Tag Archives: coastal

Conservation, fly fishing, Mosquito Lagoon

Anything Happens, Everyday

The more time I spend on the water, the more I get it. Even though I’m standing there with a fly rod in hand, its the total immersion into the environment that impresses upon me the essence of why I’m there.

After pulling on the rope to start up my faithful 25 HP outboard a simple twist of the tiller washes away the daily grind of the day job and my soul is set free to roam unabated.

I used to think these adventures were about stalking and catching fish. Now I simply let it happen along the periphery of the overall adventure and where it might lead.

I always have my head on swivel, searching for the next target that happens to be swimming by, but it is the macro view of the environment that brings the most joy.

I’ve seen a bobcat standing some 20 feet away along the mangrove sprinkled shoreline as curious and startled by my presence as I am of it. I’ve watched in awe as a bobcat swam between two islands carefully watching me as I passed by on plane, gawking.

The myriad of shore birds that ignore my presence as I slide by silently until I’m within a stone’s throw give me pause.

Seeing the ground appear to move as hundreds of fiddler crabs retreat from the waters edge in unison mesmerizes me.

I cherish this thing we call fly fishing. Not because of the fish I’ll hold for a moment or two to admire, but for the experiences that will form my fondest memories, for it is every time I go forth, I reinforce the notion that anything happens, everyday.

Adventure, Conservation, fly fishing, Travel

A Life At Sea Ends

The Summer of 2014 will forever be seared into my memory thanks to the time I spent in the wilds of Western Alaska. Two weeks of self-reliance with a small group of fellow riverine fly fishing nomads was filled with memories that have crept into my mind everyday since my return. It was epic.

The salmon we sought were old salts, making their way back to the waters from which they had sprung. Theirs was a one way journey, undertaken to sustain their family lineage.

Up the coast from Florida, one of the great storytellers of the Lowcountry made a similar trip. His lens captured the essence and minutia of it in fine fashion.

Enjoy…

Catch & Release, DIY, flood tide, fly fishing, lessons, lowcountry, Mosquito Lagoon, redfish, Uncategorized

Flood Tide – Mosquito Lagoon Edition

The lunar influence on the tides around Mosquito Lagoon are measurable, but unlike the tides of the spartina flats to the north it is a sustained level that impacts the estuary more so than the periodic incoming and outgoing tide cycle.

Fishing the flooded spartina in St. Augustine and Jacksonville is no doubt a worthwhile experience, but there are “flood” opportunities in Mosquito Lagoon. One of the most readily accessible of these atypical high water season fishing areas is manmade.

Over past decades the quest for control of salt marsh mosquitoes lead to the digging of many ditches across the entire lagoon to reduce breeding habitat. More recently, there has been an ongoing effort to remove the unintended consequence of this work, artificial upland areas created by piling spoil adjacent to the cuts.

Use Google Maps to locate remediated ditch lines where water is now allowed to sheet along the marsh and on high tides you will find redfish meandering along in the mangrove shoots looking for an unsuspecting crab or mosquito fish.

fly casting, fly fishing, lessons, Mosquito Lagoon, redfish, Space Coast, Uncategorized

A Differing Approach

Tailing redfish are extremely fun to target when sight fishing. Depending on the type of bottom they are feeding over, they can also be frustrating beyond belief to feed successfully.

One of the reasons for it in thick grass is the fact that their vision is impaired by the grass itself.

The next time you’re experiencing apparent refusals, keep in mind it may simply be that the fly is not being seen.

Switching to a top water fly may be contrary to conventional wisdom, but it works.

Cast a foot or two ahead of the direction the fish is feeding and wait for it to move. A couple of subtle strips is usually all it takes to get their immediate attention and you find yourself clearing line and getting on the reel.

The fall lunar cycle is piling water up inshore, now more than ever, you might consider this different approach to tailers. It could spell the difference between success and failure.

Uncategorized

The Wind Was Blowing at 25 MPH…

There are lots of reports surfacing on Social Media that include pictures of sports hoisting up a fish for the camera that make claims of success in extremely high winds.  A lot of the time, its just not rooted in fact.  Thats not to say the guide or angler making the post is overtly being deceptive in their claims of success in less than desirable conditions, more often than not, its simply an inability to accurately estimate wind speeds on the water.

The next time you are on the water,  you might find the following chart to be of use as an aid to better estimate the conditions you’re experiencing.  Make note of your estimate and the time and check it against the hourly wind data at the closest airport weather station on the National Weather Service’s website.  You’ll be surprised at first, but over time you’ll become very accurate.

Guide To Estimating Wind Speed Over Land & Water

Terms used by US
Weather Service		 Velocity (mph) Estimating Velocities
on land		 Estimating Velocities
on Sea
Calm less than 1 Smoke rises vertically Sea like a mirror Check your glassy
water technique before
water flying under
these conditions
Light air 1 – 3 Smoke drifts; wind
vanes unmoved		 Ripples with the
appearance of scales
are formed but without
foam crests
Light breeze 4 – 7 Wind felt on face;
leaves rustle; ordinary
wind vane moves by
wind		 Small wavelets, still
short but more pronounced;
crests have a
glassy appearance and
do not break
Large wavelets; crests
Gentle Breeze 8 – 12 Leaves and small
twigs in constant
motion; wind extends
light flag		 Large wavelets; crests
begin to break. Foam
of glassy appearance,
perhaps scattered
whitecaps		 Ideal water flying
characteristics in protected
water
Moderate Breeze 13 – 18 Dust and loose paper
raised; small branches
are moved		 Small waves, becoming
longer; fairly frequent
whitecaps
Fresh Breeze 19 – 24 Small trees in leaf
begin to sway; crested
wavelets form in
inland water		 Moderate waves; taking
a more pronounced
long form; many
whitecaps are formed,
chance of some spray		 This is considered
rough water for seaplanes
and small
amphibians, especially
in open water
Strong Breeze 25 – 31 Large branches in
motion; whistling
heard in telegraph
wires; umbrellas used
with difficulty		 Large waves begin to
form; white foam
crests are more extensive
everywhere, probably
some spray
Moderate Gale 32 – 38 Whole trees in motion;
inconvenience felt in
walking against the
wind		 Sea heaps up and white
foam from breaking
waves begins to be
blown in streaks along
the direction of the
wind		 This type of water condition
is for emergency
only in small aircraft in
inland waters and for
the expert pilot