St. George Sound Fishing Report and photo essay
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The St George trip, which commenced early Sunday morning, was unusual for a number of reasons-
-not a raccoon did I see or receive a visit from, in four nights of primitive camping;
-from the time I got to St. George Island on Sunday until Thursday morning, the sky was completely cloudless;
-I slept in the tent without the fly on for four nights in a row without so much as a drop of dew. Seeing the night sky in bug- and water-free comfort was GLORIOUS.
I’m thinking of naming the van “Boogaloo”. Here she is, ready to roll.
Drove through a cold front to get there, “there” being St. George Island State Park, (which everyone should visit- just sayin’.). Nothing like a strong cold front to enhance the skunk effect. Even so, after loading the kayak I paddled to an oyster bar, anxious to fly fish. Five minutes of casting produced a slot redfish on a Clouser minnow. BAM! Good way to start!
Home, sweet home.
Paddled to the primitive campground and started setting up. The wind carried a distinct odor of rotting shrimp, not something one cares to smell for an extended time. Searching for the source, I found a dead, decaying, maggot-encrusted and totally loathsome and gross dead shark washed up on the shoreline. Wanting no part of it, I returned to camp.
The odor was nauseating.
Shark corpse, exposed by a very low tide.
I found a stick, went back to the shark corpse, and used the stick to roll it into the water. I continued working it away from shore, poking a hole in its hide while doing so. Some gas bubbled out. The shark sank to the bottom. I tossed the stick as far as I could. Mission accomplished.
I saw two satellites from inside my tent before falling asleep.
A view from the tent. The bright “star” above and to the right of the moon is Mars.
The wind howled all night.
The morning was chilly. The water had been blown away from the shore, a mud flat extending out 100 yards or so. My friend the shark sat there. The sound looked like a washing machine.
St. George Sound looked like a washing machine.
No boating this day!
Some photos from a mostly no fishing day- berries…
…a monarch butterfly missing at least one leg…
I walked all around the area, even taking a spin rod (apologies to fly purists) and casting along the lee side of the island (as much lee as there was). Was surprised when I got a bite, a small flounder that kept the skunk at bay, the only fish of the cold, windy day.
…a fiddler crab (lots of these)…
…and a creepy old guy sitting on a bench.
I saw two satellites from inside my tent before falling asleep.
The morning saw a diminished (but still 10-15 mph) wind and a brisk 48 degrees. Felt warmer than the previous day. After breakfast I headed to Goose Island for some fly fishing. My earlier trips here had been quite successful.
How do you spell success? P-i-n-f-i-s-h
I worked it hard. My first four fish were, three pinfish and one sea robin. Finally, I got a slot trout, and shortly after another, larger one, maybe 20 inches, the best trout I would get. Searched hard for redfish, running over three and not getting a shot all day. Saw more kayakers than reds, not a good thing.
The ultimate high- sea robin on fly.
Best fish of the day, on a tan Clouser minnow.
Awesome eagle nest on Goose Island.
Casting in front of camp.
I saw two satellites from inside my tent before falling asleep.
In the morning I decided to see new places. I had never gone east down the shoreline. Goose Island was pretty much a bust the previous day. Yeah, I know a front just went through, but still. Seeing new things is good, right?
I paddled three or four miles into a 10-15 mph wind to get to a small point. No, I did not do it in one hop. Yes, it was very hard work.
This spot (like Goose Island) looked awesome.
I grabbed the spin rod and waded to the edge of the flat. The first cast produced a trout. They came steadily, hovering near the bottom of the slot, with more below 15 inches than above.
While playing one, a big red, 15 or 20 pounds, came out of the green water and followed it right up to me. Yikes!
Sixty seconds later an even bigger red came cruising by, quite nonchalant. I dropped the rubber shad in front of him and BAM! Hooked up! And then a five- or six-foot long blacktip came out of the green water and started following that fish around. YIKES!
I was in water up to my derriere. I made for shallower stuff immediately.
Battling the beast. The shark has mercifully left the scene.
It’s hard taking a selfie while holding a fish. And it’s really hard taking a selfie while holding a fish that’s hard to hold with two hands, never mind just one. I got a photo, but it’s not very good, and certainly does not show the fish to its best effect. That fish was 25 or 30 pounds, a magnificent specimen. Why did I park the boat so far from where I was fishing??
Ecstatic with the fish, not so much with the picture.
After lunch I headed back to the spot with the fly rod. No more giants showed themselves. Two 14-inch trout on a Clouser minnow was it. Got back in the kayak and started floating back towards camp, tossing the shad into potholes in the grass.
One trout after another. Stupid easy fishing. No good ones, though.
Went near shore to see if any reds were there. Started running them over immediately. The sun was in my face and even though the water was clear and shallow and the bottom white sand, I couldn’t see them. Finally parked the boat and went wading.
Battling a lesser beast.
Spotted a fish, made the cast. The fish heard the fly hit the water and went to investigate. I love that response!!! Twitched the fly once- BAM! Since the boat was nearby and the good camera was available, I was able to get a decent photo of this one.
Love to sight fish for redfish!
The release.
The only way I can afford waterfront property.
I saw nine satellites from inside my tent this evening. Made me feel even more smug.
Packed up the next morning and paddled back to the car. Considered leaving the camp gear and fishing around Goose Island before leaving, but the wind was still 15 and it was only 60 degrees. Packed it in and made the long drive back to Chuluota.
It was a most excellent trip.
Thank you for reading this St. George Sound fishing report! Don’t forget to follow me on instagram!
Life is great and I love life!
Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing! or travel!
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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