Tag Archives: fishing basics
It’s a Tuna!!!
Now, by no means am I an expert when it comes to the subject of identifying fish.
I can tell you the difference between a Spanish mackerel and a cero mackerel, or a black grouper and a gag grouper, but test me on the different species of shark, or the multitude of colorful fish you’ll catch while fishing the reef or out deep dropping offshore, and I’ll likely not have a clue what’s on the end of your line.
But yesterday, while I was kayak fishing off Key Colony Beach, I was fairly certain that the two gentlemen I saw surf fishing from the rocks at the mouth of the inlet, had indeed misidentified their catch.
While not nearly as good as yellowfin tuna, yellow jacks are actually very tasty.
And while you’d be amazed at the variety of highly sought after game fish and table fare species that you can catch while shore or bridge fishing in the Florida Keys, I am fairly certain that yellowfin tuna is not one of them.
Thus, when I heard one of the guys- in a serious and demanding tone- shout “go get the gaff, it’s a yellowfin tuna,” I nearly capsized my kayak from laughing so hard.
Again, I am no marine biologist, but I am positive that at no time will you catch a yellowfin tuna ten yards off the beach in the Florida Keys, no matter how hard you try.
Not only that, but yellowfin tuna are not that common anywhere in the Keys (unlike their smaller cousins the blackfin tuna), although you may catch one here or there while out fishing the humps or out beyond the Gulf Stream.
So I guess all things considered, if I thought I had a yellowfin tuna on my hook, I probably would have yelled for someone to get the gaff as well.
I can only assume that the fish the gentleman lost in the rocks was a jack crevalle, or maybe even a yellow jack. Both are hard-fighting, extremely fun game fish to reel in (especially on light tackle), but far from the trophy catch of a yellowfin tuna.
This brings me to the point of this post- after all, the goal was not to poke fun at the shore-bound tuna angler. The goal was to advise you that if you’re planning on fishing in the Florida Keys, whether on your own boat, or from shore or bridge, make sure to acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations for Florida saltwater fishing.
I know a few Florida Fish & Wildlife officers and Monroe County sheriffs who will not show sympathy when it comes to writing you a hefty ticket for keeping more than your bag limit, or for tossing undersized or protected fish in your cooler.
Can you tell the difference between a black grouper (shown here) and a gag grouper?
So take the time to learn the species that you’ll be catching before you drop a line into the water. Not only will this keep you from getting in trouble when the law asks to check your catch; but it will also impress your friends when they ask what type of fish you caught.
“Oh that, that’s a schoolmaster; a type of snapper.”
Plus, if you know your species, you won’t have to worry about some local “know-it-all” writing an article about you!
Florida Keys bridges, equipped with new fishing platforms, are a great place to catch a variety of species.
A great place to start is the Florida Keys species guide that can be found on Try CharterFishing.com. This guide shows you photos of the different species you can catch; as well as their food quality, where they can be found, and the regulations and bag limits for each.
Another good idea is to print out an updated copy of the FWC Regulations (regulations constantly change so print a new copy often), and always keep it with you in your tackle box. Throw in a tape measure to measure the length of your fish, and you’ll be ready to hit the water.
Below are some basic regulations to get you started. You can view photos of each here.
- Mangrove Snapper: 10 inches or greater. Limit 5 (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit).
- Yellowtail Snapper: 12 inches or greater. Limit 10 (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit).
- Tarpon: It is common practice to release all tarpon but you can possess 2 if you have a tarpon tag.
- Snook: Must measure between 28-33 inches and are illegal to keep from Dec.-Feb. & May- Aug. You are allowed to keep one “slot” fish during snook season.
- Jack Crevalle: No regulations but they are very poor to eat.
- Yellow Jack: No bag or size limit and despite what some may say are actually quite tasty!
- Black Grouper: Must be over 24 inches. 2 per angler per day.
- Barracuda: No size or bag limit. Rarely eaten and often contain ciguatera- they can be poisonous to eat!
- Goliath Grouper: Federally protected. It is illegal to keep them!
Florida Keys Kayak Fishing – The Basics
Kayak fishing is one of my favorite ways to get out on the water and spend an afternoon. It’s great exercise, you have an opportunity catch a wide variety of fish (especially here in the Florida Keys), and best of all- it’s inexpensive!
You don’t have to dig into your wallet to fill up your kayak with gas and oil every time you want to go fishing, and, aside from a quick rinse with the hose, there’s virtually no maintenance or repair bills!
