East Coast, John Kumiski

Explorations Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Explorations fishing report.

Happy Thoughts– apparently bored for a few minutes, I googled “happy thoughts”. This awesome page came up- http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/

Monday- Wednesday 

It was get the old car ready to sell (yes, the Sienna van that has served us so long and well is for sale. See the details here- https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/for-sale-1999-toyota-sienna/6347466695.html) and get the new car (Susan’s old RAV4) ready for towing.

Lying on my back, trying to get it into position, I dropped the new trailer hitch for the RAV4 on my right elbow, mashing it between the hitch and the concrete. YOUCHIE!!!! Although bruised it seems OK. And now the RAV4 has a trailer hitch and it will pull the Mitzi. So everything is good.

FISHING! As reported last week, this writer has had a hard time of it in Mosquito Lagoon lately. It was time to do some exploration.

At the kayak ramp in Spruce Creek Park.

Thursday found me travelling to New Smyrna Beach to Spruce Creek Park, where an Ocean Kayak was launched. I used to fish Spruce Creek literally a generation ago, but hadn’t been in about 20 years. My preference for fishing there was a low outgoing tide, so of course I found high incoming water. That water was brown but clear. But there was so much of it- the entire marsh was flooded.

I think they want you to be careful…

Was that fish breaking? I cast a jig to where I saw what I assumed were mullet, and was rewarded with a solid strike. Ladyfish. There were quite a few of them. Getting action was a novelty and I enjoyed it until it stopped.

Splash! I missed the jump.

I floated with wind (plenty of that) and tide, catching the odd ladyfish, to the railroad bridge. I went ashore under the bridge for a leg stretch and some casting. Before long a freight train came.

I captured this one cartwheeling in the Spartina.

I don’t know that I have ever been that close to a speeding train. Superman I am not. The ground shook, the noise level was at jet engine afterburner loud. I was quietly terrified. And, I did not get a bite there. So I got back in the kayak and started heading back the way I had come.

It was small, but it’s still a redfish.

Someone in Volusia County promotes an event called Biketoberfest. Out on the water the noise from the Harleys riding up and down US 1 was almost as loud as the train. No offense to bikers, but it’s like a Biblical plague of motorcycle noise there.

One of the fishies I captured. I put him back.

After the tide turned I had steady action on the jig the whole way back- more ladyfish, including a couple in the 24 inch range, a nice crevalle jack, a half dozen trout to 16 inches, and a couple lovely if diminutive redfish. Considering what last week’s fishing was like, and due to incessant east winds I can’t get out on the Atlantic, it was entertaining if unspectacular fishing.

At the Tomoka State Park ramp.

Friday, encouraged by Thursday’s modest success, I tried launching at Tomoka State Park. Like Spruce Creek, the tide was high and still coming in, and the water was very brown. Also like Spruce Creek, the hum of Harleys filled the air. Unlike Spruce Creek I did not get a bite. I did see a couple baby tarpon roll and a few mullet jump. That was it.

The water was brown, but you can get an ice cream when you’re done…

Tomoka is bigger water than Spruce Creek. When I go back I will use internal combustion.

Show and Tell Seminar October 21

In spite of the small craft advisory, Mark Frank, my only attendee, and I toured the Mosquito Lagoon in my Mitzi. We started at Haulover, went as far south as the Biolab boat ramp. It was WAVY on the west side!

We crossed the lagoon and went north, all the way to River Breeze. The cleaner water is up north. Most of the boats were south of Haulover, fishing in the muddy water.

It was a challenging day for a boat tour. The manatees are still thick, like mines in the water. Be careful when boating out there.

I’m wondering if the east wind will ever stop.

And that, dear reader, is the Exploration fishing report! Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com