Beat the Heat

Flamingo to Big Bend
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Gibby3474
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:08 pm
Location: Sarasota
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Beat the Heat

Post by Gibby3474 »

I've lived in Florida for most of my life. Is it just me or is this the hottest summer ever?

It's brutal to be on the water during mid-day. But if you get out before dawn, it's very comfortable -- especially if you're fishing dock lights.

I've been getting tarpon, snook, spotted seatrout, lookdown and jack crevalle. I've caught and released 15 tarpon so far this year.

I use an 8-weight fly rod, with floating line, 9-foot fluorocarbon leader (20 pound) and my Snook Shrimp fly.

I won't divulge my favorite spots, but I will advise that you'll probably find fish around any lighted dock where the water is deep enough and there's decent current. I prefer a strong outgoing tide.

I tie my flies on No. 4 hooks. Realize that most of the bait (minnows and shrimp) are small and that's what the fish are keyed into. Cast a larger fly into the light and it most often will go ignored.

On the maiden voyage of my new NuCanoe Pursuit, I managed two tarpon and two snook before daylight. I jumped six tarpon and probably had another three or four hit that I didn't get the hook set.

In fact, the tarpon were so aggressive that I couldn't get past them to get a snook until it was nearly daylight.

Fish in the light:

Image

Tarpon (you can have them out of the water if they're less than 40 inches):

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Snook:


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Trout:

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Lookdown:

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Steve
www.kayakfishingsarasota.com
http://gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com/
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MikeM
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:10 pm
Location: Bradenton

Re: Beat the Heat

Post by MikeM »

Looks like you broke that boat in just fine.
Looking at some of your pictures it seems that all those grooves in the deck would be pretty uncomfortable to stand on especially barefooted or with just 'beach shoes' on. Any problem for you?
sfurman
Supporter 2010 - 2013
Posts: 1214
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
Location: Tampa, Steinhatchee

Re: Beat the Heat

Post by sfurman »

Nice, I have never had one but they say those look down are really good eating. they are in the jack family, along with pompano.
My posts are my opinion only.
Steve
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Manning
Supporter 2009 - 2013
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:19 am
Location: Sarasota

Re: Beat the Heat

Post by Manning »

You have definitely been killing that dock light thing. Nice job.
Being out on the water in the kayak is the prize. Catching fish is the bonus.

Steve
SoHumble
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 3:13 pm

Re: Beat the Heat

Post by SoHumble »

I know that this is a pretty old post, but I just found it. With the daytime temps being as brutal as they have for the last couple of months, it seems like night fishing would be a sensible alternative. I have never kayak fished at night and was wondering if you (or anyone really) would share a few tips. For example you talk about strong current. Do you anchor and fish into the light? Any special equipment needed and any other tips that someone new this might find helpful would be appreciated.

Thanks
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