Tag Archives: Kayak Fishing
Reel Fiction
I paddled out the narrow canal and alongside the row of thirsty mangrove roots and then crossed the green water of the basin and headed towards the rickety dock at the mouth of the inlet. A light breeze had stirred a gentle chop in the channel and the saltwater slurped against the dock’s splintered pilings exposing sharp black barnacles that clung to the wood just below the high tide line. I maneuvered the boat alongside the outer piling and positioned its port side against the base to keep from drifting in the outgoing current. The barnacles scraped at the boat’s hard shell and made a painful crunching sound as the kayak rose and fell in the surf. I rested the paddle on my knees and reached into the bait bucket for a shrimp. The shrimp scattered and scratched at the plastic bucket and I pinned down a rather sizeable one and scooped it into the palm of my left hand. I bit off the tail just above the fan and threaded the hook up through the back and out behind the dark spot in the head so that the bend and the point were exposed.
The lively bait twitched and snapped and I tossed it into the water so it could breathe. I slid the rod from the mounted rod holder and flipped open the bail. I held the line gently with my forefinger to keep it from slipping and searched the water for any sign of movement. There was a faint ripple below the dock and I pitched the bait perfectly behind it and held the rod tip high to keep the shrimp from dragging on bottom. I delicately twitched the rod to enhance the shrimp’s presentation and suddenly the line went taut and I thrust the rod towards me to set the hook. The rod bent from the first eye down to the thicker middle eyes and there was a zip from the reel as line spun off against the drag. I tightened down on the fish and pulled rather hard to keep it from wrapping around the pilings and splicing the line on the sharp crustaceans. The kayak came loose from its moor and I drifted away from the fish which put even more tension on the line. I pointed the rod straight and let off the drag again to keep the line from snapping and the fish turned and swam towards me and I reeled hard and fast to remove the slack. I saw a flash of silver as the fish showed me its side and then it continued out past the rocks and towards the open water. It was a big tarpon, at least a hundred pounds, and I knew I was in for a ride.
There was a flats skiff heading out the inlet and the guide slowed to an idle and looked on as the fish towed me past his bow. The tarpon was taking me where it wanted to go and it dove deep and headed out the channel, veering to the west and through a trough that ran along the beach. It pulled at a steady pace with the wind behind me and the fourteen feet of plastic rode nicely in the waves and felt stable. I held the rod handle firmly in my left hand and clutched the paddle under my right shoulder, using it as a rudder to stay straight behind the fish. The strong fish showed no signs of slowing and it continued past the hotel pier, and then past the narrow beach and the row of pastel vacation rentals. There was a group of tourists out taking their morning strolls on the coarse sand and one saw the bent rod and pointed in my direction. I welcomed the attention and gave a quick nod as I glided by, pretending I was in control of my situation.
The sun was now beginning to climb in the morning sky and I slid my polarized sunglasses off my visor and over my eyes. The lenses cut down on the glare and the contrast of the clear blues and greens of the shallows came into view. I rested the paddle across my thigh and took a quick swig from the water bottle and placed it back in the cup holder between my legs. Without warning the tarpon turned hard and ran away from the beach and accelerated back to the east. I nearly lost my balance as the kayak swung completely around and a small wave crashed over the stern and soaked my back. Then a long dark shadow rose to the surface and a keen grey fin appeared just yards off the bow. It sped towards the end of the line with such aggression that I knew it was a bull shark, and acting solely on instinct, I reached for my pocket knife and sawed at the braided line until the tension vanished. The fish was now free and it raced towards the deep and just narrowly missed the shark’s charge. The big bull circled around once more and then disappeared below the surface and I could no longer see it or the tarpon and I assumed it was gone.
For a moment I was relieved for the fish and for myself, but then the shark reappeared on the starboard side and advanced a second time. The tarpon got hit hard and with such force that it rolled on its back and the shark ripped at its scaled flesh and tore the fish completely in half behind the pelvic fin. The tarpon’s head convulsed on the surface and blood poured into the water and I turned away and felt sick. For a moment I paused in disbelief but then a second dorsal fin appeared and I was quickly reminded that this was not a place I wanted to be. Not in an exposed small plastic boat especially. I reeled in the now weightless line and put the rod back in the holder and angled the boat towards the shoreline and headed quickly back home. I paddled steady and strong until I reached the shallow water and I sat back in the padded seat and took a moment to catch my breath.
I felt terrible for what had just transpired and I could not get the gruesome image of the attack out of my mind. I cursed myself for letting the fish swim into an ambush and for draining the energy he would have needed to escape the shark’s advances. I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves and then turned back into the soft breeze and continued home. I paddled past a string of lobster buoys bobbing in the surf and I took a moment to appreciate how the sun had turned the sky pink and outlined the clouds the color of fire. On any other day I would have taken out my camera and photographed the beautiful images but right then I was in no mood. I waited a couple of minutes for several charter boats to speed out the inlet and for their wake to dissipate and I paddled near the rocks to stay clear of their path. I glanced over at the dock where I had hooked the strong fish nearly an hour before and knew that it would be some time before I pitched a bait there again.
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!
