I’ve been living on a house boat the last 6 months on a Rez full of fish and have only been able to get at and make cast about 20 times. Stupid work schedule.
Orvis having a flash sale today, some good deals in here. Clearwater Large arbor reel for $47 https://www.orvis.com/fly-fishing-sale-outlet
Good reel for anything 5wt and under. Guy at my local fly shop who has been featured in the Orvis catalogs told me not to use Orvis fly lines. He just went back to Orvis so I'm curious what he says now. Atlanta guys ---> Leigh who is an awesome dude and used to lead our Atlanta Fly Fishing Club Fly Tying Nights at the Fish Hawk. Spoke fairly high of everything else Orvis makes. I'm a big fan of my 5wt recon rod. Wife won a Simms carrying case at Fish Hawk's 45th birthday party this weekend. I've got a TFO 7wt and Scott Tidal 9wt so I should be covered but I want an 8wt, just feels so good casting to me. Anyone casted the rods from Wade? Same company that does Post Fly Boxes?
orvis lines are all made by Scientific Angler, it's gonna be pretty good. I just got the WF4 Nymph line, i have fished it 5-6 times now and fucking love it. let's me tuck cast really well, and really gets streamers out on my very whippy 4 wt
Starting to figure it out in my area. So nice to be able to leave work at 4 and be in the water fishing by 4:30. which gives about 3 hours of solid fishing time. Going to work on my video and editing skills and start publishing the videos.
It's been a learning curve. First trip I wanted to sell the kayak. Now I try to go once or twice a week. It's just cool being out there, seen porpoise, raccons, manatee, a huge ass rattlesnake swimming across the waterway, I had an osorey almost take my head off diving at bait. Eventually, would like to give it a go off shore. Guy I know catches sailfish off the kayak.
Is it bad that I want to hire a guide for my FiL and me but to take it out of where I usually out in so I can learn the area better and what baits etc? Or is that like fisherman no no.
Kayak fishing is fun as fuck. Of course I want to catch fish but even if I get skunked it’s still enjoyable just being out on the water. First time I went out a couple of dolphins followed me around for about 20 minutes.
i'd be up front about it, you fish from a kayak so you obviously aren't going to be running charters. the trout guides have been cool with me using them this way, but i also frequent their shops.
High Cotton did you know a guy named Thomas T. In the Atlanta fly fishing club by chance? Recently moved from Atlanta
Doesn't ring a bell, where did he move to? Went to my first meeting of the year last night. My buddy Will just moved to Memphis last year.
What area are you in? Also, I hired charter captain when I just started getting into inshore. I was upfront with him about it and told him I wanted to learn and get into it. He had no issue. So long as they know going in, I don’t see why it would be an issue. If it is, find another. There’s never a shortage of captains on the coasts.
I've been doing a ton of inshore fishing out of kayak for a while now so happy to answer any questions Pharm Caught 3 15-16 inch specs 2 weekends ago and a 17 inch flounder. Week before out of friends 15 foot whaler caught 3-4 black drum that fought hard, a beautiful 24 inch red fish, and a flounder.
I'm about to relocate to North FL and could use any advice you've got on what to outift with for someone just getting started. TIA
I've been using a pelican kayak for a long time. I think I've had it for like 5 years. I think it's 12 feet. My rig is : kayak aerator bucket to put live shrimp in (I don't take the bucket with me on the launch. Right before I launch I transfer the shrimp from the bucket to the flow through bait bucket) anchor big enough to not drag around tackle bag needle nose pliers or one of those custom contraptions meant for retrieving hook from fishes mouth plastic net, i hate the fiber nets because your damn hooks get stuck in them treble hook boat monkey popping cork falcon rod cheap shimano reel (i think people spend way too much on reels and they eventually break and the salt is tough on them and I can't tell a huge difference between a 40 reel and a 300 reel for inshore fishing. ) paddle. flow through bait bucket. cooler with ice on the back of yak. 12# fishing line. Misc Advise -I tie my anchor to the side of the yak before I launch and I tie my flow through to the side of it with some fishing line. -I typically fish for specs/reds/flounder etc with live shrimp and popping cork. I've caught plenty with matrix shad and 3/8 or 1/4 jig head but live shrimp and cork is just so much more productive. -Look for oyster beds . Specs/reds etc love them. -Look for mouths or drains in bayous -Flounders and reds love to hang out right up against little islands/grass. Reds will hang out in like 2 feet of water.
