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Another Not Much Fishing Report

September 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Another Not Much Fishing Report

Thank you for reading another not much Fishing Report. As I said last week, the subtitle of my blog is “Fishing and other bits of life.” This week the other bits of life again overwhelmed the fishing.

Why I did not fish out of Port Canaveral this week-

The waves have been kind of LARGE.

Why I did not fish the Econ this week-

I like the gauge reading 2.0 or less.

Why I only fished one day this week- cat to the vet, wife to the dentist, car to the shop, and getting ready for Saturday’s yard sale… 

Please feel free to stop by and say hello!

Did kayak fly fish on Tuesday, Mosquito Lagoon. The water was the highest I’ve seen it this year, with the gauge at 1.4. It has continued to rise all week and is currently close to 2.0. With the clouds, wind, and dirty water it was near impossible. I had only two shots in almost five hours, got one redfish. Leader was in the rod when the fish took the fly.

One good thing about the dirty water- they can’t see you, either.

But if you live in central Florida and have not been able to find time to fish, you’re not missing much.

Something to think about: if you fish the wrong fly long and hard enough, it will sooner or later become the right fly. – John Gierach

Life is great and I love my life!

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, Uncategorized · Tagged: , ,

Not Much Fishing Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

July 25, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Not Much Fishing Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Not Much Fishing Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report. Only fished a single day this week.

Request for Photos– I’m considering putting a book together on the history of fishing in central Florida. For this project I need at least 200 B&W images, scanned to at least 300 dpi. If you have some you’d like to share, or know where I can get some, I would love to hear from you! Thank you for your consideration.

Monday– launched the kayak in Mosquito Lagoon, armed with a six-weight. An unweighted black bunny leech festooned my leader. Water was high and green, very hard to see the bottom.

Didn’t see much for a while. Heard the ballsy splash that you know was not a mullet and went to investigate. Saw the tiniest wake and dropped the fly in front of it. BAM! The violence of the strike surprised me. The fish went into the backing but I was able to subdue it and get a (crappy) photo before releasing it. NICE!!!

the black bunny leech

A while later saw what I at first thought was the back of a fish sticking out of the water. As I approached, doubt commenced. Fish don’t usually lie still that long, especially in such shallow water. It still looked like a fish back…

I made the cast, almost hit the thing. It exploded on the fly, so surprising me I failed to get a good hookset. The fly came free a moment later. Laughed at myself for that.

Had one more shot at a tailer that never saw the fly. That was it for five hours work. Would do it again!

Tuesday– not having forgotten the tarpon along the beach last week, I went to Playalinda armed with a heavy spin rod and some soft plastic baits. When I got to the top of the boardwalk and saw the water I turned around and put the tackle away. The wind was out of the southeast (it stayed that way all week), the water was very choppy and dirty. I had a nice long walk on the beach, though.

Wednesday- Susan and I went to Bethune Beach. The tackle was still in the car. It stayed there. Saw two guys trying to fish. Both quit quickly. The current along the beach was probably five or six knots, running north, tough conditions for bait guys. When we left we went to Goodrich Seafood. Oyster po’boy, yum-mee!

Wife at the beach…

Friday– repaired three fishing rods including an old favorite fly rod. Talked to the editor about the above-mentioned book. Then launched the kayak on the Econ at SR 419 at noon. No fishing tackle was harmed in the making of this kayak trip.

The river is running a little over 5.5 feet- great for paddling, terrible for fishing. I did see gar and Plecostamus. And some dinosaur sized alligators. You know they’re big when you paddle by and they don’t even flinch. The smaller ones always jump off the bank.

 

Birds were not much in evidence, but the cicadas were. Other than that I had the river to myself, reaching Snow Hill Road by 4 PM. Enjoyed the trip immensely.

And that was my week mostly not fishing.

The footbridge over the River Econ.

It is good even to be a fisherman in summer and in winter. – Henry David Thoreau

Life is great and I love my apparent retirement!

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 · Tagged: , , , , ,

Not Much Fishing Fishing Report

May 30, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Not Much Fishing Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this not much fishing fishing report. It’s rained every day this week, with significant amounts of lightning.

Memorial Day– the weather was not conducive to Florida fishing- windy and rainy, all day. Since I will be here all summer for the first time in 14 years, I cleaned and re-spooled all my 6000 and 4000 series spin reels. I’m thinking big jacks, I’m thinking king macs, I’m thinking tarpon. And now I am ready, rod and reel-wise. May still have to tinker with the terminal tackle a bit…

Tuesday– went to the Econ for an hour, wade fishing. Got two redbellies and a stumpknocker on a rubber spider. The gar were moving upstream like an army, a continuous stream of fish clearly going someplace. What it reminded me of was the beachside tarpon migration in Lee County. There were some 36-inch gar in the pack. Right after I got in the car it started raining.

A Fiber Minnow.

I organized terminal tackle for the spin rods in the afternoon. I also started tying some tarpon flies, fiber minnows and electric sushi, a project that’s taken me through the rest of the week.

Electric sushi- tying instructions at link.

Wednesday– tied some rubber spiders and some foam-head Muddler Minnow kind of things, small flies for sunfish. Went to the Econ to test them. The water was up six or seven inches from the day before. I did not touch a fish. I don’t know if that’s because my new flies stink or the fish are looking for heavier cover in the increasing flow.

Spent the afternoon organizing all my flies. I have lots of flies, some 20 or more years old, never used.

Thursday– finished my electrical work on the Mitzi, took it for a spin around Lake Harney. Pressure washed it, then organized all the boat gear and boat fishing tackle. My tackle is as organized as it’s ever been.

