As I drifted downstream I simply couldn’t believe how clear the water was.  I could see oysters, rocks, stumps and even crabs on the bottom in 8 to 10 feet of water.  It was still stained the color of weak tea, but the clarisy was incredible.  Light winds and a good sun angle made watching for fish in the shallows while a hopped baits along deeper edges easy.  All I had to do was one or tow paddle strokes to adjust and let my gaze drift along the bank; a very relaxing change compared to the wind we’ve been having for the past several weekends.

I fished downstream for about 2 hours without so much as a hit.  I had already gone past my intended spot for the last bit of outgoing, so I began to paddle back up toward the oyster bar.  This bar almost never lets me down, so I felt good about not having to ride home with a skunk on the yak.

I brough the first fish to hand within 5 minutes of setting up.  It was a nice healthy Wando red; over slot, fat and happy. 

 I followed it up with what could have been it’s twin. 

Then the fun began.  I cast a Z-Man scneted Crabz deep off the oyster mound out to where I think the second drop off begins.  I started gently bouncing it with a slow retrieve to keep the crab rigged on a 4/0 trigger hook moving slowly downstream and toward me.  Tap, tap’ a little hit.  Hop, hop andWHAM a fish slams the crab and I set the hook.

When the barb hit her lip this fish took off downstream headed for the 41 bridge as hard as she could go.    Here’s the video that tells the story better than I can.

  Get ready to go chasing the big girls.  Thanks to a very mild winter they’ll begin staging before heading out to join the breeder population early this year.

It’s January, the air is cold, the water is cold, and the fish just aren’t biting right?  Wrong!!!!  Redfish action can be hot if you change tactics to account for cooler water and changing feeding patterns.  It is a simple fact of life, if you want to live, you have to eat.  This is just as true for redfish as it is for you.

 Winter redfish are looking for two things:  A comfortable place to live and a steady supply of food.  One of the secrets of winter reds is to catch them, you have to find them.  Locate one of these and you may find a fish or two.  Locate both and you are very likely to find not one or two, but dozens of redfish lying shoulder to shoulder.

 Let’s start with a comfortable place to live.  The range of redfish in theUnited States extends fromDelaware to The Tip of Texas.  To keep things simple: redfish do not like cold water.  In winter you are much more likely to find fish staged where you find warmer water.  By now, the surface temperature in many of our rivers has dropped into the low 50′s.  However, a bright sunny day can warm the low tide mud flats into the upper 50’s; a few sunny days and the flats are in the low 60’s.  The fishermen who brave the cold are rewarded with fish aggressively feeding in the warmer water of the mud flats.  At high tide you should concentrate your efforts in the deeper water channels the fish use to move on and off of the flats.

 Understanding redfish diet. Remember, you are targeting sub-adult redfish in the 21 to 30 inch and 4 to 10 pound range, so it is important to understand their diet.  According to a study conducted my Dr Charles Wenner for the SCDNR, the diet of sub-adult redfish consists of the following by volume:

 35% small fishes

33% fiddler crabs

16% swimming crabs

6% mud crabs

6% grass shrimp

4% other

 Take a close look at those numbers.  Throwing shrimp or shrimp imitations will catch redfish, but it’s not high on their priority list, especially now that most shrimp moved offshore as the water cooled.  The normal winter bait choices are small fish and crabs or artificial baits that simulate these two.  Simply put, fish tune into the normal food pattern for the season.  Fly fishermen would call this part matching the hatch.

 Spend most of your fishing time working small live baitfish or artificial imitations.  The reason for this is very simple; it meets the “steady supply of food” criteria.  There are a few varieties of small baitfish, such as mud minnows, that remain abundant throughout the winter.  Low tide forces the baitfish out of their hiding places and concentrates them.  For the bait fishermen, mud minnows and cut mullet are your two best choices.  Artificial baits include curly tail grubs, paddle tail swim baits, and small dark flies such as olive or black clouser minnows.   My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE right now is the Z-Man Rain Minnows on a 1/8th ounce jig head.

 Fiddler crabs will be scarce during cold weather.  They are not particularly cold tolerant, so they spend most of their time hiding in their burrows.  However, if you get a series of warm bright winter days it never hurts to throw a small dark crab pattern.  Two key words in both paragraphs are small and dark.  Winter is the wrong time of year for finger mullet or menhaden patterns because these fish moved south before the water temperature fell below 55 degrees.

