East Central: John Kumiski

Independence Day Central Florida Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this independence day central Florida Fishing Report. Not a great deal to report, unfortunately. The weather this week was great, all week. And safely enjoy your holiday!

Monday– Launched the Mitzi at the north causeway ramp (New Smyrna Beach) at sunrise. Idled to the coast guard station, then ran out of Ponce Inlet. Hadn’t been there in a long time.

There was a shrimp boat out about a mile. I went out to check. Lots of rolling dolphins, lots of pelicans sitting on the rigging. Saw no fish, got no bites.

The plan was to run south down the beach. I want tarpon, they’ve been my primary target through all my searching.

I ran down past the Canaveral Seashore entrance, saw nothing the entire way. No bait, either.

Ran back to the inlet. Now there were two shrimpers out there. Went and checked again. They were shoveling bycatch overboard. The pelicans were going crazy. There were no fish. I’ve been behind shrimpers when shoveling happened and fish were there- it doesn’t take much smarts to figure THAT out. The water churns!

Ran north to Daytona Beach Pier. Water was beautiful. Still no bait, no fish. Went back to the ramp and loaded the boat.

Tuesday– Walt Sheppard joined me for some Mosquito Lagoon fishing. At one spot the air was sweet with the scent of mangrove blossoms. You could hear the buzzing of working bees. There weren’t many fish around though. Walt got a couple small trout, I got a couple small reds, all on DOA Shrimp. Thank you, Walt!

Wednesday– Susan and I went to the beach! Smyrna Dunes Park, great place. No fishing, but I watched the fishermen. Did not see anyone catch a fish, nor did I see any fish or bait.

Got to watch the sun rise on Friday.

Friday– still looking for tarpon, I went to the north Mosquito Lagoon. I actually found a few rolling. You could only see them when they rolled. I blind-cast with the ten-weight for about three hours without a sniff. Another guy had a bait out on one rod and cast a fly with the other. No bites. Two guys came floating by, fishing the minnow trifecta- mullet, croakers, and pinfish. They said they got 20 pounds of sailcat but had not touched a tarpon. When the jet skiers and water skiers started up I packed it in.

In the past three weeks I have looked for tarpon in the Banana River Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon, the Mosquito Lagoon, and along the beach from Satellite Beach to the Daytona Beach Pier, less Canaveral National Seashore. I have had one decent shot. There does not seem to be many Megalops around central Florida at this time.

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/