areas where you might want to camp several weeks ahead of time. In some areas, popular campgrounds can fill up a year in advance, so book early if you’re planning a trip to a major national park or heavily visited area. For your first few trips, stick with campgrounds, which offer dedicated sites, security, and access to emergency services.

Many state and national parks offer ranger-led activities for the kids, so be sure to enquire. These Junior Ranger Programs are an excellent way to introduce the youngest members of your family to the outdoors in a safe and structured environment.

It’s also important to remember what not to plan. ZenBusiness has a number of suggestions for things you’re better off leaving at home. This list includes your calendar, your worries, and your sense of conformity.

Dangerous Grounds

One of the most common mistakes made by new camping families is not taking into consideration seasonal changes. Regardless of what part of the country you visit, there can be sudden temperature shifts and unexpected storms that can lead to rapid cooling, especially at night.

Heat is an issue in the summer with those in the 10-and-under crowd, who do not have fully developed sweat glands, being most at-risk for heat-related issues. Check the weather at least two days before you go, and have a backup plan in place for high winds or excessive rain.

Note, there may be cell phone coverage even in the most remote areas. Add a portable wireless or solar charger to your gear so you can stay apprised of forecasts and warnings.

Hiking Safety

Camping and hiking go hand in hand. Unfortunately, getting lost is a common problem. Your kids should be taught early on how to recognize campsites and landmarks on unfamiliar trails. Instruct your child that, if separated, they should stay where they are and try to remain calm. A small whistle attached to a lanyard around the child’s neck will allow them to call for help even if they are out of earshot. Small Car Camping reports that a simple, inexpensive plastic whistle can output more than 100 dB, which can be heard at long distances above ambient noise.

Always wear proper footwear to prevent blistering. Children should be dressed in brightly-colored clothing so they are more easily seen against the greens and browns of the woods.

Poison ivy- you find it everywhere. Learn what the plant looks like, and teach your children to avoid it.

Finally, you need to carry a first aid kit with lots of Band-aids. All parents should take a standard first aid course.

You’ll find poison ivy in lots of places.

Selecting a Campsite

When setting up a campsite, remain diligent against man-made dangers like broken glass. In wilderness areas, pay attention to signs of insect and animal use. Be mindful of the flora of the area (poison ivy!), as animals may forage for food where berries and other edible plants are readily available. Keep your food secure, too. Nothing attracts unwelcome wildlife like food odors.

Plants can be sources of delicious entertainment, too!

Time-saving Tips

● Pack like items together in cheap plastic bins (kitchen gear, toiletries, clothes, shoes, etc.)

● Download a map of the area ahead of time

● Pack one-ply toilet paper, which won’t clog small trailer toilets

● Use a multi-room tent, or more than one tent. Leave one room for changing and storing dirty clothes so you’re not constantly cleaning up

● Keep dinner simple – hot dogs, brats, and shish kebabs are easily cooked over a campfire; other foods can be prepped ahead of time and frozen.

Kids and camping go together like hot dogs and potato chips. Take the kids camping- all it takes is a little planning and a sense of adventure!
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Spotted Tail offers the best information for travelers and fishermen. Please use the contact form if you have any questions!

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Spread the Spore!

October 21, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Spread the Spore!

When the Spread the Spore mushroom grow kit from northspore.com arrived, I let it sit. Didn’t quite know what to do with it. After a few days me sister said to me, “The stuff in that kit is alive. You really need to get it started.”

The next day I read the instructions and watched the video. Pretty simple, John! Remove the perforated paperboard from the front of the box, cut an “X” in the plastic, spray it with water (sprayer supplied), and let it sit on the counter near the sink. OK, I can do that.

Five days after I started spritzing, I had this!

In only a few days, baby mushrooms appeared! Like magic! I kept spritzing it twice a day, and five days after I cut the plastic, I was harvesting the pink oyster mushrooms.

After harvesting your mushrooms look like this.

 

I separated them all before cooking.

 

After cooking a few minutes…

Following the recipe included with the kit, I sautéed the ‘shrooms, then used them to make one of the better omelets I’ve ever had. Eaten alone, the mushrooms were outstanding!