 Now, let’s put the information together into a successful fishing strategy. 

First, bring the appropriate gear.  Select rod, reel, and line toward the heavy end of the spectrum.  While it is possible to land a large redfish on very light line and tackle it is not healthy for the fish.  A prolonged battle with a large fish on light line makes for a great fishing story, but it is likely to kill the fish.  A better choice is a medium to medium heavy rod paired with a “30″ sized spinning reel, 20 pound test braided line, and an appropriate sized bait of your choice.  Since I’m usually fishing a small bait I break out the longer rods with moderate to fast action.  A 7 to 7 1/2 foot rod makes casting the small baits much easier.

 Second, pick the location that meets the comfortable place to live and steady source of food criteria.  Look at the drawing to understand what is happening beneath the surface and at the edge of an oyster bar. 

The bottom will be covered with dark pluff mud.  Pluff mud captures the sun’s energy and warms the shallow water on the mud flat very quickly.  This creates a more comfortable environment.

Now look at the exposed oyster points that extend into the water.  There will be submerged shell in the best spots.  Shrimp, crabs, and mud minnows try to hide among the submerged shells.  There is much less space to hide at low tide than at high, so you have a concentrated supply of food.  You should be able to spot “nervous water” which points the way to the baitfish. Spend some time scouting the waters at low tide; you will be glad you did.

 Third, is presentation.  Ease up to the spot SLOWLY.  Watch for fish, wakes, “pushes” or silt kicked up by moving fish.  Once fish have been spotted the fishing begins in earnest.  Cast the bait of choice close enough to be seen, not so close that you hit them on the head, and then work it slowly.   If you think you’re fishing too slow you probably aren’t. Try to imagine sitting on the couch next to a bag of chips.  You may not want one, but if they stay there long enough you will eat them.

 Fourth and final is timing.  Winter fishing has more in common with hunting than it does with fishing during the summer.  Consult the weather forecast, tide tables and solo-lunar charts.  The best days will be sunny, just before or just after a cold front, and with the moon overhead at low tide.  I’ll be fishing when these conditions come together; you should be too.

About the author:  Tommy Samuels is the owner / operator of Kayak Fish SC, a kayak fishing guide service located in Charleston, SC.  He is a member of Wilderness Systems and KayakBassFishing.com Pro Staff and accomplished tournament angler.  You can email Tommy at TooBusy@KayakFishSC.com

It’s January, The holiday season is behind us and if you’re anything like me, there’s an extra 10 pounds that magically appeared between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  I won’t get all wrapped up in New Year’s resolutions of diet, exercise, improving job skills, or improving relationships.  This is all about one resolution; enjoy every minute you spend on the water.  It just so happens that a few of those others may find a place within my primary resolution.

Enjoying time on the water seems like a pretty simple task, doesn’t it?   After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Here’s my recipe to make every trip enjoyable; regardless of what happens or how many fish you catch.

Plan ahead I know, I know, stuff happens and the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry.  I also know that failing to plan is the same thing as planning to fail.  Planning ahead forces you to think about where, when, how, and for what you will fish.  Instead of saying “I’m going fishing tomorrow”, a planned trip statement would be “I’m going to hit the Upper Wando tomorrow morning at dawn for some low tide, top water, redfish action.”  There is a distinct difference between those two statements; especially for a kayak fisherman.  The second statement guides you easily into the next step.

Pack ahead Since the example is for the early morning top water bite, packing becomes much easier. 

You don’t need to carry the tackle bag with every soft plastic known to man.  You don’t need the cast net, minnow trap, bait bucket, or extra circle hooks.  Lightening the load makes loading, unloading, and paddling easier.  Planning for a specific type of fishing provides focus and forces you to work your plan; both of these make my day more enjoyable.  Last but not least is that packing ahead let’s you get a good night’s sleep because all you need to do in the morning is jump in the car and go.

