Indian River Lagoon & Banana River
Capt. John Kumiski
April 25, 2005
Titusville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spotted Tail Mosquito Lagoon report 4/25/05
This week’s fishing report from Spotted Tail, updated 4/25/05
Now booking tarpon dates for May and June along the Lee Island Beaches!
You may recall in our last episode I was about to take three kayak trips for the Andy Thornall Kayak Fishing School. Last Sunday morning I met Ralph Artigliere, Chris, and Rich at River Breeze. The wind was HOWLING. We unloaded and launched the kayaks and went looking for fish. Not surprisingly there weren't a lot around, but I did manage to find some. Ralph hooked three on a bunny fly, catching one redfish. I had two bites on a Mosquito Lagoon Special fly and caught both of them, also redfish. None would have "held batter" as one of my fishing partners recently shared with me. We were back at River Breeze at 12:30 for the afternoon shift.
The wind had been forecast to lay down, but if anything it was blowing even harder. I found out later it was 20 knots with gusts to 28, not exactly wonderful paddling weather. The victims on the afternoon shift were Phil, and Allen and Chris Wyatt. They didn't want the full treatment (neither did I for that matter) so we took a short paddle, then got out to wade. Although I got a 23" redfish, a lovely, 10 spot fish, on a Mosquito Lagoon Special, no one else had a bite.
The following morning again found me at River Breeze for the third installment. Jon Bull, Glenn, and Randy were the participants. It was blowing about 10-12 mph, the Doldrums after the previous day. The tide was high and I couldn't see very well. When I spotted the first school of fish they were less than 10 feet in front of my, about 40 or 50 fine redfish. Jon and I jumped out of our boats into hip deep water to fly cast to them. The fish made a circle and ran right into Jon, had a major spaz attack and completely blew out. We never could find them again. Every single fish after that I saw was laying in a white hole and was so close I could touch it with the rod. Neither Glenn nor Randy saw a fish and none of us had a bite. Sight fishing from a kayak is best in very skinny water.
Tuesday John Moy joined me for a day of kayak fly fishing in the no motor zone of the Banana River. We tried blind casting for trout in a couple of spots without success, then went looking for sight fishing targets. We looked long and hard without seeing much. We did find perhaps eight tailing reds. John had one good shot, refused (if seen) by the fish. On the way back we found fifteen or so tailing black drum. John had some excellent shots and I thought twice the fish picked up his fly but he never felt it. I had two casts to one fish, and hooked it. The fish, fooled by a chartreuse Clouser Minnow, weighed about 25 pounds.
Wednesday Joe Mulson and I went scouting the north end of the Mosquito Lagoon, looking for redfish for the upcoming Redbone Tournament. We caught three trout, two legal, and one ladyfish. Didn't find many reds.
Friday I fished Bruce Melnick and Tom Beatty, Redbone participants both. We went through the Haulover Canal to fish my favorite school of reds. Sadly, it's now a popular school, as there were four boats on them. We got one trout, then went back into the Mosquito Lagoon. We got the occaisional strike, boating two reds to 32 inches and two more trout. We found a beautiful school of reds and were so jinxed, we had one hook pull out, missed one strike, and had two break off. We ended up with five fish for the day
Saturday we (Bruce Melnick and LaDonna Neterer) went back to the school of reds from the previous day. We got two casts before they blew out and we never did find them again. We fished hard all day and ended up with one red and four trout, along with quite a few ladyfish. We had a great time but didn't score particularly well. We did make some money for Cystic Fibrosis research though, which is the main point of this tournament and the only reason I fish it.
Remember- life is short. GO FISHING!
Life is also great and I love my work!!
John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
member IRGA, FOWA
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