While posting an opinion on the pros and cons of kayak fishing on the "Wakulla Beach 10/12" thread early yesterday morning, I stirred an urge to give it a try. Although the afternoon wind forcast was not conducive to it, the tide was.
I put in to smooth water at about 10AM. The easy paddle out to the west end of the shoals took about 10 minutes.
I started in the shallows with my favorite plug, a MiroLure 52m28- No joy. (Lots of mullet out there, though- should have taken the net.)
'Worked my way out to the east marker post and decided to give a dead shrimp a try. Picked up a 20" or so Sp Mac, which I released with the idea, if I got into the them, I'd keep several. It was the first and the last one.
I caught a few pins with the shrimp and decided to put one out on the other rod.
With a light breeze and incoming tide, I drifted NE and toward the island. 'Threw a white redtailed grubb for a while- Got one good hit, but nothing else.
Then the other rod jerked, and I thought I was hung on the bottom 'til it headed in a different direction. It was too slow for a shark, and I was hoping for a big red. It felt like a manhole cover and might as well had been one, as it turned out to be a big old ray (30" plus wingtip to wingtip). I played with him for a few minutes and long enough to get some video, holding the rod in one hand and the cam in the other. (The wife really enjoyed the clip.) Cut my fingers with the leader trying to get the hook out of his/its mouth. The wounds were minor, but hurt like the dicance.
By noon the wind had picked up to a steady 12-15kt or so blow, and I was about half a mile or more down the island. With this, I decided to go back to north side thru a cut and wade back to the west- Now throwing a red jig/elec chick- 'Got a few bumps, but nothing startling.
Stopped a minute to eat my boiled egg and a few saltines with a Pepsi. The sun ran me back in my shirt.
I switched back to my old standby- the never let me down, 52m28. (Note- I have caught trout, reds, blues, macs, ladyfish, catfish, and jumped a couple of sizeable tarpons, with this plug.)
Finally, at the end of the island, I caught a 20" trout (dinner),which prompted me to stay just a little bit longer. That, along with the dread of fighting the wind/tide on the pull back to the mainland, which I knew would take twice as long as the trip out.
The paddle was as tough as I expected. Though the tide was near it's peak, the SW wind was still pumping, and caused a favor to the right side. 'Bout wore my butt to a frazzle.
'Back at the house a little after 4PM- everything cleaned up by the time the wife got home from work.
I was exhausted, but satisfied I had another good day on the water..
Lanark shoals via kayak
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
At least ya caught something. Nice trout, and betcha'll keep the big mack next time 
If I lived closer down there, I'd probably get me a kayak.