Set a schedule and try your best to stick to it.  There is a certain amount of frustration that my wife gets when I bug out before the crack of dawn and she has no idea when I’ll be home.  The planned fishing trip is pretty specific: Early morning top water bite.  Sure, I may get lucky and the top water bite will continue until 10 or 11, but we both know I won’t be out walking the dog with a Spook Jr. at 2 in the afternoon.  My fishing trip just got MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE with frustration and anxiety crossed off the list. 

File a float plan with someone who will call for rescue if you don’t come home or at least check in on time.  IT IS NOT a big deal to create a float plan; after all, you already made a fishing plan.  Just tell someone where you are going and when you will be home.  My float plans are a little more detailed.  I have multiple boats, paddles, and PFDs, so I write a short note on a dry erase board to my wife.  It goes something like this:

• I’m fishing the incoming with Carter
• We’re putting in at Copahee and paddling out to the ICW
• I’ll be off the water by 5pm
• I’m taking the Camo Tarpon and wearing my Blue/Black Harmony pfd
• Luv U -  T

This simple note only takes a few seconds to write and can save your life if things go horribly wrong.  It gives her all the details and if I don’t call, she will call me, then Carter, then the authorities if neither of us answers. 

Paddle more than you normally would. 

Okay, this is a throwback to the diet and exercise part, but there is a fishing specific reason.  Kayak fishing is one of my great passions and pleasures.  One of the things I truly enjoy is exploring new waters and you can’t do that if you only put in a Paradise Landing and never go past the sailboat.  Part of planning ahead is planning around tidal flow, so use it to your advantage and extend your fishing range. 

Worry less about how many fish you bring to hand. 

Let’s be honest, chances are pretty high that if you’re reading this article and fishing from a kayak, you are not a subsistence fisherman.  You’re kayak fishing for fun, so leave the worries over fish count to the guys running all over creation in their stinkpots.  Spend your time soaking up the joy of fishing at your own pace and take the time to smell the pluff mud.

Take more pictures because they last longer than memories. 

 They also tell a story about who you are, what you enjoy, and capture special moments with friends.  Besides, some pictures make great reminders of where to fish when the tides are right.

Fish with people that you enjoy spending time with every chance you get. 

Wow, there’s another of the resolutions that slipped in to the main resolution.  Think about it though, wouldn’t you prefer sharing someone’s company to fishing alone?  With that said, don’t feel that you always have to fish with other people; there is great joy in purposeful solitude.

Turn off your cell phone and leave it in the dry bag until it’s time to call home at the end of the trip.  ‘Nuff said.

See you on the water!

About the author:  Tommy Samuels is the owner / operator of Kayak Fish SC, a kayak fishing guide service located in Charleston, SC.  You can email Tommy at TooBusy@KayakFishSC.com

  This warm weather has been a real blessing compared to this time last year. I have seen all kinds of behavior that I should be seeing this time of year and things that I can not remember seeing this late in the season.

I have seen schools of reds out on the ICW, groups of tailing fish on the flats, reds hitting topwater, a good trout bite, and fiddler crabs. I even checked the belly of a red a client kept to see what they were eating and to my surprise it had a ton of fiddlers in its stomach!!!!

I have yet to see reds schooling on the Wando but they are still holding to their fall patterns for the most part. The only differnce is the water has been extremely clear for how warm its been and the fish are a little spooky.

As much as I like chasing the big schools I hope this winter stays warm. After two straight years of fish kill it would be nice if most of the trout made it through the winter.

Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks.

Tight Lines – Carter

 Oh, and if you’re one of the lucky few who doesn’t do Christmas on a budget, then just ask for one of everything. 

Stocking Stuffers – Cool stuff under $20

You don’t have to break the bank to make a kayak fisherman smile.  My favorite things each year are the stocking stuffers my lovely wife picks up for me.  I think that she takes notes all year long for these little gifts because there is always something to remind me of an event from the early in the year.

Whistle – You need one to be legal and you WANT ONE to be heard.  The Fox 40 Classic fills the bill perfectly.

Cajun Thunder popping corks – You’ll never see me on the water inshore without at least one popping cork rig.  They are only about 3 dollars each, so ask for a few.

Power Pro braided line – I keep my inshore reels spooled with 20 or 30 pound test.

Hooks – if you plan to fish with bait, please make the switch to circle hooks.  Gamagatsu 2/0 will take care of redfish and trout and rumor has it that you CAN catch sheepshead with 1/0 circles.