Mmmm, mushroom omelet!

The directions say the kit may produce several rounds of mushrooms. After harvesting the mushrooms, I put the box back on the counter and spritzed it again. Hopefully there will be more in a few more days!

Susan grooves on the mushrooms!

The mushroom grow kit was easy, fun, and delicious. Get more information at www.northspore.com.

Like northspore says, spread the spore!

 

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.

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A Rant from John

September 4, 2021 by · 2 Comments

A Rant from John

Thank you for reading this week’s post, A Rant from John. I hope everyone enjoys their Labor Day weekend!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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Bumper Sticker of the Week-

Seems to be a popular opinion in Florida lately!

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Traveling

As you may remember, we were at Flat Rock, NC visiting the Tedescos.

Part of Triple Falls.

Sunday we went to Du Pont State Park and took a short hike along a waterfall.

Potential Darwin Award winner?

Sunday a hurricane slammed Louisiana. Pray for those folks, or better yet make a donation to the Red Cross. Fearing the storm might impact North Carolina, Susan and I hit the road Monday morning and pulled into our driveway at about 5 PM. Home again, after five months on the road!

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The first post under the Spotted Tail masthead was on November 6, 2010. I have continually posted, usually weekly, since then. In all that time I have studiously avoided discussing politics, religion, and social issues, feeling that there are plenty of venues out there that cover those subjects, probably better than I can.

Forgive me, but this week I need to vent!

The Rant

A friend had texted and asked me to call when I got home. Five miles from the Florida state line, I called. He proceeded to tell me that he had gotten COVID from his vaccinated girlfriend. He, however, was not vaccinated, nor does he wear masks. His “research,” no doubt conducted on misinformation websites, made him think neither was of much use.

His girlfriend is a teacher, and contracted the disease at school. Thanks, Governor! See bumper sticker above.

The MASK– Let’s be clear, I don’t like wearing a mask. It’s hot, it muffles my already bad enunciation, and it fogs up my glasses. But I wear one indoors because it protects me (to an extent), and more importantly, it protects other people from anything I might otherwise be spreading.

Don’t surgical teams wear masks??? Why? Because masks look cool, or to stop the spread of microbes??

Wearing a mask is civically responsible. It’s patriotic!

If you don’t like wearing a mask, think of all the fun you’ll have with that respirator!

To my misinformed friend, not wearing a mask is selfish and irresponsible. It’s a pandemic! Over half a million Americans are dead! Put your mask on!

The VACCINE– I was born in 1952. I received vaccines for polio, smallpox, and rubella (at least) in elementary school. All my classmates did, too- they gave it to us at school!

I received God-only-knows what vaccines when I was drafted into the army. I still get a tetanus booster every ten years.

Is it a coincidence that neither I, nor any of my contemporaries of my acquaintance, developed polio, smallpox, rubella, or tetanus? I THINK NOT!!!

My mom, born well before Salk developed the polio vaccine, contracted polio. So did her cousin, at about the same time. Mom mostly recovered from it. The cousin was in a wheelchair for life. Lots of people died from polio.

At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, polio would paralyze or kill over half a million people worldwide every year. According to https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/history-of-polio/, “In 1988, when the GPEI started, polio paralysed more than 1000 children worldwide every day.” Read the Wikipedia entry at this link- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_polio.

Rare individuals are allergic to the vaccine, and get ill or die from it. But the risk of getting sick from not getting the vaccine is much greater than the risk of getting the vaccine.

The parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated probably think nothing of putting them in an automobile though, the riskiest activity we routinely undertake. Wikipedia says, “In 2010, there were an estimated 5,419,000 crashes, 30,296 deadly, killing 32,999, and injuring 2,239,000. About 2,000 children under 16 die every year in traffic collisions.” These are American statistics.

And parents don’t vaccinate their kids because it’s risky???

Some stupid anti-vax arguments-

“I don’t trust the government.” Nor do I. What does the government have to do with you keeping yourself from getting sick?