Friday– in a fit of optimism, rigged up a 10-weight and a 12-weight. When the weather breaks I will be ready. I hope there will be some fish around!

It is our lost fish that I believe stay longest in memory, ans seize upon our thoughts whenever we look back on fishing days. – Sir Edward Grey

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, Flies and Fly Tying · 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: , , ,

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: , , , , , ,

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.

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Econlockhatchee River Fishing Report

March 28, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Econlockhatchee River Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Econlockhatchee River fishing report.

All of us have been affected by the virus. I’m in a high-risk group- if I get it, it will probably kill me. In spite of that I chafe at staying home so much. The weather is nice- I should be outside! I got out twice this week.

Monday I launched my kayak at Snow Hill Road, planning on doing an out-and-back. The river was quite low and strangely quiet, very few wading birds, no alligators (?!?!). It took me an hour to get my first bite, a spotted gar. It was followed by a dinker bass. I photographed the first several fish I caught, all on fly, which I share here.

Spotted gar, on a popper.

 

It was tiny, but it was a bass!

 

This one got away.

 

Bluegill,

 

redbelly,

 

stumpknocker makes a sunfish slam.

 

And another dink bass for good measure.

It turns out the only alligator I saw was a dead one, decomposing in the middle of the river.

When I got back to Snow Hill Road I thought I had my days mixed up. There were about 20 cars there, folks out enjoying the day.

Wednesday I used a bicycle to access the upper river. The river, still low and still quiet, yielded about fifteen bass and a single stumpknocker. I started out using Culprit worms but after losing three in a row to gar I switched to the RipTide Sardine, which worked well.

The river is small here- the water hardly moved.

 

First of many bass- it wasn’t a dink!

 

The floodplain is lovely.

 

Another healthy fish!

 

And the one gator I saw this week.

I saw one alligator, one black snake, one owl, several feral hogs, no people. It was a beautiful day!

“The best fishermen I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again; instead they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them.” -John Gierach

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: , , , ,

Vernal Equinox Central Florida Fishing Report

March 21, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Vernal Equinox Central Florida Fishing Report

In spite of the craziness caused by COVID-19 I was able to get out and fish this week. A wonderful thing about fishing as practiced by me- you’re not likely to run across any virus-carrying humans.

The equinox was this week- celebrate a little!

Upcoming Events

I had intended to run the Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Seminar on March 28. Given that I’m in a high-risk demographic in the event I’d contract the virus, I have decided to cancel this event. Maybe in the fall…

Fishing

Saturday I launched the Bang-O-Craft at River Breeze Park, intending to do some scouting for an upcoming charter (since cancelled). Every time I do something like this I’m reminded of why I avoid fishing on weekends. I had to park most of the way back to Burch Road, the lot was full to overflowing.

My plan was to scout north of the park. I went up to the Blue Hole and started working my way back. In five hours I saw a half-dozen redfish and had one bite from a decent trout. In some of my formerly favorite places the water was almost opaque or the bottom looked diseased. It was not a great outing. I won’t be visiting that area for a while.

Monday Susan joined me for some more Mosquito Lagoon scouting. I launched the Mitzi in the wind and mist at Beacon 42.

Got two of these on a DOA Shrimp. Photo by Susan Surprise.

In the first spot we got two slot redfish, a bunch of dinker trout, and hooked and lost a nice trout.

Susan with a nice trout, released right after the shutter clicked.

 

Floundah! Photo by Susan Surprise.

In the second we got a nice trout, a flounder, and a few dinker trout. I wanted more spots but Sue was done, so we loaded up and drove home.

Monday night the trip I was scouting for was cancelled.

Tuesday I was on the way to do some Indian River Lagoon kayak fishing when I passed a breakdown. There was a child standing there and dad was lying under the truck. I stopped. “You under control?” “I don’t know where the jack is.” He had a gheenoe on a trailer. The trailer tire was shredded.

I was like a knight in shining armour. Because I have trailers, I have tools. I had him back on the road in 20 minutes.

I launched the kayak a few minutes later. The water looked OK, but there were no minnows, no mullet, no birds. I thought, “If I get a fish it will be a miracle.”

I paddled to the end of the spot, stood up, and began looking as I started back.

I saw three fish. I put the kayak in shallow water, staked it out, and waded back to the area, peppering it with casts. Just before I was to give up a fish struck. It was a lovely trout, about 20 inches.

I did not see another fish, nor was another bite forthcoming. The weather was spectacular though, and I had a great time.

Thursday Susan joined me. We went to CS Lee Park and launched the Bang-O-Craft. At the mouth of the Econ I had a solid strike on a 1” Sassy Shad. To my surprise it was a large tilapia. I was about to call my Aunt Rochelle when the hook pulled out. One does not get many tilapia bites.

I did get a pair of stumpknockers there, though. No thoughts of keeping them!

The mighty mudfish gets no respect. Photo by Susan Surprise.

We went up the Econ a way and I stopped to cast. I had another solid strike and a fish came cartwheeling out of the water. It turned out to be a bowfin, mudfish here in Florida. Got a crappie there, too. We went further up the very low river, dragging bottom in places and hitting lumber in others. It was very dead up there except for the gar.

This little guy followed the Chug Bug right to the boat. Photo by Susan Surprise.

I tied on a small Chug Bug and worked it for a while. Got a bite (it surprised me) and caught a seven-inch bass, the final fish of the day.

Friday sister Cheryl and I went kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon looking for birds. I brought a fishing rod but never picked it up- did not see a fish other than some mullet. We did see some eagles, spoonbills, coots, ducks, etc. etc. Nice paddle on a nice day.

And that’s my central Florida fishing report for this week. Thanks for reading it!

“Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it.” -Harry Middleton

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