Hooks – the circle hooks don’t work well for me on flounder, so I keep a couple of packs of Kahle hooks in my tackle bag as well.

Z-Man Scented baits – Shrimpz, Streakz, rain Minnowz and Paddlerz are my go to baits for redfish, trout, and flounder.  I know there are tons of Gulp fishermen out there, so if Gulp is your preference, then ask for them instead.  Here’s a Pro Tip:  Justin Carter won the IFA Grand Championship using Z-Man.

Fish Grip – it’s flexible, it floats, and reduces the chances of you accidentally harming a fish.

Performance undergarments – I know, no one wants to talk underwear, but if you plan to fish this winter staying warm is a top priority.  Polypropylene is the ticket.  Stay away from cotton products.

Dry Bag – for your cell phone is much cheaper than having to replace it.  There are a ton of really good ones available for under $20.  The insured replacement cost of my Blackberry was $75… simple math and cheap insurance.

Thoughtful gifts from $20 -$100

Again, you don’t have to break the bank.  There are a long list of items that fall into this group.  I’m dealing with a limited space, so here’s the Reader’s Digest version.

Boga Grip – is a big step up from the Fish Grip.  One problem with the Boga is it doesn’t float… trust me on this one and tie a float to yours BEFORE you use it.

Columbia Performance Fishing Gear – Shirts, pants, or the Bora Bora Booney, you just can’t beat Columbia for cool, dry and sun protection.

Penn spinning reel – Kayak fishing is notoriously tough on reels.  The Sargus and Battle have taken the abuse of repeated dunkings from clients and just keep performing on trip after trip.  Give them a freshwater rinse after each trip and they will serve you well for years to come.

Paddling specific PFD – I’ll refrain from pointing to a model; just buy one that is comfortable and wear it.  If you’re curious I wear Harmony and Stohlquist.

Kayak light – The VisiPole or VisiCarbon Pro from YakAttack are my favorites.  The VisiCarbon Pro is one item that never leaves my milk crate.  Quite simply, it is the best safety light on the market today.

Dry or Semi Dry top – With cold weather here staying warm and dry should be high on your wish list.  I covered warm in the stocking stuffers, so an MTI Adventureware top will keep you dry.

SeaLine dry bag – This bag is for your clothes and other safety gear.  I’ve been carrying the same SeaLine bag for more years than most of you have been paddling.  It’s a product that you only need to buy once in your life.

Cast net – This is one time that I’ll suggest that you don’t buy the best thing you can afford.  The main reason is that I tend to toss my net into some really nasty places and I’d rather put holes in a cheap net and get bait than not throw unless I’m sure there aren’t snags in the area.

Rod holders – Once upon a time you had to decide; either you were a Ram person or a Scotty person.  Now there are adapters to mix and match between systems. The Ram holders cost a little more, but they are infinitely adjustable.

Camera mount – You know you want to capture the grip and grin shots when you’re fishing solo.  The PanFish camera mount from YakAttack allow you to do just that with ease.  Take a look at my YouTube videos sometime.  All of the over the shoulder videos used the PanFish camera mount.  My self portraits on the Kayak Fish SC page have improved greatly since I installed the PanFish Portrait on the Tarpon 160.  Both are available from YakAttack.

 Nice gifts from$100 – $400

Now it’s time to start talking about the more expensive toys, at least that’s what we call them in my house.

Seat upgrade – is a must have if you paddle the older Ride, Tarpon, or a host of other kayaks with a thin foam pad over hard plastic for a seat.  Surf to Summit makes some of the best and their GTS Elite is built for all day comfort.

Digital Camera – A waterproof camera is a must have for kayak fishermen.  There are some really good ones on the market today, so please don’t be offended by my choices.  My favorites are the GoPro Hero high definition video cameras and the Olympus Stylus Tough series for stills and lower quality video.  Couple these with the PanFish or PanFish Portrait camera mounts and you have a floating photo and video studio.  It’s gotten to the point that I never launch without both.

Better fishing rods – I switched over to St Croix fishing rods recently and I just can’t believe how much better they cast and how much lighter they are than my old sticks… just amazing. 

