BigBendFishing.Net

A mixed bag. First trial with a new rod and reel –Cabelas Prodigy (Capricorn Clone). In the kayak at first light the tide was low without much water moving –not the choice tide but you fish when you can fish. Early a couple shorts w/ CT pink/red tail grub. One more on the Chug Bug, and a couple of big strikes/misses. The water is clear. Lady fish were busting bait and I caught three on top water (and no poop in the boat). 2 blue runners and another 14â€

I was wade fishing at the tip of Alligator Pt. where the bird sanctuary is and a huge manta flew out of the water, twice! That think made a splash that rivals anything Shamu can do.

Sounds exciting Lit,

Oh Yeah,..... was your boat still "poop free" afterwards...

Thanks for sharing your experience.

SR, you beat me to the question. I think I'd have had a bowel movement on the spot. What would you do Lit. if you hooked onto something like a big manta or cobia in that toy boat. I've had big fish pull my 18'. It might be fun for a few minutes till it headed off shore.

Kayak = worlds largest cajun thunder ..Thats the beauty of the yak, stealth...Except some times they scare the pooh out of you ..Nice trip Littoral...I'm gonna get me one the yaks one day

I think I would have been more intimidated if I wasn't directly in front of the Marine Lab, and in less than 3 feet. If I was deeper and didn't know what it was? Oh $%#@!! The kayak I use is real stable so that helps. The stealth factor is great and I'm learning a lot because of it. A lot happens right around me and I'm essentally at water level. I can paddle into bait fish and they don't leave. I've always wanted to tune my ability to read fish species by subtle factors in the way they move water and the kayak is really helping. One, because if I want to respond to something that I see the investment is greater because I have to decide if it's worth paddling to get there. Chasing mullet gets old. Two, more happens closer, and at a more pronounced angle, so I think I'm seeing "more". The wake of fish is more pronounced when I'm at water level -much like late afternoon shadows. Another plus is that I'm on the water more because I can put together gear quickly and put in anywhere. I can't imagine why I didn't buy a kayak 10 years ago. I'm learning a lot -always do.

CS, you asked, What would you do if you hooked onto something like a big manta or cobia in that toy boat. I've had big fish pull my 18'. It might be fun for a few minutes till it headed off shore.
Good question. I've spent a lot of time planning for that. Chasing big cobia in a kayak is a challenge I’ve enjoyed. I’ve hooked big fish in the surf off Cape San Blas and given them about 30 minutes of run but if I can’t slow them down I cut the line. I might have had a cobia then but a mile off shore is too far to beat the weather back in a kayak. Of course if you have a 90hp motor it’s not quite the same challenge.
As to the term “toy boatâ€

Littoral, Most of the Kayak fishing sites that I lurk, recommend a drift sock and a deployable anchor (one with a float, where you can ditch it if need). You could always hail SeaTow

I would like to try a kayak . I'm not sure if I would like sitting that low to the water though. I've fished a good bit out of a canoe.

Do you have a sit on top or sit inside kayak?

That Hobie with the pedal powered flippers looks pretty cool.

Ken, I use a sit-in. It's a 12ft Wilderness Systems Pungo. I spent months researching which boat to buy. I went sit-in to stay dry in the creeks in the winter. A sit-on would be better spring summer fall.
Kayaks have really diversified in models in the last few years. Mine is fast, stable, easy to fish out of, and comfortable. I can spend 5 hours in in it and it's fine -and I'm 6'4" 240. paddle.net is a great site for reviews on a lot of boats.

You have to love the simplicity of a human powered boat. No electrical system, gas motor, or trailer to keep maintained. Obviously there are limitations to it though.

I keep a little jon boat at my pond. When I want to go fishing I put the plug in and shove it in the water, reverse this process when finished. Maintenance consists of periodically turning it upside down and bouncing it on the ground a couple of times to get the accumulated crud out of it.