Community Forums

fishdoc · 09-07-2014, 10:47 AM

Anyone with kayak fishing experience on west coast of Florida? Where and how much fun?
thanks,
frank

ImagineIF · 09-07-2014, 12:15 PM

We kayak fish off the Natures Coast, Citrus County. There are good days and some days are just good days on the water. Trout, reds, mangrove snapper, flounder, black drum, catfish and other varieties have tested our fishing skills. There are good kayak launches near fishing hole out of Ozello, Crystal River, and Yankeetown. We are also home of the largest springs in the state producing 100s of million gallons of water a day. So, if you want a break from fishing, kayak the spring waters and enjoy a cool dip in the springs. Some springs are winter homes for the Manatees.

fishdoc · 09-07-2014, 01:36 PM

Thanks Gil,
Those are places I can research and figure out where to go. Salt water flats and marsh is what Im looking for and those are good recommendations.
frank

Parkers · 09-11-2014, 06:11 PM

DW and I are retiring in Nov. and heading to Florida for the winter. I have never tried kayaking and I am wondering if this is something a 62 year old can do. I am in good shape and not overweight but a kayak looks very unstable. I love fishing and a conventional boat is out of the question in a motorhome and pulling a toad. I could carry a kayak on the toad but I wonder how practical it is to fish from a kayak? I wonder if an inflatable boat is a better option if I just want to fish occasionally? Appreciate you input.

Capn_Dave · 09-11-2014, 06:26 PM

I am with the Parkers on questions. What kind of kayaks do you use? I am concerned about stability. Do you use inflatable?

Thanks Dave

ImagineIF · 09-11-2014, 08:23 PM

Kayaks are surprisingly stable. We have 12-foot sit-on fishing kayaks and have never made an unexpected plunge. 62 is only a couple years older than us, so you are definitely not too old.

There are some very rigid inflatables. I haven't used one, but suspect they are fine.

Maybe, you'll want to rent or borrow one before you commit. There are lots of rentals in areas that are frequented by kayakers.

lenkerb · 09-11-2014, 08:58 PM

we are 65 and 66 and kayak and fish on the Gulf side near New Port Richey....all winer long
In March we head to the Keys and stay on Marathon where we kayak and fish off Sunbrero Beach...there is a mangrove swamp there where you pick your trail and follow the colored reeds really fun in March;;;no bugs

fishdoc · 09-21-2014, 03:32 PM

I'm a little older and just have to take it easier as in putting kayak on crossbars of my CRV. Place bow on window (covered by towel) and then go to stern and lift and push yak onto rack.
No sudden moves when fishing... this is most common cause for landing in drink unless you're around surf or wakes from motorboats.
A rudder helps much in guiding while paddling and drifting.

Wear lifejacket. I carry 3 rods, anchor, small igloo behind me. Get the best paddle you can afford as it is lighter which helps when paddling for hours.
I have a Wilderness 140(14 ft). There are wider ones and thus more
stable but also heavier. Again, a rudder is best add on.

TeJay · 09-21-2014, 04:43 PM

I've kayak fished for several years and am 70 years old and also in good shape. There's a web sight called, "kayakfishingstuff.com" that is the kayak fishermans place to go for information about Yak fishing. They test and recommend all the stuff you need for fishing. There are also specific sights all around the US depending on your location and destination. There's all kinds of pictures of other Yaks and how they are set up. It's a treasure trove of information.

Most specifically designed fishing Yaks are a little wider than normal so that makes them much more stable than you'd expect. I have a Hobie Quest. It is about 13' long with a rudder and weighs in at 65 lbs. Most also use the sit-on-top of Yak instead of the set-in Yak. There are holes in the bottom and you will take in some water but not inside the hull and as you paddle the water runs back out. You can do your own research.
I'm usually fishing on the ICWW south of Daytona, FL in March every year.

TeJay

HD4Mark · 09-21-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenkerb

we are 65 and 66 and kayak and fish on the Gulf side near New Port Richey....all winer long
In March we head to the Keys and stay on Marathon where we kayak and fish off Sunbrero Beach...there is a mangrove swamp there where you pick your trail and follow the colored reeds really fun in March;;;no bugs

Don't you love Sombrero beach? We spend the entire winter in Marathon. What a great place.

About stability. We have 10' Lifetime sit on top kayaks from Costco (had them shipped to Marathon) and I think it would be difficult to tip one over unless you tried to. The fishing yaks look even more substantial so I would guess they are really stable. It does take some getting used to plopping your rear end into one but after a while you get used to it,

fishdoc · 09-21-2014, 06:24 PM

Dang guys, we ought to meet for a kayak fishing tourney. You guys know best spots in Florida. Could be fun.

Parkers · 11-02-2014, 07:55 PM

I'm hooked. Just ordered crossbars for my Honda CRV. Leaving for Bushnell, Florida for 5 months in a few days. Second and final retirement. I will buy a Kayak once down there.

SomeDay · 11-03-2014, 12:28 AM

Have two inflatables for years, have two kayaks - love the kayaks for fishing way more. Wider base Hunter fishing kayak but also have a Precision regular one which cuts through water like butter. Quite stable. We launch dead opposite Turtle Beach Sarasota many times which has a dedicated Kayak launch, but there are tons of places up and down with many interesting bays along that stretch north and south. Catch everything and anything from bulls down to pin fish - grunts, reds, snook, drum, flounder list is endless and lots of fun.

There's a kayak fishing tv show on as well we often watch, and some of the guys are quite large on these kayaks and don't look/sound but they love kayak fishing without event it appears.

Parkers · 12-21-2014, 07:26 PM

After trying out a few brands and models at a local shop, I bought a Jackson Kilroy. It weighs 65 pounds which is light enough that I can load on my Honda CRV racks without much trouble. So far I really like fishing from this Kayak. I think I made a good choice. Most of my fishing will be central Florida on the Withlacoochee river or one of the many small lakes around Bushnell. This Kayak is a good fit for my occasional fishing while in Florida. Thanks for the encouragement.