Better paddle – a good paddle makes all the difference when you spend a lot of time kayak fishing.  Check out the Aqua-Bound Fin Stalker as a starting point and work up from there.  Werner makes excellent light weight paddles, but my personal favorites are Adventure Technology with the ergonomically correct carbon fiber shaft.

 And then there is the “Oh Honey, you’re amazing” gift. 

New kayak – nothing says Merry Christmas like some shiny new plastic under the tree.  You all know that I’m a Wilderness Systems guy, so be sure to at least consider the Tarpon and Ride series if you’re thinking about a kayak.  Yes, I know some that are getting a little tired of paddling and are ready for a change, so as a nod to them you really should take a look at a Hobie mirage, Ocean Kayak Torque, or a Native propel while you’re looking.

Merry Christmas to all of you from Kayak Fish SC.

 Yes, this is a fishing column, not the recipes section, but there is just something about cool weather, fresh oysters, a group of friends and maybe a few adult beverages that call to us. Besides, get a few friends together around the table and the talk will certainly turn to fishing. You’re already wearing waders and gloves in the kayak, so all you need for gathering oysters is a chipping hammer.

The reason for the chipping hammer is to cull oysters in place on the beds. Chip away any dead shell and leave it on the bed to provide a foundation for new growth. The other reason is pretty simple; by culling in place you greatly improve your yield. A bushel of singles or small clumps is a lot more oysters than a bushel of large clumps with dead shell attached. Just rinse the mud off and toss the oysters into the rear well of your kayak once you’ve chipped away the dead shell.

There are two things to know about gathering oysters.

First, know the areas. There are plenty of shellfish grounds around Charleston, just visit the SC DNR website for Adobe maps of the public oyster beds. They will be labeled as R for recreational or S for state. Do not pick oysters from any beds marked C as these are commercial leases. Also, please stay within the borders of the public grounds. All of the borders were created for specific reasons varying from establishing new beds to contamination. I always keep a set of shellfish maps for my favorite fishing areas in the dry bag just in case.

Second, contact DHEC at (800) 285-1618 to find out if any areas are closed. For example, the public grounds on the Folly River frequently close for a week or more following a heavy rain. Several other beds are subject to frequent closure as well, so call first. After you talk to the folks at DHEC you won’t ever consider eating an oyster from a closed area.

As for roasting; there are a couple of methods. The traditional method includes building a nice hot fire, adding good seasoned oak or hickory, and letting the hardwoods burn down to coals. Cover the coals with a thin piece of sheet metal or a heavy wire grill and place your washed oysters on the fire then cover with wet burlap sacks.

The heat from the coals coupled with the steam from the wet burlap has oysters ready to eat in a few minutes.

The modern method is a lot easier if you have the right hardware. All you need is a propane burner, a big steamer pot, and a wire basket. Add a bit of water to the pot, turn on the fire, and place the basket full of oysters in to steam.

Regardless of the method, how long to cook is entirely up to you. Some people cook just long enough to knock off the chill, leaving the oyster mostly raw. Others will cook until the oyster shell opens leaving the oyster cooked thoroughly. There are even plenty of hardcore oyster enthusiasts like my friend Justin Carter. He likes to bring a bottle of hot sauce and a pack of crackers along for a quick snack while we’re gathering.

Like I said, it’s up to you. 

About the author: Tommy Samuels is the owner / operator of Kayak Fish SC, a kayak fishing guide service located in Charleston, SC. You can email Tommy at TooBusy@KayakFishSC.com

I decided to meet up with Hobie Team member Rory Gregg out of Jacksonville, FL to help cover travel and lodging cost and spend time pre-fishing with.  I had spoken with him many times before and I felt that despite not having fished with him before that he was going to be a good travel partner.  I do not know if I could have had a better person to fish with that week.  He was a pleasure to fish with and I was able to learn from him as well.  I left Mt Pleasant around noon on Tuesday, November 8th for Jacksonville.  After meeting up Chappy to say hello and discuss my game plan it was on to pick up Rory.  We ended up leaving around 8:30pm and headed west down Highway 10.  We met Jeff Suber on the western end of Florida and the stories started before we got back in the car.  Each of exchanging experiences since the last time we had seen one another. We finally made it to Chalmette around 4:30am and after a little Waffle House we headed straight to the landing.