“There are microchips in the vaccine so the government can track us.” This is plain stupid. You probably have a cell phone. You pay handsomely every month for the privilege of allowing the government to track you. Hello??

My own experience with vaccines makes me think they work gooood. How many of your friends and relatives have had polio?

Misinformation sites have an agenda. Talk with any reliable medical professional and they will tell you that masks and vaccines will help prevent the spread of COVID.

Egads!!! Get yourself vaccinated. Get your kids vaccinated. Wear the mask.

There’s been over 40 MILLION COVID cases in the US alone, with over 600,000 people dying from it. If we all work together, maybe this thing will go the way of smallpox. Or we can continue being stupid, not get vaccinated, not wear masks, and keep watching our friends and relatives get sick and maybe die.

The choice is ours. As Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Second and Third Bumper Stickers of the Week (all were from the same car) –

 

We’re about 40,000 years removed from living in caves. Isn’t it time we started acting like it?

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FISHING-

Sunrise was magnificent.

I went to Mosquito Lagoon Thursday. Got a trout pretty quickly, and then later a redfish. Both came on a redfish worm fly. I must be out of practice, since I broke the rod tip trying to boat the redfish.

My first Florida fish since March.

Since I was done early, I did a boat ramp parking lot survey. Beacon 42- zero trailers. Haulover Canal- three trailers (I don’t count pontoon boat trailers). Biolab Ramp- zero trailers. Parrish Park- two trailers. Titusville Municipal Ramp- three trailers.

Doesn’t speak well for great fishing lately, that’s for sure.

That’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, A Rant from John. Life is great (if sometimes frustrating) and I loved exploring the USA!

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.

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Home This Week Post

March 13, 2021 by · 2 Comments

Home This Week Post

I stayed home this week. Thank you for reading this week’s Home This Week post! As the soothsayer said, Beware the Ides of March!

No Surprise There Department

This manatee probably wants a solid meal.

Received a press release from the Defenders of Wildlife-
“More than 400 Florida manatees have died since the start of 2021, fueling concern for the iconic and federally threatened species’ future. The 2021 mortalities are larger than the combined totals of the first two months of 2010, during a particularly cold and prolonged winter. While the current winter has not been as severe, scientists are examining the causes for the dramatic spike in deaths. So far, cold stress combined with the loss of large areas of seagrass—the manatees’ staple food—appear to be the primary causes of death in recent months for manatees along the central and south Atlantic coast of Florida.

“Due to a variety of factors, including water pollution and algal blooms exacerbated by urban and agricultural runoff, leaking septic systems and other culprits, significant areas of seagrass meadows that manatees depend on have been wiped out, causing many animals to become sick or starve.”

The Save the Manatee Club made a big newsy splash back around year 2000 by suing the state of Florida and the Federal Government for not doing enough to save manatees. The result of that was huge new slow speed zones for boaters. We must have been an easy target.

I’ve been wondering for five or six years now where the SMC was, since all the seagrass was dying and they haven’t made a peep about it. Hard to sue everyone who eats and poops.

I don’t the problem will be solved for a long time. Get used to dirty water and a lot fewer manatees. It’s sad.

Boat Class

Marker 24 Marina, a shiny new facility.

Wednesday mid-day found me at Marker 24 Marina on Merritt Island, where I joined Capt. Mike Berry for Boat Class, Intermediate BoatClass + Advanced Docking.

If you want to legally operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the United States, you must pass a written test that shows that you know what the rules are, and you must pass a road test that shows you can competently operate a motor vehicle. Here in Florida, if you want to operate a motor vessel, you just buy it, get in, and go.

Florida ranks No. 1 nationwide in both recreational boating accidents and deaths on the water, according to a United States Coast Guard report released this week. It’s an unwanted distinction that the state has earned every year since at least 2015. According to the Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics Report released Wednesday, there were 679 boat accidents in Florida that year. Of those, 55 were fatal, resulting in 62 deaths.

Might some boater education mitigate those grim statistics???

Capt. Mike teaches the three-hour class, on the water!

