Spring Equinox Fishing Report

Spring Equinox Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Spring Equinox Fishing Report. I try to fish on all the pagan holidays- the equinoxes and solstices. This particular equinox happened just before midnight on Tuesday. I fished Wednesday and Thursday.

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On yet another glorious central Florida day, Wednesday saw me paddling solo on Mosquito Lagoon. My first fish encounter was with a small group of snook. When I cast to them, they spooked. Then they came back. I cast. They spooked. I cast and left the fly out there, waiting. They came back. I gently stripped the Clouser Minnow through them, and one ate it. The fish was cold and didn’t fight real hard, but it might have weighed four pounds. Not wanting to risk hurting the fish, it was released without a photo. Nice start to the day.

There was no one home at the next several spots. The thought came to me- If there’s no one at the next place, I’m going back to the car. Paddling is fine, but catching fish was the objective.

Approaching the next place, I spotted a red. I made a bad cast with the spin rod and spooked the fish. Before any berating could happen, there was another red. This cast was a touch too accurate, and the fish jumped. But it came right back to see what the disturbance was, and then ate the plastic shad. Aye, ’twas a handsome fish.

Put the spinner away, picked up the fly rod. There are a few fish here! Made a cast to one. It ate the Clouser Minnow! Black drum, seven or eight pounds. Nice. Release. Repeat. Release. Repeat. Release.

The blacks all looked like this one.

Say, this is some good fishing! Next fish was a fine red, even photographed it. Then, just for good measure, another black drum.

Equinox red on fly.

Looked hard for a trout all day, greedily hoping for that grand slam, but never saw one. Still, quite a satisfying outing.

Thursday, Caleb Vogl joined me for a sight-fishing mentoring session, in the Bang-O-Craft. Due to the east wind and small craft advisory, we went to the Indian River Lagoon. I honestly think it’s harder to catch fish from a motor boat than a kayak. You’re up so much higher, the fish see you coming. Caleb got three undersized trout to start the day. Then there was a long dry spell.

He’d never poled a boat before, so after a couple hours it was time for Poling 101. He picked it up fast. He was poling when I spotted a red, ridiculously far away, and made one of my best casts in a long time. The fly landed about 14 inches away from the fish, who immediately went over a took it. The fish was only four pounds or so, but still, a very satisfying catch because of the cast.

We switched places and he got a similar-sized red on a soft plastic shad, one of mine, actually. And that ended up being our tally for the day, which I was fine with.

That’s the Spring Equinox fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

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

 

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

A Skunking on ML

A Skunking on ML

Got out only once this week, to a skunking on ML (Mosquito Lagoon). Our sons flew in this week to finish moving Alex to California. It’s kept us pretty busy…

Addendum to the Maine Trip

On our Maine trip, we left home on 6/18, got home 9/3. In that time we put 6963 miles on the van, burned 304 gallons of gasoline (I don’t know how much carbon that added to the air, but it seems selfish of us), spent $1150 on that gasoline, and got 23 mpg. At least we (in our 2013 Toyota Sienna) were moderately efficient.

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Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

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Fishing

Tuesday saw the Bang-O-Craft hit the water at the Beacon 42 Boat Ramp about 0800 hours. The plan was to do a little high(er) speed scouting, something hard to do in a paddle vessel.

The water was murky the whole way across to the east side. Although there were lots of mullet, I only pushed a single fish as I ran across the lagoon. Once I reached Tiger Shoal the water cleared up nicely; however, I only spotted a single redfish. Considering the numbers of mullet, the lack of gamefish was a mystery. The manatee grass on the flat inside the shoal is as thick as I’ve ever seen it, and I do mean ever. The floating dead grass kept fouling the outboard, causing cavitation. I’d have to stop, put the motor in reverse to blow all the grass off the lower unit, then continue. Again and again. Nice to have that problem!

Crossing over to the west side, I fished the outside of the spoil islands for a couple miles, using a weedless spoon. The puffers are thick, and on a mission to destroy all soft plastics. Only a handful of gamefish were seen, and no bites happened. So I can state unequivocally that no fish were harmed in the making of this report. The boat was on the trailer at 1300.

Maxx came in Wednesday, Alex Friday. They roll out Sunday (they think) or Monday (I think).

That’s the skunking on ML 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.

North Brevard County Fish Report

North Brevard County Fish Report

Thanks for reading this North Brevard County Fish Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, but I did get my car’s AC fixed, had an MRI and blood work done, saw a dentist and a chiropractor, and enjoyed other, similar fun activities.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Tuesday saw me and my kayak (and no camera) at Mosquito Lagoon on a fabulous morning. Since no bites were forthcoming (except for the puffers, who were biting much too well), I paddled across the ICW to Tiger Shoal. There the water was clean and crisp, with plentiful grass, and lots of bait. There were breaking fish! I got several trout and big ladyfish on both spin and fly before the breeze came up and ended it, at which time I picked a lee shoreline to explore. I saw a few reds, had shots at none. The water was deep, with the gauge over 1.5′.