We arrived in the St. Bernard Parish which was ground zero for Hurricane Katrina and there was still plenty of evidence of the devastation.  There were still people living in trailers and the community only recently got their water treatment facility back online. As soon as we got out the bugs welcomed us in full force!!!!!  I thought I knew what bad bugs were like but I guess in an area that is surrounded by nothing but water and a little warmer climate I should have been prepared.  These bugs seemed to be immune to bug spray.  We ended up having to wipe down our kayak each morning to remove the hundreds of bugs that died on them each night.  The even seemed to invade our trucks!!!  On the way home we killed 50+ over 8 hours that seemed to be crawling out of the dash while we were driving!!!!!

The weather for the first day was nice in the morning with very little wind and a great top water trout bite.  We also caught large numbers of Sand Trout up to 18 inches and a few flounder over 20 inches!!!  After finding the trout we headed to the flats in search of reds.  Well the nice weather was quickly leaving and the wind was picking up to 15+ mph.  Rory and I each ended up with one 20″ red before the rain and wind forced us to head back to the trucks for a recharge. 

We ended up trying another location that we had heard would hold good numbers of large reds and trout.  The rain was starting to break up but the wind was still blowing up to 20 mph and we both felt this might not be worth it.  I caught a few decent trout and flounder before we decided to call it a day.  We were up almost 38 hours before finally getting some much needed sleep.

The beginning of day two did not start out with much promise at all.  The winds were now blowing 25+ mph so Rory, myself, and new buddy Chad Skeels decided to try a location that we were told might be somewhat protected from the wind.  This was not the case at all.  The tides down there were not very strong (1.3 or so feet) and the wind had overtaken blowing most of the water out even on high tide.  After getting blown around and pushing through shallow water we decided to head back to our first location of day 1 and try to establish a better pattern.

 We continued to get the snot beat out of us but at least we were catching fish again.  We found the trout and flounder again and felt that we knew where the reds were going to be.  At one point, we climbed over an embankment to check out the other side which was somewhat protected from the wind and we saw something amazing.  At first we were not sure what we were seeing because all we would hear was a sound like someone was beating the water with 2×4 but then they showed themselves.  Rory and I watched a school of 40-50 inch reds busting on big mullet that almost an 1/8 mile wide by 1/2 long for about an hour.  We were never able to catch them because they were just out of reach but we now knew that they were in the area.

 We finished up that evening at the captain’s meeting catching up with old friends and making new ones.  We shared fish tales about the ones we caught and the bigger ones that got away.  I received my Atlantic Angler of the Year trophy and was informed that Rory and I would be followed by camera crew for day 1. NO PRESSURE!!!

We arrived at the landing at 5am to find it quite cold (Upper 30′s) but finally calm. 

Jeff Suber, Chad Skeels, Rory, Blake Gill, and I launched right at six heading for our locations.  We all ended up fishing in an area barley 300 yards long by 50 yards wide. Apparently we all had found the same pattern.  By 7:00 am we all had 45+ inches in the yaks and the trash talking began.  For the next two hours we played a crazy ballet of hooking up, sliding back, and next angler sliding in followed by friendly trash talking.  This was probably some of the most fun I have ever had during a tournament.  There was no pressure to catch a fish and we were all catching lots of them, including several monster flounder.  I decided that I was not going to pull a larger red or trout in that spot so I decided to look elsewhere.  I found several small trout and a nice flat holding good numbers of 20-26 inch reds but since this was not what I needed to upgrade I decided to head back to where I started my day.  I pull up to find only Rory is still there and he tells me that he has continued to catch fish here and there but the fishing has slowed down.

For the first 15 minutes I fished without much luck so I decided to break out my monster 8″ bubble gum ZMan Streak XL on a 5/0 1.5 ounce jig head.  I make the first cast and get two quick hits but I got hung on a big rock.  I pedal over and get it out but I am now wrapped around the tip of the rod.  Before I can even get it off and my fingers out of the braid the reds are attacking the giant bait as it bounces along the bottom.

For the next hour and a half it was some of the most lights out red fishing I have ever done.  It was one red after another between 25-30″ on the monster pink bait.  It was almost as if that bait pissed them off!!  We ended up leaving the fish biting and caught the whole day on film.