Brunswick Corporation has kicked off BoatClass, which I found to be very thorough. Three hours of on-the-water boat operation, led by an expert boater! The stress on safety was admirable. I don’t meet many people with more boating experience than mine, but Capt. Mike has a lot more, and taught me many things that I did not know. I recommend the class without reservation- it’s superb!

Get more information here- https://www.boatblurb.com/post/brunswick-corporation-launches-boatclass-on-water-training-program.

Fishing Friday
Friday the wind was down enough (you can understand why wind-pollinated plants like slash pines and live oaks drop their pollen this time of year) that I went kayak fishing on Mosquito Lagoon. There are plants growing on the bottom again in many places. They’re invasive, and are probably going to cause more problems. We’ll see.

I could tell it had been a while since I was out. There was rust! 🙁  I pooched a couple easy shots, not that there were lots of chances.

I showed the fly to four redfish. Two spooked off, two bit. I caught one, the other coming off after a few seconds. The day was beautiful, there was joy to be had just paddling around on a day like that. There are many fewer boats out there than there used to be. I guess that happens when the fishing goes to hell.

I’ll keep trying though. There is still the sun, and the water, and the birds, and an occasional fish…

Thank you for reading this week’s Home This Week post!

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: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, opinion, Uncategorized · Tagged: , , , , ,

Seminole County Wilderness Areas- A Review

December 31, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Seminole County Wilderness Areas- A Review

Thank you for reading Seminole County Wilderness Areas- A Review.

Before anything else is said, I am very happy Seminole County acquired the properties listed below for the enjoyment of folks for whom Disney World is an anathema. All this land would be built out by now, otherwise.

The Black Hammock Wilderness Area is a 700- acre property.
The Chuluota Wilderness Area is a 625- acre natural area.
Black Bear Wilderness Area is approximately 1600 acres.
The Econ River Wilderness Area is a 240- acre property.
The Geneva Wilderness Area is a 180- acre site.
The Lake Harney Wilderness Area is an approximately 300-acre property.
The Lake Proctor Wilderness Area is a 475- acre property.
The Spring Hammock Preserve is an approximately 1,500- acre property.

I have visited Black Hammock, Chuluota, Econ River, Geneva, Lake Harney, and Lake Proctor areas. They all have attractive features that make them splendid places for walks or runs (especially with the dog), or bike rides. I highly commend Seminole County for maintaining these places.

All the areas have attractive features.

What bothers me about them, and I realize I’m being picky, is the use of the word “wilderness.” Wilderness they certainly are not. Outside of Everglades National Park there is precious little wilderness left in Florida anymore. Even the Everglades has been ditched and logged.

Red maples know it’s winter!

Wilderness includes the most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet – those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with roads, pipelines or other industrial infrastructure.

No way can this be called wilderness.

Calling a 180- acre parcel (or even a 700- acre parcel) that most likely has been logged and farmed a wilderness area does a disservice to the word “wilderness.” It cheapens the word and degrades its meaning. Since I think we need to preserve true wilderness as defined in the preceding paragraph, the County ought to rename these areas as “Woods” or “Preserves.” Good job on the Spring Hammock name, Seminole County!

One other small complaint before I go. Susan and I took a walk today at Black Hammock area. The trail is marked by blue blazes. When I read this, I assumed the blazes were paint. They are actually small metal disks, each one attached to live trees by means of two deck screws.

Could we not come up with a better method of blazing the trail? This is barbaric.

Whoever did this clearly did not consider the tree’s feelings while driving those screws. Trees are living things- how about a little respect there?

Trees are living things, in some cases centuries old.

Other than this the Black Hammock trail was mostly lovely, until reaching the loop near the end of the area. Prior to this the trail meanders through palm-palmetto woods with some pines and oaks, with a few very nice trees. Long boardwalks keep your feet dry at the swampy parts. Once that loop starts, though, it’s open, sandy, a dirt road with tire ruts, and has recently been chopped and burned. Not pretty.

There are benches for resting, a good thing.

When I go back, I will turn around where the loop begins. Aesthetics matter.

