Indian River Lagoon & Banana River
Capt. John Kumiski
February 9, 2006
Titusville - Saltwater Fishing Report
John Kumiski's Spotted Tail report, Space Coast, 2/9/06
Space Coast fishing report from Spotted Tail, 2/9/06
Now booking tarpon trips for May and June along the Lee County Coast!
This is a deluxe report, covering two weeks, since because of travel I couldn't get last week's report posted in a timely manner.
First off, exciting news from the Mosquito Lagoon. There's actually a Port-A-Potty at the Haulover Canal boat ramp! No more dangerous walks through the bushes! No more dropping your drawers in mosquito infested woods!
And, the Pole/Troll buoys are going in, several of them have already been placed. The people labeling them should have consulted a dictionary, but what do you want from a government agency, correct spelling?
Those of you who were disappointed because you wanted to attend the Show and Tell Seminars this coming weekend will be happy to know I have scheduled another one on March 25th. The cost is still $40 per person. For more information visit http://www.spottedtail.com email me at [email protected], or call me at 407.977.5207.
On to the fishing!
I only fished two days last week, having cancelled Monday's and Tuesday's trips due to weather. I would have cancelled Friday's too, had I had one, but I flew to Chicago instead that day.
Wednesday I joined Tom Van Horn and Chris Myers on a beautiful day for a no motor zone trip. Tom and Chris were in the canoe, I in a kayak. Everyone had a mission- Chris and Tom wanted to get their first black drum on fly. I wanted to catch any large fish on a Heritage five-weight.
We got to a bar where the fish were supposed to be. Out near the end of it I spotted a fish tailing. I got out of the kayak and waded over. It took a few minutes, and a heck of a sales job on one particular fish, but I finally convinced it to take my black Bunny Booger. It was a big black drum. I had it on less than a minute when the hook pulled.
By this time Tom and Chris were on the scene. Tom hooked one on a black and green Clouser minnow, a fish of about 20 pounds. Mission accomplished! See the photos at http://www.spottedtail.com As soon as he released it Chris hooked and caught one a few pounds bigger on a dark olive Clouser Minnow. Mission accomplished! You really should check out the photos.
The fish had moved off. My companions went one way, I the other. I didn't find them, but did catch a 30" red on a black and green Clouser Minnow. Some searching along the shoreline turned up very little. Going back out to rejoin Tom and Chris I found a few large reds lazing around. I hooked and lost two before sticking one. The little rod behaved magnificently and the fish was lying in the kayak 15 minutes later. Well over 40 inches, it was pushing 30 pounds. Mission accomplished!
I've had better NMZ days but we certainly had nothing to complain about.
Thursday Buck Leahy and his father in law Jim joined me on the Mosquito Lagoon for a little bit of spin fishing. It started off kind of windy, then proceeded to get real windy. Fishing was tough. We'd pick a spot and get nothing, maybe even not see any fish, then we'd go to another spot and get one. It was like that all day. Jim ended up getting three trout to 20 inches, one on a DOA CAL and two on DOA Shrimp. Buck got a flounder on a RipTide Weedless Jig and four reds on a 1/4 ounce gold Johnson Minnow. While the fish made us work, and it wasn't spectacular, we certainly enjoyed ourselves. And, I've had worse days!
The Fly Fishing Show in Chicago was very nice. Lots of people were there, and I saw some very interesting products that I missed in Somerset. The weather was something else, though. I was glad to get home!
Monday Leanne Smith, a fly fisher from Louisiana, joined me on the Spotted Tail. We fished in Mosquito Lagoon. The weather was as nice as it could be at this time of year, cloudless and windless for a good part of the day. There were loads of fish around, big trout and some reds. They weren't eating well, but big trout seldom are suckers for any kind of bait. Leanne missed a few strikes, hooked and lost two, and boated three nice trout, all on a Redfish Bite, and also got one 28 inch red on a chartreuse Clouser Minnow.
Tuesday and Wednesday Dennis Longstreet joined me again. Dennis, also a fly fisher, just moved to Stuart. He didn't get the weather that Leanne did, that's for sure. It was fairly breezy on Tuesday, with some clouds. Again, we found a lot of spooky trout and some reds. He ended up with one fine trout and three reds, all caught on a Trout Bite.
Wednesday it was cold and windy, and fishing was tough. We did find fish but again we mostly had muddy blowouts as the fish fled in terror. I tried to get into Patillo Creek on the Indian River Lagoon side but the water was too low. We tried to hide from the wind and ended up getting a small flounder and one beautiful trout of about four pounds. Lots of shots, not too many conversions.
Today's trip was called due to weather. Tomorrow's trip will be added onto next week's report.
I have added a new fly to the Fly of the Week page, and appreciate the patience of those who are interested in this. I have been running lately!
Upcoming Events-
-The next MINWR Show and Tell Fishing Seminar is scheduled for March 25th. Visit http://www.spottedtail.com for more information or to sign up.
Remember- life is short. GO FISHING!
Life is great and I love my work!!
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me at [email protected], or call at 407 977 5207.
John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com
member, Indian River Guides Association,
Florida Outdoor Writers Association
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