there's a shit ton of youtube videos out there for ways to configure your set up. I use a milk crate on the back to hold a couple of planos and some water. I have a 3.5 lb anchor spooled on a clothesline/laundry reel. also not a bad idea to keep a dry bag in the hull with a first aid kit, flashlight, and towel. an anchor trolley line would also be really helpful
Caught two (27" & 32") carp from the kayak yesterday on the fly. One took me for about a 100 yard ride while, took both about 15 minutes plus to bring to the net. First one, I dropped the fly about 5' in front of the air bubbles and the second one about 10' om front of a tailer coming straight at me. Slow strip and let them swim right into it. Great practice for next weekend on 30A. Saw some other carp out there that downright scared me with their size. Will be fishing from the beach Friday and Saturday with my 9wt and then with a guide on kayaks Sunday.
Yeah, my reel fucked up yesterday on the kayak due to saltwater, but that was because it got dunked last trip. Luckily it was just a 40 buck one. I gotta be careful not do that anymore.
I have a Daiwa in like the 4000 series that I spent like $250 on that I use for snook, cobia, mahi, small snapper, etc. Hose it down with saltwater after every trip and it’s good to go. Iirc the cheaper reels rust a lot easier. I have a Penn Conquer in the 3000 series that I use inshore for reds, flounder, and snook. Same thing — hose it down with freshwater after every trip and it’s lasted me 3 years after being dunked numerous times. Only issue I’ve had with reels has been taking them surf fishing and the sand corroding the gears and bearings, mostly because I got lazy and didn’t hose them down after use.
Headed down to Boca Grande/Stump Pass area next month. Hope to do some fishing and possibly crabbing while we are down there. Sport fishing is always great but I wouldnt mind catching some snapper or other good eating fish to grill. Kinda torn between renting a boat (rod and reels included) for the day or just buying all the tackle, rods, reels and just fish from the shore. Haven't fished in years but my two boys (5&8) are getting old enough now so if I do decide to buy the gear it will put to use. Also got my dad going with us so in the end I'm mainly after memories. Anyways, I'd appreciate any tips or recommendations.
Imo, fishing from a boat always kicks the shit out of fishing from shore. Much more accessibility and more options as to what you can do. Your odds of success are likely much higher on a boat and on a charter. Not sure how familiar you are with the area, but you could definitely look into like a half day charter — the price will only be a bit more expensive than buying a bunch of gear. I have family friends who live in Matlacha and we fished one of the canals there. We limited out in mangrove snapper in two hours between 3 of us. Lots of snook there, too.
Thanks for the feedback. Actually gonna be my first time in the area. We usually just vacation in the panhandle but decided to go a different rout this year in hopes doing more than just hanging out on the beach all day. If I go the boat rout (which is where I'm leaning) I likely won't do a charter since we'll probably do some island hoping and let the kids look for shells while trying to find some dolphins, manatee, and such. Of course if I rent for the full day I figure to have plenty of time to fish as well.
If you talk to a charter captain, I’m sure they won’t have any issue doing a sightseeing/fishing trip, it’ll just cost you a bit more than a half day fishing charter. Most charter captains do those kind of trips anyway. Might be worth it, but I truly don’t know. You can certainly call around and see what they say. If you go your own route, live shrimp is probably your best bet. Not sure how Berkley Gulps do over there, but I imagine they work pretty well. Work the mangroves and structure and you’ll be fine.
Unless that motor was broken I don't understand what would possess someone to go out of their way to hurt a bad ass animal that posed 0 threat to them
The Bay in Destin was a complete mess this weekend so I took my wife off shore fishing on light tackle. She loved it. Caught mahi, snapper, grouper, spanish mackeral, king mackeral, and hooked up with a porpoise. Hooked into a king mackeral that I had to reel in as fast as I could but I was no match for the porpoise. It was incredible to watch the porpoise bear down on my fish and try to avoid him taking it.
Caught a good many on a camping trip over the weekend. Nothing big, but I love watching trout nail a dry fly. Spoiler: Pics