That’s the end of the Seminole County Wilderness Areas- A Review. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

John Kumiski

Filed Under: central florida destinations, opinion · Tagged: , ,

Mosquito Lagoon Seminar and Fishing Report

March 24, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Mosquito Lagoon Seminar and Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Mosquito Lagoon seminar and fishing report.

I found this poster on motivation to contain some dark humor:

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For Sale– Canoe Creek racks. These heavy duty racks fit any pickup truck (except Dodge RAM with toolbox). https://orlando.craigslist.org/pts/d/oviedo-tuff-truck-rack-by-spring-creek/6791721077.html

Blog Posts This Week-
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog/an-anglers-journal-a-review/

A Ponder on Trees

Live oak tree, Bronson State Forest

I’ve been having a ponder on trees. Do trees understand their own mortality? Trees don’t have a brain, a mind. Trees are not sentient. Right? What does science say?

Science doesn’t know everything. It’s particularly weak in areas of spirituality. Where do you keep your spirit? Can science tell you? Does your pet dog have a spirit? Does a gorilla? A whale? We can’t speak to any of these familiar creatures, so much like us in so many ways, much less to something as fundamentally different to us as a tree.

Trees have hundreds of years to ponder the universe. How aware are they of their surroundings? Plants in general, and trees in particular, respond to stimuli. They take their time to do so. Trees have lots of time to respond. The oldest known living thing is a tree, a bristlecone pine, which has over 5,000 years under its belt. This much time allows for a great deal of philosophizing. This much time allows for a great deal of communication with other organisms, if they can understand the “tree talk.”

Buttress roots on a cypress tree, Hillsborough River State Park

To read the rest of this post visit http://www.spottedtail.com/blog/a-ponder-on-trees-essay-photo-essay/
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Immediately after last week’s report went out by MailChimp I had a half-dozen unsubscribes. I suspect the reason was my climate protest reporting. To which I have to say

So there.

Fishing!

Monday wind 20+
Tuesday wind 20+
Wednesday wind 20+
Didn’t get out!

Thursday two Mainiacs graced my boat. Steve and Gene both run fish hatcheries in Maine, raising trout and landlocked salmon. Steve spin fishes, Gene is a fly man. Steve had never caught a redfish before and wanted one badly. Of course Gene caught the first one. It was a little feller but it took a fly. Never a bad thing.

Steve, tossing the trademark soft plastic shad, caught trout sporadically through the day. Gene, tossing the fly, got the dink red and practiced his fly casting. Steve finally hit a redfish. It wasn’t a big one, but it was in the slot and it was his first ever. Mission accomplished!

On the last cast of the day Gene got a trout that maybe was 15” for his second fish of the day. Slow fishing it was.

Thank you for fishing with me, gentlemen!

Friday fly fisher Alan Dronko and his spin fishing friend Nils Johnson joined me. The day started very slowly but gradually improved, although like Gene the previous day Alan only convinced two fish to swipe at the fly. The second was classic fly fishing for redfish- I spotted the fish, Alan made a superior cast, twitched the fly, and in plain view the fish came up and inhaled it. The fly was a black and purple synthetic minnow, the fish was released.

Thank you for fishing with me, gentlemen!

Saturday six intrepid souls joined me for the Mosquito Lagoon show and tell seminar. Here’s what Robert had to say about it-
“I want to thank you for a great day on the Show and Tell Seminar. I can’t begin to tell you how much time and money you saved me with the information you provided. I plan on doing some kayak fishing and exploring, using this priceless information. Thank you.”

Thank you for coming to my seminar, everyone!

Sunday Matt joined me for the on-the-water version of the seminar. After coming out of Haulover Canal we ran south to Pelican Island, stopping at points of note. After briefly exploring the Whale Tail we ran up the east side all the way to Georges Bar, again stopping at all the important places. After crossing to the ICW we returned to Haulover, with stops at locations to know. Elapsed time, about four hours. And thanks to Matt for joining me.

That’s this week’s Mosquito Lagoon Seminar and Fishing Report! Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

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

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

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