Playalinda sunrise.

 

Sargassum on the beach.

Thursday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up, then drove to Playalinda, where we met Rodney Smith, Earl Gillespie, and Warren Wnek. There was sargassum, but reasonable amounts, not like I’d read about. Between the five of us we got a small jack and two hardheads, not exactly scintillating fishing.

We weren’t the only ones not catching fish.

Off the beach a ways, pelicans were diving on menhaden, lots of them. We’d see a blow-up in the bait now and again. I wished I had a boat…

 

As it was I had to settle for a beautiful morning on a beautiful beach with my aging but beautiful friends. Easily enough done! Thanks, boys!

That’s the North Brevard County Fish 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.

Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report

Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report

Few things in life get a fly fisher more worked up than seeing tarpon rolling all over the place. Except hooking a couple, of course! Welcome to this week’s Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee Report.

A walking, bank-fishing Econ trip with a spin rod started the week. I’d love to fish that stretch of river with a fly pole, but I lack that kind of skill. The fish were biting well, the song birds were singing, the Cooper’s hawks were shrieking, and I got some photos of otters. Fantastic day!

 

 

 

Next, Mike and River joined me for some Indian River Lagoon quality time. Redfish, black drum, and seatrout fell for our offerings. Water looked pretty good. That invasive exotic, grassy-looking stuff is taking over the bottom, though. We have a new exotic mussel, too. If they were larger, I’d eat them.

 

I returned to the scene of the crime a couple days later, hoping to cash in on what I’d learned from the day with Mike. That’s when I found the tarpon rolling! I hooked two, one on a streamer that jumped off, one on a gurgler that I unhooked and released. I got five other species (seatrout, jack crevalle, ladyfish, black drum, and redfish) for a total of six altogether. What was weird is, I got only one of each! All but the red were caught on fly.

 

Some serious jacks were showering mullet. It looked like the good old days! I love the jacks, I hope they stay around until after the mullet run.

Our governor and legislature keep passing one horrible, hateful, hurtful, and un-Christ-like law after another. It’s making me sick.

That’s the Indian River Lagoon and Econlockhatchee 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.

Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report

Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report

Only a single day on the water this week, split between two locations. Thus, a Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, and everyone else, too. Mother’s Day and Earth Day have something in common- every day should be mother’s day, and every day should be earth day.

Subscribers- no photos? https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

Got up early Tuesday. Launched the kayak behind the Education Center in the Wildlife Refuge, paddled out of Dummit Creek. Beautiful morning, but the water looked lifeless- no birds, hardly any bait. Once I cleared the creek the water cleared and looked good. Grass is starting to grow back there, too. But in two hours I did not see or touch a fish.

I loaded up and moved to Mosquito Lagoon.

It wasn’t exactly gangbusters there, either. I got one redfish and a nice trout on fly. Tiring of fighting the wind, I broke out the spin rod and got a handful of trout and – drum roll, please- a jack crevalle on the plastic shad. I suspected there were jacks around, as the mullet were showering sporadically. The only photo I took was of the jack, it’s become such an unusual catch in the lagoons. Maybe they’re making a comeback!

In an ongoing effort to provide entertainment to my valued readers, I’m including a bunch of paddling photos from years past. Enjoy!

Daryl “Bones” Benton, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure. We should be  this happy every time we’re out!

 

Dee Kaminsky, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure.

 

Peter Camuso and your reporter, Westfield River, Massachusetts, 1980.

 

Low tide on the Gulf. Photo courtesy of Mike Conneen.

 

Jim Tedesco, East Bay.

 

Your reporter, on the Gulf. Photo Courtesy Mike Conneen.

 

Jim Tedesco and your reporter, Machias River, Maine, circa 1976.

 

Nick Colantonio, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure.

 

Maxx Kumiski, Indian River Lagoon.

 

I got this snook in a tiny Everglades creek. The next one I hooked broke my rod, then my line.

 

Brian Jaye and Maxx Kumiski, Nantahala River.

 

Mike Conneen, on the Gulf.

 

Don Causey, Everglades National Park.

 

Alex Kumiski, Everglades National Park.

 

Maxx Kumiski, Chattahootchee River.

 

Maxx tosses a nice loop, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Contrasting styles, Manatee River.

 

Tammy Wilson, Econlockhatchee River.

 

Mike Conneen, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Mike in a jack melee, Manatee River.

 

Your reporter amongst the crocodiles, Everglades National Park. Photo courtesy Mike Conneen.

 

Jack Hutson, Nantahala River.

 

Backcountry paddle, Everglades National Park.

 

Fish on, Everglades National Park. Photo courtesy of Mike Conneen.

