Fishing Report from Spotted Tail 11/16/08
Upcoming Events:
11/29, Fly Tying/Book Signing, Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka. MCO is turning this into quite an event. Call them at 407-464-2000 for information.
12/13, Fly Tying/Book Signing, Salty Feather, Jacksonville. Call them at 904.645.8998 for information.
Come on out and say hello!
This week's question features tarpon fishing. For years, during May and June I have been going to Fort Myers, doing my tarpon fishing in Pine Island Sound and along the Gulf beaches. I may have a chance to guide for tarpon in the lower Keys this upcoming season.
Where would you rather go tarpon fishing, southwest Florida or the lower Keys? Why? Selected answers will be in next week's fishing report, and the best one will win a copy of Flyrodding Florida Salt. Please answer to spottedtail@spottedtail.com.
On Tuesday son Maxx and I launched the canoe at SR 419 for a leisurely float down the Econlockhatchee River. It was a beautiful if breezy day, but nestled down in the forest the wind didn't bother us very much. I did something I had never done in the Econ before- I brought an ultralight spinning outfit. The first cast with a tiny Road Runner brought a solid thump. It was the largest redbreasted sunfish I have ever seen.
I lost the Road Runner to a snag fairly quickly. Crème Lures makes a tiny swim bait that I tried next. It worked real well. We wore it out. Then I switched to a 1/32nd ounce crappie jig with a tiny twister tail made by Culprit. This was the best bait we tried.
Maxx and I took turns with the rod and caught fish the entire way down the river, most of which were ‘zilla sized. Although we didn't get a bass or a crappie we both got a sunfish slam- redbreast, bluegill, and stumpknocker. It was great fun and very enlightening. I'll have a modified approach when next I fly fish there, I can assure you.
Wednesday I took the Mitzi and went scouting north of the Haulover Canal in the Mosquito Lagoon. The Coast Guard was camped out at the canal, getting ready for the Space Shuttle launch. The south end of the lagoon was closed to all entry.
The water was still fairly high, but it was clear from the Haulover Canal until I got north of George's Bar. Between there and the Eldora House, as far north as I went, it was pretty dirty, the exception being in the Hong Kong Island area, where the water was just beautiful. I didn't see any fish up there, either, although in all fairness I was working fast because of the dirty water.
South of the bar, in the cleaner water, I did find some fish. Although I was looking more than really fishing I did hook a slot red on a Johnson Minnow.
Thursday Dr. Rigo Carnejo and his friend Alan joined me for a day's fishing. The south end of the lagoon was still closed, so we spent the day (nice, if rather windy) between the canal and George's Bar. We saw fish steadily all day long. I don't know if it was because of the impending full moon or what, but they were as uncooperative as they could be. We got one red and broke off another (!?!) on Johnson Minnows, and got a 24 inch trout on a piece of mullet. Almost all of them were singles. While I would rather see fish and not catch them than not find any, it was a slow and somewhat frustrating day for all of us.
Friday was the last day the power plants would be open until April. I needed bait for the freezer (my apologies to all the fly fishers out there) so I spent three hours at the south plant, casting a jig and throwing the castnet. I only got four ladyfish, although I hooked and lost several others. But it wasn't hot fishing. I also got two fat, 12 inch mangrove snapper, very surprising on the jig! There are still quite a few finger mullet between the Port St. John boat ramp and the now-closed power plant. In the three hours I was there I looked for breaking fish but didn't see any.
Friday night Shawn and Carol Healy joined wife Susan and I. We launched the Mitzi at the Titusville Municipal Ramp in the dark and went across the lagoon, anchoring up northeast of Parrish Park. We had a lovely picnic there on the boat and watched the nearly full moon rise, quite spectacular. Then, right on schedule, Endeavor blasted off into the night sky, extremely spectacular. Launches are always very cool. Night launches ratchet the coolness factor up several notches.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by at Border's Books yesterday afternoon. I enjoyed chatting with all of you. I didn't sell many books, but I certainly got some flies tied up!
Life is short- GO FISHING!!!
Life is great and I love my work!
If you have any questions or comments, or if you'd like to go fishing, please feel free to email me at spottedtail@spottedtail.com, or call at 407 977 5207.
John Kumiski
member, Indian River Guides Association,
Florida Outdoor Writers Association