(Me holding red with pink bait, several reds on the board, camera boat with flounder)

At the weigh there were tons of fish brought in.  I was sitting in 4^th place with a day one total of 48.25” and 6” ahead of the next closest competitor for National Angler of the Year.  Blake was in first, Jeff in second, Blake was in 5^th, and Rory was in 6^Th.  It was pretty amazing to see that all of us that fished together were in the top ten and serious contenders for the championship.

After an almost sleepless night due the excitement we headed back to the landing to start day two.  It was cold again and also the first day of duck season.  I have never seen so many boats at one little landing in my life.  300+. There was also about 7-8 more people fishing the area than the day before so it was going to be a race to get to the fish first.  I landed my first red by 6:15am and a trout followed shortly after.  It seemed like an almost identical start to day one minus the constant ringing of gun fire.  I do not think there was a duck left in Louisiana by the end of that morning.  It truly sounded like Armageddon.  I began throwing the large pink ZMan Streak again and quickly hooked up and boated a nice 31.75” red. 

This was the largest red I had seen come up in two days and I felt the only chance that I would have to win would be find a trout that was going to be close to 20 inches.  So with the camera boat with me again I took off on quest for the trout.

I hit every rock pile, point, and edy of the hour and a half only to find several small trout hear and there.  I had been keeping my eye on a couple of boats on the other side of the channel that had not moved in over an hour and decided that they must know something that I did not.  The other side of the channel was lined with huge concrete slabs that went into a gradually sloping bank.  I began to work my artificial shrimp on a St. Croix 6’6 med light triumph and a Penn Slammer 260 spooled with 10lb Power Pro when I felt a nice thump.  I missed the bite so am I pedaled back around and twitched it twice before feeling some very nice weight at the end of my line. 

At first I thought I hooked into a monster flounder because the fish just seemed to be hugging the bottom but it didn’t take long for the fish to start to drag my kayak down the bank.  Realizing quickly that the tackle I had was way out matched for the size fish that was on the other end I started to loosen the drag and gave the fish plenty of play.  For the next 15 minutes or so I would slowly gain line only to have it quickly taken back.  I was having to put my hand almost up under the first eye to prevent the rod snapping.  Finally the fish was starting to come up and I got my first glance.  All that I could see was a giant flash of red and heart began to race.  I knew that the fish on the other end of my line was more than likely going to put my in first place if I was able to land it.

The excitement was short lived however, as the red starts pulling out more line I noticed the 10lb braid was starting to fray. I backed off the drag even more and the fight continued for another 5 minutes before the big bull came yak side.  Realizing that this fish was not going to fit in my net I began to try and figure out out how I was going to get it in the yak without losing it.  I thought about trying to beach it, but there was no place that wasn’t covered in big rocks.  The fish flared its gills and knew right then what I had to do.  I reached in there and flung the big red into the yak giving it one big slimy bear hug to make sure it was not going to fall back it.  I let out a yell and breathed the biggest sigh of relief I have ever done in my life.

Fishing after that bull red was no longer a priority and I paddled around for the next couple of hours casting here and there just soaking in the enormity of what had just happened and blessed I was. Rory and myself made it to the weigh in almost an hour early and there was plenty of buzz going around about who had caught what and where they thought they were going to end up.  I couldn’t stand the suspense so I went back to the hotel to clean up and try to relax.  I was getting so excited I did not want to see someone else bring in a larger fish.  I came back in time for the announcements and they listed 5^th, then 4^th, 3^rd, 2^nd, and OMG my name has not been called!!!!!!!  I ended up winning the IFA Kayak Nation Championship and IFA National Angler of the Year!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was truly an experience I will never forget and even if I would not have won this was one of the best fishing experiences of my life.  It’s hard to believe that the sport of kayak fishing has grown so much so quickly and I have been lucky enough to be a part of it.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the sport and the next great adventure it will provide for me. 

                   I hope to see you all one the water soon and tight lines.   Carter

Two things were different on SUnday.  Low tide was an hour later and it wasn’t nearly as chilly when the crack of dawn rolled around.  I got to the landing early to get set up and throw the cast net.  Sadly, the cast net results were the same as Saturday, ZERO shrimp, a handful of finger mullet, and a boatload of little spots and pinfish.