That’s the Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons 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.

Fished a Day Report

Fished a Day Report

Regular readers of this blog know I have been working on building a canoe. I took Monday off from canoe building and used it to go fishing. I fished a day! So we have a fished a day report.

And what a day it was! Spectacular weather, the river to myself, and fish that were pretty cooperative. I started with spin tackle (the fish don’t seem to want to come up until the day warms) and finished strong with a fly rod popper. I lost my well-used fly rod mouse to a monster gar that somehow got hooked when he ate it, then proceeded to show me his impressive dimensions, then proceeded to pop my leader like sewing thread.

First fish of the day.

Got a few sunfish, too. No line-breakers there.

Wildlife observed included wading birds, turtles, alligators, swallow-tailed kites (a favorite), and this guy, who I believe thought he was hiding:

The rest of the week I worked on the canoe, except for the day this went on:

A new drain field for our septic system, in progress.

For interested parties, you can see the details of the canoe-building here:
https://builds.capefalconkayaks.com/2023/04/jks-central-florida-canoe-build-chapter-4-completing-the-frame/

Here a photo of your blogger with his finished canoe frame-

Skinning the boat will happen towards the end of nest week, I suspect.

And that’s the Fished a Day 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.

Fished Around Central Florida Report

Fished Around Central Florida Report

Thanks for reading this Fished Around Central Florida Report. Was fortunate enough to get out four days, and visited the dermatologist again. The weather maintains a fantastic level between fabulous and awesome.

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Saturday

 

Bob Hosking and I went to the Econlockhatchee. It being Saturday, I was expecting a plastic horde, but we had the place to ourselves. We got quite a few fish, and while there were no monsters, a couple four-pounders came to hand. Bob used a plastic worm. I used a fly rod mouse and a Senko. It didn’t seem to make much difference.

Bob, average-sized Econ bass.

 

Monday

noting the water was low, I visited the Banana River Lagoon. The water makes up for its low level with a distinct lack of clarity. I got a nice trout blind-casting the Senko, and a couple shoreline redfish (the only way I could have seen them) on a black Clouser Minnow. Don’t need to go back for a while.

The fish threw saltwater all over my camera.

Tuesday

I tried Mosquito Lagoon again. I could copy and paste what I just wrote about the Banana River Lagoon. Low, dirty water, the only fish I could see were on the shoreline. Incredibly, managed three reds on fly. Took zero photos, somewhat of a relief, actually.

Thursday

Took a solo Econlockhatchee trip. It’s been good, the water is at the right level. Flies and soft plastics are what I’ve been using. Saw lots of gatorsaurusses.

 

Friday

my PA (I feel like we’re developing a relationship at this point) at the dermatologist froze another pre-cancerous lesion off my face. That’s what I get for spending so much of my life in the sunshine.

That’s the Fished Around Central Florida Report 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.

An Ode to Redfish

An Ode to Redfish Photo Essay, and a Merry Christmas to All

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Ode to Redfish. I only went fishing one day this week. Weather was fine when I left home, started pouring as soon as I put the boat in the water. I waited in the car for an hour, hoping it would stop. Then the boat resumed its place on my car’s roof, and we went home. No fishing.

And a Merry Christmas to all! And the Winter solstice 2022 in Northern Hemisphere will be at 4:47 PM on Wednesday, December 21!

Wanting to post this week because I won’t again until 2023, the Ode to Redfish idea struck. Here it is!

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

The Copper Coated Crab Cruncher

By John Kumiski

The copper coated crab cruncher
just crunches crabs all day.
He’ll also eat some shrimp and fish
to while his time away.

You’ll find him sometimes tailing.
Sometimes he just sits still.
Sometimes he keeps a-cruising,
hoping his gut to fill.

He’ll sometimes be all by himself.
Other times he’ll be with friends.
No one can say why he does what.
On him it all depends.

They come sometimes as little rats.
They come as big bull reds.
I’d rather see them live and swimming
than in someone’s cooler, dead.

I catch them while I’m wading.
I catch them from my boat.
Some days I catch none at all.
But always I have hope.

I catch them with my spinning rod.
I catch them with my flies.
No matter how I catch them,
It almost gets me high.

I really love that redfish,
though he’s a simple beast.
Spending a day where redfish live
is a wonderful sensory feast.

I know this is a silly poem,
but I’m a silly boy.
One thing you can be sure of though,
redfish make me jump with joy!

I don’t know if Santa likes to fish. Rodney Smith, Banana River Lagoon. Merry Christmas!!!

 

Scott Radloff, off Cape Canaveral.

 

The late Joe Mulson casts, Tom Mitzlaff poles, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

The late Lefty Kreh, Indian River Lagoon.

 

River and Mike Conneen, St. George Sound.

 

Mark Marsh with a fatty, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Mosquito Lagoon tailers.