Plus, you don’t have to deal with those yahoos who flock to the public boat ramps on the weekends. All you need is a few inches of water to slide your yak into the water, and you’re on your way to great fishing.
Of course, kayak fishing does have its restrictions; none greater than the limited fishing grounds you are able to paddle to, and the amount of time it takes to travel from one fishing hole to the next.
But if you know where to find the fish, and know how to target them, I guarantee that you’ll keep the rod bent, and have a chance to catch a number of trophy species, just like the guys you see out there poling around on their flats skiffs.
Over the past two years I have caught bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, snook, grouper, snapper, sharks, barracuda, and more from my kayak. And I’m determined to add a few new species to that list this year, including sailfish!
Below I have compiled a list of the basic equipment and gear that you will need to begin your new pastime as a kayak angler. Please check back to FromtheYak.com often to read my latest kayak fishing reports, as well as tips on how to rig your kayak and how to target specific species.
The ultimate kayak fishing goal- catching a Florida Keys permit.
The Kayak
You don’t need an expensive kayak to catch fish in the Keys. A basic 10 to 15-foot sit-on-top kayak will handle the job in the waters you will be fishing. Just about any Florida Keys kayak rental will have this type of kayak available to rent if you don’t have your own.
I have two Perception kayaks that I bought used off Craig’s list (a 12′ Swing, and 13′ Prism), and they more than handle my fishing needs; both inshore, and when I’m feeling a bit daring and head a few miles out into the Atlantic.
I installed rod holders on both my kayaks which allow me to carry multiple rods at a time. While the rod holders are a luxury, it’s not necessary to have them on your yak. You really only need one rod and reel outfit to catch fish, and you shouldn’t have any problems finding room for it (just lay it across your lap facing the bow of the boat).
The Tackle
If I could take only one rod and reel combo kayak fishing with me, it would be a 7′ medium action spinning rod, spooled with 15-lb. monofilament line (or 10-lb. braid), and a 20-30 lb. splice of fluorocarbon leader.
This set-up will allow you to fish the docks for snapper, snook, jacks and more; and the flats for bonefish, small sharks and barracuda. Small resident tarpon can also be fought and landed on this setup.
On nearly every one of my kayak fishing expeditions (unless I’m fishing for tarpon or heading out to the reef) I take the same three outfits with me.
- 7′ medium-light, fast action spinning rod, with Shimano 4000 series spinning reel, spooled with 8lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
- 7’6 medium, fast action spinning rod, with Shimano 4000 series spinning reel, spooled with 10 lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
- 7′ medium-heavy spinning rod, with Shimano 8000 series spinning reel, spooled with 30lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 40lb. fluorocarbon leader).
Note that using a splice of fluorocarbon leader (4 to 7 feet attached directly to your mainline) will help your chances of catching fish- but is not mandatory. Fluorocarbon line is almost invisible underwater and thus helps when targeting line-shy species such as bonefish, permit and tarpon.
If you don’t want to spend the money to buy a spool of fluorocarbon (it can be quite expensive!), a monofilament leader will do the trick. The heavier the leader the better when you’re fishing around docks or pilings where your line is likely to get frayed.
Also remember that your gear is destined to get drenched with saltwater in your kayak. Therefore it’s wise not to take your best gear out with you- and always make sure to thoroughly rinse your rod(s) and reel(s) with fresh water after each trip. It’s a good idea to frequently clean them (properly!), or take them to a tackle shop for maintenance as well. Saltwater will deteriorate your equipment quickly and proper reel maintenance is a must when kayak fishing.
The Bait
I prefer to fish with live bait or fresh dead bait over artificial lures- simply because I have more success with them. Live shrimp, blue crabs, pinfish, and even small pilchards will survive for a few hours (or more) in a flow troll style bait bucket.
To keep the bait alive as long as possible, I will attach the bait bucket to my kayak using a six-foot piece of rope, and keep it floating in the water whenever I am drift fishing or during breaks from paddling. If I am paddling to or from a location, or kayaking quietly across a flat trying to remain as stealthy as possible, I will place the bait bucket in the stern of the kayak and refresh the water every ten or fifteen minutes.
Live shrimp is my bait of choice for nearly all types of kayak fishing, and nearly every species, including bonefish, tarpon, snapper, snook, redfish, and more, will eat a live shrimp, or fresh piece of shrimp tipped on a jig head.
Artificials can be very productive and a lot of fun.
