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Since the wind was out of the west and tarpon fishing was screwed this morning I headed out to the west side of Sarasota Bay. On one recent trip to this location I saw what looked like a really big snook and Rik had mentioned that he had seen some big ones in this location also. So I left the house this morning with big snook on my mind. When I left the launch I paddled about a mile to an island where I has seen the snook. The plan was to work the edges of that mangrove island as early as possible. So for the first hour on the water I diligently worked all around that island...Nothing! I then moved out onto a flat, but there wasn't much happening there either. I managed just one little trout. Next I saw some fish and birds working at the edge of the flat by a deeper channel. It turned out to be a big school of lady fish. Better than nothing so I started throwing my Aqua Dream spoon at them and caught a couple.
A short time later a good size school of mullet started flowing in through the channel and up on the flat. Looked like a good place for reds to me so I started to work them with the green Aqua Dream spoon. On the second cast I got a big hookup. No...a really big hookup. Whatever it was went on a long line stripping run. A run like I have only experienced from a tarpon. I was starting to worry that it was going to spool me since I was using a reel that is low on line. Since it didn't jump and I had not yet seen it I really didn't know what was on the other end of the line. Once it stopped stripping line it was dragging me around pretty good and I was afraid it was going to drag me back to the mangrove island. I was able to hold the rod with one hand and stick in my stakeout pole with the other. From this point on it was just a good fight to get the fish back to the boat. All in all it was a pretty good fight with 10lb line and 30lb leader.
All I had to measure with was one of those 36" folding "laws" rulers and when I laid it down next to the snook I had 3 or 4 more inches of fish than I had ruler. Note in the picture below that the kayak is 30 inches wide.
Being out on the water in the kayak is the prize. Catching fish is the bonus.
godsmack481 wrote:
Also, those fish grippers, seeing those everywhere now. I picked up some and love them.
That grip is 4 or 5 years old. The best $12 I ever spent. I have mine tethered to the kayak. I clip it on the fish and leave them in the water while I get my camera out.
Being out on the water in the kayak is the prize. Catching fish is the bonus.
Well if they lasted that long so far then I feel I made a great investment. I don't wanna do too much touching when certain fish have that mucus membrane that is not good to remove from them. I'm all for preservation. And also for the toothy ones lol.