 

Son Maxx, first redfish on fly, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Patrick Phillips, Banana River Lagoon. I still use the kayak, 20 years later!

 

The inimitable Tamazon, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

George Allen, early morning Mosquito Lagoon.

 

My brother-in-law Richie Surprise, Indian River Lagoon. This image was a Florida Sportsman cover.

 

Laurel Boylen, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Maxx and Alex, Indian River Lagoon.

 

Redfish portrait, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Bryan Carter, Ken Shannon, Plaqueman’s Parrish, Louisiana.

 

Austin Warmus, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Bob Duport and Terri, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Tom Van Horn, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Alex and Maxx, Banana River Lagoon.

 

I forget this guy’s name, unfortunately. He got this big red and it squirted milt all over his legs. Indian River Lagoon.

 

Kevin is holding what looks like a redfish but is actually a trip to the Haunted House with Dad at Disney World.

 

Susan, Little Talbot Island.

 

Redfish school, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Valentine redfish, East Bay.

 

The late Steve Baker, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

A deformed redfish, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Charlie Chapman, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Marcia Foosaner, Indian River Lagoon. The Space Shuttle, carrying John Glenn, goes up behind her.

 

Redfish portrait, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Redfish portrait, Indian River Lagoon.

That’s the Ode to Redfish. Thanks for reading! And a Merry Christmas to all!!!

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.

Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout

Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Fished 1.25 Days and an Ode to Seatrout. The weather has been unpleasant! We had Thanksgiving to deal with! Actually, I fished less than 1.25 days, but that will come out in the text.

I’ll be on the road next week, so do not expect a post. I won’t be able to deliver one.

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday’s weather made me stay home, but I got tired of hanging around. Went to my favorite local retention pond for a couple hours, bugging for bass. Got one bite, a feisty one-pounder that was, of course, released.

Tuesday Scott Radloff joined me for a Bang-O-Craft trip to Mosquito Lagoon, where the water is still too high. We fished in the rain. The seatrout were on! We probably got thirty, maybe more, all on soft plastics. Most were at the bottom of the slot, a few smaller, a few larger. All were released, since the season is closed! Scott got a single ladyfish in the interests of variety. We fished until we were soggy, about four hours.

And now for that Ode to Seatrout

Blindcasting with a Clouser Minnow on Mosquito Lagoon produced this fish.

 

Tom Van Horn, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Alex and Vic, Banana River Lagoon.

 

A BIG sea trout, Mosquito Lagoon, caught blind-casting with a Bouncer Shrimp.

 

I used to make poppers I called Floozies from an old boogie board. Clearly, they lacked durability. Banana River Lagoon.

 

Maxx, Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Dr. Aubrey, Indian River Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

The Texan’s biggest-ever sea trout, sight-fished, Mosquito Lagoon.

 

My use of purple flies has fallen way off, but they work well. Banana River Lagoon.

 

Capt. Chris Myers, Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fished.

 

Rusty Chinnis revives a big trout caught in the Indian River Lagoon near Stuart, on a DOA Shrimp.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, blind-casting.

 

Banana River Lagoon, blind-casting.

 

Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fishing.

Trout aren’t as exciting as tarpon, but I love them anyway!

That’s Fished 1.25 Days, and an Ode to Seatrout. 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.

Not Much Fishing This Week

Not Much Fishing This Week

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Not Much Fishing This Week. The weather has still been iffy, and other projects take my time on marginal weather days.

I bought plans for a canoe build from Cape Falcon Kayak. I’ve been prepping in order to start the actual canoe building process- building sawhorses, purchasing needed tools and materials, etc. So when a cold front comes through, like happened this past week, I have another outlet for my nervous energy.

Also, I’m writing for the Global Outdoors Blog , and Rivers and Feathers . Gotta pay for that canoe!

On a different note, 15,000 redfish fingerlings were just stocked into the Banana River Lagoon. Read the press release here- 

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Tuesday I went kayaking on Mosquito Lagoon. The water is so high! I found a load of baby tarpon- true babies, like yearlings. Many couldn’t get the fly in their mouths. I was WAY overgunned with a four-weight. Got four babies, and three snooklets, and two slot reds, on a mix of fly and spin. I wanted a trout to finish the symmetry, but it didn’t happen.


Wednesday I took the Bang-O-Craft to Mosquito Lagoon, different spot. Did not touch a fish with the fly rod, but got two snooklets and a trout that maybe could have held batter, by using the rubber shad. Pretty slow fishing, and then the front came.

As another public service announcement, in the area I fish around the Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has closed all taking of red drum, effective July 2022. Seatrout season is closed all of November as well. Read the regulations here… Don’t get caught with illegal fish! The lagoons need those fish more than you do, anyway.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to count your blessings…

That’s Not Much Fishing This Week. 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.