orlando wetlands park Archives

Boreas Still Here, No Fishing. And Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2023 by john kumiski · 2 Comments

Boreas Still Here, No Fishing. And Merry Christmas!

Last week I wrote about Boreas, god of winds. Boreas still here, and again, no fishing. The Econ gauge as I write this is just under 12 feet, the Haulover Canal gauge at 1.5 feet, so fishing would likely be a waste even if I were to brave the gale. I might be getting cabin fever…

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy holiday season! Merry Christmas!

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

Great Blue Heron, Orlando Wetlands Park.

It was quite the week, though. A visit to the dermatologist to have pre-cancerous lesions frozen off my face. I remember all the fun in the sun I had for thirty years every time that happens. The winter solstice was Thursday. I love the pagan holidays! I disassembled the old camper build in my van and took halting steps towards building the new one. Rodney Smith and I took a walk at the Orlando Wetlands Park. Susan and I bought a new window install for our abode- cha-CHING! And, we had a guest blog by Julia Mitchell, enormously different than anything I might write.

Black vulture, Orlando Wetlands Park.

Purple aster, Orlando Wetlands Park.

American shad, St. Johns River.

Those of you who need fishing-related activity can take solace in the fact that the first shad to be caught in the St. Johns River will likely be caught between now and New Years Day. Dust off the shad tackle and get your flies and lures ready! Along with the shad, crappie, bluegills, a few largemouths, and if we’re lucky, those striper hybrids that Florida calls sunshine bass will be caught too!

Black crappie.

Largemouth bass, a very aggressive little one.

“Sunshine” bass, St. Johns River.

That’s the Boreas Still Here Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Uncategorized · Tagged: american shad fishing, birding orlando wetlands park, orlando wetlands park, St. Johns River, st. johns river shad

Looking for Tarpon Report

June 17, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Looking for Tarpon Report

Thanks for reading this Looking for Tarpon Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, but I paddled one day, and walked another.

Happy father’s day to all the dads. The solstice is this week. Pagans, get ready to celebrate!

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

Monday I took the Bang-O-Craft (which had been very lonely) and launched at Port St. John, with intent to go looking for tarpon. It was a long shot, but I have found them around there in the past. When I went to put the trolling motor on the boat, I realized the battery was still in the garage, on the charger. At least it was fully charged! With more breeze than I expected, I did not find the tarpon this time, and didn’t find much else, either. There was nothing at the power station.

I pulled the boat and drove up to Titusville, where I launched it again. I poled a long way and did not see much, except at one spot, where I managed to get a nice red on a plastic shad, and two snooklets on fly. No skunk for me this day.

Tuesday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up, then drove to Port Canaveral and launched his boat. We went north up the beach, looking for tarpon. We found and netted menhaden, which was the highlight of the trip as far as fishing goes. Although we saw a handful of tarpon roll, we drove home reeking of skunk.

Wednesday morning I paddled my canoe around Lake Mills. The cypress trees are gorgeous, and I spend a couple minutes observing an otter. Didn’t see much rooted vegetation (other than trees) in the water, or any fish. Wasn’t expecting tarpon there, though.

Wasn’t expecting tarpon at the wetlands park either, where I went walking Saturday morning.

Green heron.

White ibis, adult and juvenile.

Anhinga.

Four-spotted pennant on pickerelweed.

Four-spotted pennant on arrowhead (Sagittaria).

That’s the looking for tarpon 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.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: Indian River Lagoon, orlando wetlands park, Port Canaveral, tarpon fishing

Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report

May 26, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report

Thank you for reading this Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons Report. There was rain and lightning every day this week, making fishing more interesting. Nothing like playing hide-and-seek with giant sparks to make fishing seem less important! In spite of that, a few fish were caught.

It’s Memorial Day weekend. Spend a moment or two silently, thinking about how lucky you are that thousands and thousands of Americans died fighting for your liberty. They deserve that much, at the very least.

The week started with a walk at the Orlando Wetlands Park. Wildlife doesn’t come any more accessible than at this artificial wetlands, where there is no admission fee.

Bullfrog.

Cooter turtle.

Night heron.

Great blue heron.

Roseate spoonbill.

Four-spotted pennant, ♀︎.

Sandhill crane.

Scott Radloff joined me for a paddle day on Mosquito Lagoon. I was hoping for great things. It was not to be. Scott got a couple trout. I stank like a skunk all afternoon. Lightning drove us off the water. We took the opportunity to cruise Biolab Road, the first time I’ve seen the south end of the lagoon for a long time. The water was fairly clear, but we did not see any fish, or fishermen.

I went solo to the Indian River Lagoon one day. Since I was greeted by a rainbow, you could guess what the weather was like. A red on fly, another on spin, and jumped a small tarpon with a fly. Off the water by noon, more than slightly damp.

Met some folks crabbing while checking out some old fishing spots. They were having good luck!

Passionflower, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

Who can tell me what this is?

That’s the Mosquito and Indian River 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.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, orlando wetlands park, wildlife photography

Fish and Birds No Fishing Report

July 15, 2022 by john kumiski · 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.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, opinion, Uncategorized · Tagged: Audubon awards, crow intelligence, dragonflies, giant trevally, green heron, orlando wetlands park, tiger shark

Independence Day Central Florida Fishing Report

July 2, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Independence Day Central Florida Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my Independence Day central Florida fishing report. Independence Day- it makes me want to watch a Will Smith movie! I hope everyone celebrates safely…

Monday

Found me kayaking at Indian River Lagoon. Did a lot of wading along the shoreline, tossing a streamer at a place that, last time I visited, had quite a few snook. On Monday they were all gone. Five chances presented themselves to throw to redfish. In all five, the fish realized I was there before I began the cast. You know how that went.

I got one dinker red, the skunk-buster, blindcasting.

Who ya gonna call? Skunk buster!

Off the shoreline a ways I saw what I thought were jacks busting. Loved to see it- they’ve pretty much disappeared from the lagoon. After my shoreline jaunt ended, I found myself floating out there. The fish were still there!! I cast the shad into the melee- wham! Then a fish that looked like a tarpon came flying out of the water. It confused me! Tarpon just don’t bust bait the way jacks do.

It turned out to be a ladyfish about 30 inches long. And to prove it wasn’t a fluke, I got a second one. These were strong, handsome fish, jumping and ripping drag- good stuff. Hope they’re around all summer.

The last inning.

My last fish, also on the shad, was a solid trout of three pounds or so, also blindcasting with the shad. Wasn’t a great day, but I’ve certainly had worse.

Tuesday

I drove to Valrico to buy a new (for me) lens, which took most of the day. My family financed the purchase as a Father’s Day gift. Yes, I am so blessed.

Wednesday

Got up early and headed to the Wetlands Park to play with my new toy. The four-spotted pennants are taking over the place. The new toy works GREAT.

Thursday

Scott Radloff and I went crabbing, hoping for a repeat of the last crab trip’s success. We did not get it. Scott ended up buying me a half-dozen at Wild Ocean.

The male blue crab…

Friday

Clean-up on aisle 4! And I watched the Red Sox. They lost :-(.

That’s the independence day central Florida 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.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: blue crabs, florida fishing, four spotted pennants, Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing, odonata, orlando wetlands park

The Fishing Was Mostly Blown Out Report

April 22, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

The Fishing Was Mostly Blown Out Report

Thanks for reading this Fishing Was Mostly Blown Out report. Yes, we had a small craft advisory every day but Monday, the day I had to go to the doctor. Tough fishing when it’s blowing 15-20 every day.