Jacks, Sharks Tarpon Out of Port Canaveral
Capt. John Kumiski
June 26, 2010
Orlando - Saltwater Fishing Report
Orlando/Goodnews Area Fishing Report from Spotted Tail 6/27/10
On Father's Day son Maxx and I launched the boat at Port Canaveral at about 7 AM. There was a cluster of boats trying to net bait and I could see a few pogies flipping. I tossed the net once and caught about 150- see ya, folks! I looked very professional or very lucky, take your pick.
We ran all the way down to Patrick AFB and saw nothing but more bait, so turned around and headed for the bight. The seas were almost flat and we had good visibility by now. We spotted some wakes and a yellow fin tip. Big jacks! Maxx tossed a bait out and WHOMP! Thirty minutes later I pulled a 30 pound crevalle into the boat. A couple of photos and back into the water it went.
We cleared the tip of the cape. Quite a few boats were there. I ran over the shoal, about four feet of clear water. Lots of large dark shapes ran out from under the boat. Sharks. Lots of them. Maxx and I played around with them for a while, with several double hookups. We released six or so and got cut off by at least that many more. There were bonnetheads, blacktips, spinners, big nurse sharks, and probably some other kinds.
We saw some tarpon roll and went to investigate. We saw some swimming high in the water and had some good shots. I spotted a pair swimming at me and tossed a menhaden out in front of them, wishing I had a 12-weight. The first fish took the bait, then spit it out. The second one immediately sucked it in. I got two spectacular jumps out of him before the shark-damaged leader gave out.
The journey to Goodnews gets tougher every year. Crowded planes, tiny seats, a LONG , long way. Fortunately the leg from Portland to Anchorage was fairly empty and I got an entire row of seats to myself. I ate a Xanax and slept soundly the whole way, the thump of the plane landing finally waking me up.
I'm writing this on the Anchorage to Bethel leg, 34,000 feet above the snow covered Alaska Range. Fortunately the plane is not full and reasonably comfortable. Once I reach Bethel (where it's 49 degrees) I'll catch a Cessna to Goodnews. I wonder what I'll find when I get to camp?
Several days later…
Wednesday afternoon I fished Ben and Charles, both fly fishers. Ben's from Minnesota, Charles from Maryland. We fished the main stem of the Goodnews for four hours, tossing big streamers on weighted lines. They each got one bite. Charles hooked and quickly lost his. Ben stuck his solid fish solidly. I pulled up the anchor and gave chase with the oars. Ben got out on a bar and fought it from there. I was able to get a net under it, a 38" king salmon, 25-30 pounds, a hen full of hopefully lots of future salmon. We released her and she swam off strongly.
I fished them again the next day. Charles got a jack king early on. We had one more bite all morning, which was missed. We went trout fishing in the Middle Fork in the afternoon. I was the first one up there and it was a search mission. They got four trout and a grayling, had several missed strikes, not great fishing but the finest scenery imaginable.
We actually got skunked yesterday, hooking only one fish all day and losing it. Don't have much to say about that. No one else did well either.
Fishing with Larry and Steve were out with me today. They fished with plugs for kings all morning, had two bites, and missed both. We went trout fishing. It was decent. They tossed streamers, got a dozen or so rainbows to about 24" and a fat grayling, beautiful fish. All were released.
We tried for kings again and got a tiger salmon (chum to those not in "the know") for our trouble. It was an awesome day, chilly and breezy but with SUNSHINE. I love those sunny days, I don't get rained on.
Haven't seen a bear yet. Even beavers are scarce, which is really strange. We have a mink living in our dock. We've seen several eagles, tundra swans, lots of swallows, ravens, ducks. That's the wildlife portion of this fishing report and we'll be back with a Goodnews report next week.
Embrace simplicity.
Life is great! I still love my work, lucky me!
Life is short- go fishing!
John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
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