Fishing Report from Spotted Tail 10/28/07


Tuesday son Maxx and I took the HPX out onto the Mosquito Lagoon. We thought we'd get some fishing in, and there was a space shuttle launch scheduled. We really wanted to see that.
We fished in several spots and didn't see very many fish. Maxx had one good shot at a red. He tossed a jerk bait at it and wham! One slot red in the boat. Then he poled me. I had three shots on fly and managed to blow all three. That was it though; we only had four shots all morning.
At about 11 AM we ran down to near the line-you-may-not-cross-for-launches and staked out the boat, got the cameras ready, ate our lunches, and waited for the fireworks. A Coast Guard boat came with blue lights flashing and told me to move- RIGHT NOW! I moved a few hundred yards north and staked the boat out again, just in time too. As soon as we were ready off went the shuttle, a beautiful thing to see.
The Coast Guard boat came back, checked my license and registration, and started writing me up. I politely stated that other Coast Guard personnel had previously told me that the line-you-may-not-cross-for-launches ran from the end of the Haulover Canal due east to the telephone pole on the east side of the lagoon. The captain of the CG vessel agreed, but said that my movements had been observed and reported by radio, and that his response had been needed. Evidently this required some paperwork on their part for closure to occur, so even though I was in a legal area I received a written warning from them. As the Brasilians would say, "Boha!" I will let you translate that however you want, but you can probably guess the general meaning.

Chris Myers told me that evening that he had done pretty well in a spot that I went right past without checking. That's fishing for you.

It was the only day I got out this week. The weather has been marginal at best, and I have several major projects going on in the office. Today I go to Fort Myers to return Ricky's HPX (I hate to see it go. It is a sweet little boat.), so any fishing I do this week will be by canoe, kayak, johnboat, or other people's boats. Hopefully my new boat will be ready before I die.

Since I grew up in the metro Boston area I've been watching the World Series this week with more emotional attachment than usual. The late nights are killing me! There were several sweet plays last night, but the sweetest was Daisuke's bases loaded single that drove in two runs. Barring divine intervention, it looks like the Red Sox will be celebrating another World Series championship in the near future.

Remember- Life is short- GO FISHING!

Life is great and I 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)