I modified the fishing plan from the prior day; forget working the banks and forget working the first drop off, we concentrated out efforts on the deep holes, submerged oyster bars, and the second drop off to deeper water.  Early on the results were pretty much the same as the day before… tons of little fish nipping at baits and too small to take the hook.

I managed a itty bitty trout, I really felt sorry for him, he wasn’t much bigger than the mud minnow he ate.  Then as we were drifting over structure I picked up an upper slot “money fish”  on tournament day, or sometimes referred to as “the dinner plate model”.  Whatever you call it, it was 22 1/2 inches with a pinched tail… upper end of the slot.

It wasn’t long until Clay picked up a pretty over slot fish measuring 25 inches.  He found it feeding in the shallow mud flat next to an oyster bar.

The fun began shortly after this pic… just slightly after the camera batteries dies, so you’ll just have to trust me or ask Clay to confirm that this REALLY happened.  We paddled down to an oyster bar to stretch our legs and replenish the mud minnow supply in a tidal pool.  While the bait trap was filling with minnows we started prospecting for fish.  I found a school of slot reds hanging out  on the ledge.

What happened next was one of those times you spend dreaming of… we stood there and BAILED REDS, one after another, for the better part of two hours.  I DIDN’T EVEN TRY TO KEEP COUNT.  We caught fish on nearly every cast.  If we didn’t get a fish we would slide right or left about 10 feet and be right back into the school.  There were a few that came to hand right at the 20 inch mark, but most were about 17 to 18 inches.  The fishing was fast and furious and EVEN IF the camera batteries weren’t dead, I wouldn’t have laid down my rod long enough to shoot pics..

IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!

Thanks for joining me Clay, give me a shout next time you come down from VA.

Going into Saturday I was a little concerned for a couple of reasons:  First, I had been off the water for 2 weeks due to the real job sending me to Italy for meetings.  Second, the cold snap was going to drop water temps pretty quickly and change fishing patterns that were working SO WELL early in the month.

When I left the house on Saturday morning there was frost on my car and it was awfully chilly… not the best start in the world.  Hit the landing to unload the kayaks and get set for the day’s fishing.  The sky was just getting light, the sun hadn’t yet popped over the horizon; my favorite time of the day.  All through September and early in October there would be herds of reds pushing along the banks with shrimp and mullet fleeing for their lives… I didn’t see much of that this morning.  What I did see was water that was slick as glass with visibility to 5 feet and a temperature of a chilly 68 degrees.

I had already gone by Haddrell’s Point to pick up bait for the day; a couple dozen mud minnows and a couple dozen frisky shrimp.  Since I was there early, I decided to do a little prospecting with the cast net.  Throw after throw after throw and no shrimp.  I caught a few finger mullet and more little spots and pinfish than you would believe.  Again, a sign the river is changing and moving into fall / winter mode.  That had me altering my fishing plan for the day… think deep edges and drop offs.

Matt and Kristin arrived and we took to the water in the Wilderness Systems kayaks.  Matt and I paddled Tarpon 160′s and Kristin was in the Ride 135.  It wasn’t long at all until we found bait stealers aplenty.  Blues, pinfish, croakers, and micro trout were going through our baits like a hot knife through butter.  Matt pulled a little blue in to confirm our suspicions.

Kristin was plagued by blues destroying baits without ever managing to touch the hook.  She took it in stride and kept smiling all day.

We continued to push down the bank and spotted a few cruising reds shallow, but not many AND we couldn’t get them to eat.

Eventually we got out on an oyster bar to stretch our legs and see if we could scare up some reds.  Evidently it just wasn’t meant to be.  We continued to feed the bait stealers and catch a few micro trout.  The few reds we did hook ran us into the submerged trees for a quick slice through the fluoro leader.

Once the tide was coming in we decided to let it help us back to the landing so that Matt and Kristin could make an afternoon appointment.  We hit some of the more popular spots along the way and FINALLY got a little red in Matt’s hands.

It wasn’t the day that I had envisioned as I sat at my desk last week, but at least we enjoyed good weather and they kept on smiling.

Next time out we’ll post up some big fish big grin pics.

Thanks for fishing with me.

Tommy

]]> http://kayakfishsc.com/2011/10/oct-22-2011-fishing-report/feed/ 2