Still More Beach Tarpon!
Capt. John Kumiski
October 11, 2009
Cocoa Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing Report from Spotted Tail 10/11/09
Upcoming Events
On October 17 I'll be holding a kayak fishing seminar at Lake Mills Park in Chuluota, limited to eight people. Cost is $100. http://www.spottedtail.com/KayakFishingSeminar.htm
On November 7 I'll be holding a Show and Tell seminar in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, limited to 20 people. Cost is $50. http://www.spottedtail.com/show&tell.htm
See photos from this week's fishing here: http://www.spottedtail.com/ThisWeeksFishingReport.htm
Last week I wrote, "The mullet will only be around for another week or two. Get out there and take advantage of it while you can!"
On Monday I tried to follow my own advice, taking Larry McGlashan of Woodie's Rattlers with me. Sea conditions were marginal for the Mitzi. We saw zero tarpon, and ended up getting a few bluefish, two blacktip sharks, and pretty beat up by the waves. I know it's fishing but it was still disappointing.
I took care of non-fishing business on Tuesday.
Wednesday Scott Radloff joined me for another go at the Atlantic. The forecast was west at 5-10, a good forecast for the Mitzi. We netted a few mullet, then found a huge school of menhaden. Strangely, the only fish on them were bluefish. I netted some of the pogies and put them in the livewell with the mullet. Then we went looking for tarpon.
We found the tarpon. Scott went on a tear, jumping five and boating one before I got a bite. I ended up jumping three, although none stuck. Some of the fish were LARGE (see photos). There were assorted sharks and etc. It was a good day.
Thursday son Alex joined me. We went to the tarpon spot. They were gone. We went searching down the beach and found a few tarpon rolling, very scattered and hard to fish. It was getting hot and boring when I spotted some breaking fish. We went over to them and for the next two hours caught fish on most casts- Spanish mackerel, bluefish, big ladyfish, and crevalle. Not exactly tarpon, but quite fun. We kept three Spanish, so it was tasty fun, too!
Saturday Mike Wagner, from New York City, joined me for a day's fishing. I wanted to go on the ocean. When we cleared the jetties it was clearly too rough. I spun the boat and we went through the locks into the Banana River Lagoon.
The first place we stopped was a dock. I could see fish underneath it so I deployed the Wang Anchor and cast a mullet chunk under the dock. Almost immediately a fish took and cut Mike off on a piling. We tried again with the same result.
I had the tarpon tackle so we tried again with that. Bingo! Mike was able to pull two reds out from under the dock. The smaller was 13 or 14 pounds, the larger pushing 20. Then the bite stopped.
We looked at many of the other spots where I have traditionally found fish without seeing much- four more reds and four black drum. We did not see a snook or tarpon. The only other fish we got were catfish and puffers (they like that Johnson Minnow!). Still, two reds between 10 and 20 pounds, most of us have had worse days.
Life is short- GO FISHING!
And life is great and I really love my work!
John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
member Florida Outdoor Writers Association (www.fowa.org), Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (www.seopa.org), Indian River Guides association (www.irga.org)
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