When trolling channels or bridges; casting baits into the mangroves; and when targeting wintertime barracudas on the flats, I like to break out the artificial lures.
For trolling, I prefer to drag diving plugs, such as Rapalas® or Yo-zuri Minnows; or soft baits, like a D.O.A. Bait Buster or TerrorEyz.
For casting to hungry barracuda on the flats, soft-plastic jerk baits and top water lures (such as a Mirrolure® plug) can be loads of fun. Despite not having a reputation of being a glamorous game fish, big barracudas (especially from a kayak) can be an absolute blast to reel in.
Other artificial lures, such as Berkley® Gulp baits, crank baits, spinners and spoons all have their place in a kayak angler’s tackle box depending the species you are targeting.
Mustad 2/0 baitholder hooks are great for keeping live shrimp on the hook.
I like to rig one light-weight rod with a size 2/0 baitholder hook (for hooking a live shrimp or small crab on), and my other light spinning outfit with a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce jig head, or skimmer jig, tipped with a piece of shrimp (the extra weight helps me to cast to fish that are further away).
For my larger rod I usually rig it with a Size 4 or 5 live bait hook (with no weight), and keep it ready with a shrimp or crab to pitch to a passing tarpon or permit.
Where to Fish
There are endless miles of fishy waters surrounding the Florida Keys that are accessible to the kayak angler.
My favorite places to fish are around docks, mangrove islands, small bridges and passes (with a minimal amount of tidal flow), channels, deep water basins, shallow grass flats and flats with a hard bottom.
I advise starting out fishing around docks- either on the bayside, the Atlantic side, or on one of the many canals. Any number of fish can be caught around Florida Keys docks, including: snook, tarpon, grouper, snapper, jacks and more.
Fishing around small bridges can produce a variety of fish, including an occasional cero mackerel.
If you are unfamiliar with the Keys waters, just look at a marine chart, or use Google Earth, to map out a few flats, mangrove islands, and deep channels to fish. Find a spot that looks interesting, and give it a try.
One of the best parts of kayak fishing is finding your own unique honey holes that you may never have discovered if you were fishing from a motor boat.
Kayak Accessories
You will see kayaks online and on the water that are rigged for some serious fishing. Some are equipped with built-in live wells, gps navigation devices, fish finders, outriggers (for fishing offshore), and I’ve even seen one with a miniature tuna tower on top.
Drift sock and flow troll bait bucket.
Frankly, you don’t need any of these things to catch fish from your kayak- especially in the Florida Keys! All you need is a rod and reel, a dozen or so live shrimp, a bait bucket, a few #2 or #3 size hooks, a life jacket, a pair of pliers or dehooking device, a knife (or other line cutting tool), a paddle, and a desire to catch fish.
On my kayak trips I also like to bring along a drift sock as well, which I will throw into the water to slow the boat down if I am fighting a big fish, or if I am drifting too fast in the wind or current. When the drift sock opens it fills with water and creates a nice drag against the boat.
Other common kayak accessories include stake-out poles (for remaining stationary in shallow water), rear and center-mount rod holders, anchors (I simply use a brick tied to a rope), and padded kayak seats, which are a must if paddling long distances.
What Else to Bring
I never head out in my kayak without taking a digital camera, a cell phone, a pair of polarized sunglasses (not only will they protect your eyes but they will help cut down the water’s glare and help you spot fish), and plenty of water. I enclose my camera and cell phone in a small water-tight fishing bag, which I tightly secure to my kayak seat to make sure it doesn’t fall into the water.
It is also smart to put your camera and phone into a Ziploc® to further prevent them from getting wet. After breaking my last digital camera (I dropped it in the water), I purchased a water-proof Pentax®Optio W60 camera that I don’t have to worry about getting wet. Plus, it takes great underwater shots.
I also suggest bringing along a ruler or tape measure to measure the fish you catch. That way you can to tell your friends just how big the fish you caught were, and if you plan on keeping any fish, you’ll know if they are of legal size.
I release all the fish I catch from my kayak, but if you plan to take a fish or two home, you may want to attach a cooler filled with ice to your kayak. A small, soft-case cooler, tied down with rope and bungee cords, should do the trick.
Enjoy!
These tips should give you a good jump start for pursuing trophy Florida Keys fish from your kayak. Just remember to always be safe, keep it simple, and fish with a partner as often as possible.
Please check back to FromtheYak soon to read more about kayak fishing in the Florida Keys.
Tight Lines and Good Fishing!
