Tarpon on the Fly!
Capt. John Kumiski
May 29, 2008
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
This Weeks Fishing Report On Pine Island Sound the Lee County beaches, from Capt. John Kumiski 5/29/08
For Sale- 2008 Mitzi 17, slightly and gently used. Yamaha 60 four stroke, EZ Loader aluminum trailer, MinnKota trolling motor, $17,900. I love this boat for a variety of reasons but am upgrading to the new Mitzi 17 Guide model. Call me at 407.977.5207 for more information.
I got down to Fort Myers on Monday about 9:30 AM, and met up with David McCleaf. We launched the Mitzi in Bokeelia and checked all the tarpon spots on the west side of Pine Island Sound. The wind was howling out of the east. So checking the west side of the Sound was not practical. Needless to say, since it was Memorial Day there was lots of boat traffic, even with the wind.
There were no tarpon that we could find along the east side of Pine Island Sound, so we went out to the beach. It was nice there, with the islands blocking the wind. While we didn't see a lot of fish, we did see some tarpon and had a few shots. We checked from Redfish Pass all the way up to Boca Grande. The day was dedicated more to looking around than to trying to catch fish, although I would certainly loved to have gotten a bite. Maybe next week. David and I got back to Tarpon Lodge around 7 PM.
Tuesday Dr. Mike Collins and Dr. Mike Collins Jr. joined me for a day's fly fishing for tarpon. We again had an east wind, still strong but not as bad as Monday. We checked a couple of spots in the Sound and then went to the beach. Things were slow at the first few spots but then we hit a shoal that was just covered with fish. Mike cast one of his own Peanut Bunker flies in black and purple at a daisy chain. A fish came out of the chain and tracked it for about ten feet, then sucked it in. Mike stuck him. The fish exploded from the water and the fly went flying. Hey, it's a bite! Even if the fight was way too short.
Mike Jr. was now up. We got a good angle another chain of fish and he tossed his own brown and purple Tasty Toad into them. A fish rolled on its side and took. Mike stuck him. He came flying out of the water and the fly went flying. Hey, it's a bite! Even if the fight was way too short.
We had several other fish almost nose the fly and not take, and had at least 50 shots. Altogether it was an excellent afternoon of fishing.
Wednesday Dr. Mike went with Capt. Rick DePaiva and Dr. Mike Jr. came with me. The two boats split up to cover more water, and Mike and I went back to the scene of the crime from the previous day. We got on a daisy chain almost immediately but did not get bit. For the remainder of the morning we saw some scattered fish but only had one other good shot. Once we finished lunch though, the fish showed up pretty strong, and we had shots more or less continuously for three hours or so. Mike jumped a fish on the Toad, but when the fly went flying it had a large scale stuck to the point- not a bite! We had LOTS of refusals, and began changing flies to see if that would change our luck. A single tracked a yellow and orange Keys streamer. Mike thought he took. I couldn't tell. There was no contact that I could see, so I guess we'll never know. The fly kept fouling, so I took it off and put on a Borski Slider, which also generated some interest but no strikes.
In the mean time, Dr. Mike, out with Rick, jumped a fish and had him on for ten minutes before breaking him off. The fly was a Toad.
We finally ran out of time without putting a fish in the air, and then I drove home, a long drive during which I fought to stay awake more or less continuously. I have several trips here before returning to Fort Myers next week.
Life is short- enjoy it!
Life is great and I love my work!
John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:
Fly fishing for tarpon along the west coast beaches should remain excellent until at least the end of June!
Target Species:
Tarpon!
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