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Yakmon · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:08 am Post subject: Port A BTB 5/23/09

I had been watching the weather all week hoping the window would stay open for some much needed offshore paddling, and it did! I slept near the Port A jetty to beat the crowd and hit the water before sunrise around 6:00am.

I could see the faint outline of birds diving in the distance chasing some prey and hoped I would find some kingfish nearby. As I paddled through schools of bait fish, I didn't see any predators at first, but as the sun continued to rise, I noticed schools of little tunny destroying bait at the end of the jetty. I cast a small spoon on a steel leader into the crowd, but they wouldn't touch my offering. After repeated casts, I finally cut the leader off and hooked up immediately to a mini freight train on very light tackle. I was rewarded with a 6 pound shark bait!

I caught a few of these and then decided to head out to some rigs I could see in the distance. I trolled spoons for a long time and ran into a couple more schools of little tunny, but nothing bigger. I cast around weed lines, but no luck. I finally made it to the rig and tried some cut little tunny on the bottom for snapper, but I just caught a couple of hardheads.....these rigs have been picked clean of all bottom fish. I trolled around the rigs and had a couple of hook ups from kings, but couldn't get a solid hook set on the lures I was using. Most of my bites were on a spro bucktail jig with a large pink grub tail added. I also got a couple on a large kastmaster spoon. I went 0 for 6 on kings. Next time I will use ribbonfish! There were lots of boats on these rigs and they were all catching kings on ribbonfish. Most were trolling, but there were a few tied to the rig using unweighted ribbonfish. Most of the kings were 15-20 pounds with a couple of bigger ones mixed in.

I caught one more little tunny at the rig and as I was fighting it, I noticed a small ling cruising around the kayak, looking at me for an offering. I threw a couple of pieces of bait overboard to keep him interested, landed the little tunny and dropped a small spoon overboard. He ingested it immediately, and shortly thereafter, I had my first ling of the year.

Small, but fun on light tackle. The hook came out easily for a good release.

I paddled to a rig further to the South just as I started to hear the sound of thunder in the distance. A very large black cloud was hanging around on the shore with cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain. I fished for a while longer hoping the cloud would go away. I had forgotten to take my handheld GPS and didn't realize how far I was from the jetty. I asked a man in a boat to look up the distance and he said, "it is 6 miles from here to the jetty." Great! I began my long journey to the beach about the time the wind switched offshore and began to pick up. The flat seas became a little choppy at the wind picked up to about 15-20 mph and it was now raining. The wind was also blowing straight at me - offshore! I paddled for about an hour and a half into the head wind and didn't seem to be making much progress. About that time the wind calmed back down and it was easy sailing again.

I paddled about 17 miles yesterday and got so sunburned I can barely walk, but what a great day on the water. The green water was most of the way to the beach but it didn't get much better the further out I paddled. Spotty weed was present in the water, but didn't hamper trolling. I only caught 1 Smack today and was surprised there weren't more out there. Should be good fishing today too!

Yakmon

noskunks · Horse Mullet Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 157

wow, great report! , I get nervous about taking my bayboat out to the short rigs without a kicker motor and quality radio, I wouldn't think of doing it on my own in a kayak! sounds like you had a blast though.

rabbit · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject:

Great report thanks. Very Happy

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Lord of the Hardheads · Horse Mullet Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 194

Do you go out by yourself? I get nervous just going around the Jetties without my partner. I Can't imagine going 6 miles offshore with no backup.

Still the water looks awesome. Hope it is like that next week when I am off.
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seasonalsalt · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

I love that view on the first pic, I kept going back to look at it while reading your report.
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YaknBak · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:

Dude - you're waaay out of my league!!
Great report, great pic's.
Get a buddy and use sunscreen. Laughing

Yakmon · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject: Yes and No

Yes I go out by myself, but I don't condone it. Kayaking has been a huge part of my life for many years. The first trip I made offshore was by myself, and I suppose the last one will be too. There are few other situations in your life when you are completely alone.

Big Shell used to be the place for that, but those days are gone.

Yakmon

MJW · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject:

The first picture is priceless.. Thanks for the report. Lil Tunny off the jetty is great news
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dunedawg · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 11:14 am Post subject:

I think we saw you out there. We were in the Panga. We stayed out until late afternoon, & the storm was gone by the time we came back in. Was very hairy looking for a while!!
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Skipjack · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Sweet report brother!

I was out there on Sunday with the sailboat. Ton of boats out there.
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txluke · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

You, sir are a braver man than me. It must be uncomfortable for you in that yak with balls that big.
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Scoootr · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject:

pretty cool pics!

Yakmon · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:56 am Post subject: dunedawg

Yep, that was me. Did you guys catch anything when you were tied up to the rig? I saw several people catching kings while tied up to the rigs. Seemed like they were fishing with floated ribbonfish. I just couldn't get a solid hookup on those buggers. I must admit, the last couple of miles of paddling were a little uncomfortable...LOL. Hopefully this weekend will be calm as well. I would like another shot at those kings!

See you out there.

Yakmon

dunedawg · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

Yep, did good. How 'bout that lightening show over the gulf Sun night?? Glad I was not out there then............
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5moreminutes · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

Way to go on that haul in a Prowler. A buddy told me Kings were really close and busting bait and flying 10' out of the water. I don't have that kinda tackle but it sounds like fun to see. I am going after trout tomorrow.
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