Indian River Lagoon & Banana River
Capt. John Kumiski
July 5, 2005
Titusville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spotted Tail Report 7/4
This week’s fishing report from Spotted Tail, updated 7/4/05
Happy Independence Day to all. Please take a moment today to reflect how lucky you are, we all are, to live in this country.
Only slightly fishing related news- my shopping cart is finally up and running again. You can visit it at www.spottedtail.com just click on Argonaut Publishing Company. We have Top Spot maps, books, videos, and more!
Monday afternoon I drove to Jacksonville through almost continuous rain. My plan was a skiff/kayak fly fishing trip with John Bottko the next morning. We pulled it off, got out and checked two spots off the Intracoastal Waterway before the lightning drove us off. There were plenty of redfish at the first spot and we each got one, and John had a turtle (a terrapin, I think) eat his fly. Anyone who wants to know how to tie this deadly turtle-catching fly needs to contact me privately J.
The second spot was better. The fish were backing in inches deep water. It was real hard to see them, between the dirty water, the wind, and the rain. When the fish didn't have body parts in the air they were impossible to see until within 10 feet. I had several fish I could have tapped with the end of my rod and I had one swim right up to me, realize I was there, and then slam into the kayak in his panic. Pretty darned funny! For all that we got one between us. Then the tide started getting too high and the lightning started. We motored back to his dock in the pouring rain and arrived utterly soaked to the skin, good stuff.
Friday evening I drove (somehow missing the rain, which I could see all around me) to Satellite Beach. My plan was an ocean kayak fly fishing trip with Rodney Smith the next morning. We got out there about sunrise, seven of us in kayaks. Three were fly fishing, the other four using spin tackle, even bait. The weather was absolutely spectacular. I probably paddled three miles, dragging a large sexyfly behind the boat as I searched unsuccessfully for breaking fish, rolling fish, diving birds, bait, or other targets to cast to. I saw exactly one Spanish mackerel, a good one, come flying out of the water nearby, but I didn't get a bite.
No one had better luck than I, so even though the day was perfect, no one got bit. By 10:30 all of us were off the water. Rodney and I surfed in the kayaks a bit, had some breakfast, goofed off with the dogs a while, and I was home about 1 PM. Given the opportunity I would do exactly the same thing again! A fish or two would be nice, though.
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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