Florida Keys Fishing & Big Fish Kill

[john59]

Fisherpeeeeeples and especially Frank & Jeff-----Since 3/11, I started fishing around Key Largo. Then we worked our way south, down the keys. Now in the middle Keys, Marathon.

The people I have had a chance to talk with, said "we had a huge fish kill in January (really cold water). You are wasting your time fishing (kayak) around the bridges or back water". "You have to go outside to deep water".

Well if fishing is bad on the everglades & gulf side, I really wonder what is was like before the kill. You name it I caught it. And probably if you name it I caught it, but had no idea what it was.

Yesterday I caught 3 barracudas and lost quite a few more. I hooked this freight train on 14 lb test line, ran straight away, stopped and came straight back at me. About 8 feet fromm the kayak, it went airborne. It scared the beejeezus out of me. "Damn, I hooked Flipper the dolphin from Sea World". No not a dolphin, a shark 4 to 6ft long. What kind, your guess is as good as mine. I had no idea sharks jump. I am sorta happy that big guy broke off. That was a fight I could not win. Up anchor, lets get out of this chum slick. Go where it is a bit safer. My kayak got real small after that incident.

Tomorrow, If the wind and tide are right (full moon, gotta be carefull) I am going to try the Flats on the Atlantic side.

Fishing is bad/poor. Being a northener, maybe it is good to be naive. Go fishing when you can, not when somebody says ' best time to fish, blah, blah, blah.
john

 

[john59]

I am still trying to catch a 26 year old, Swedish blonde Mermaid. She can't be a throwback. Just don't tell my DW, Shirley.

I have been on-line, trying to figure out the right combination.

I did come up with one suggestion 'Give it up, you are way to OLD (I like mature better) to handle that catch.
john

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Wow......what a day for you, huh!!!!! I bet the adrenaline was pumping through your pours!!! And being in a kayak with that kind of action???? I bet it WAS a little scary!!! Im getting the bug, man.........I havent thrown a line in the water in a while!!!

 

[john59]

Big Daddy Rog: Down in the lower Keys I did hook up with another fisherman kayaker. He helped me out with the system for a few days.

Basically, I have been winging it since then---Just using past experiences (mostly freshwater). It could be a coincidence, but things are just working.

A real killer for me has been a bass buzz bait with a trailer. Trialer could be a outlandish looking plastic worm, cut squid. Just "I'll try this for a few cats and see what happens"---This could be practically anything and it seems to work.
john

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Yesterday I hooked this freight train on 14 lb test line, ran straight away, stopped and came straight back at me. About 8 feet fromm the kayak, it went airborne. It scared the beejeezus out of me. "Damn, I hooked Flipper the dolphin from Sea World". No not a dolphin, a shark 4 to 6ft long. What kind, your guess is as good as mine. I had no idea sharks jump. I am sorta happy that big guy broke off. That was a fight I could not win. Up anchor, lets get out of this chum slick. Go where it is a bit safer. My kayak got real small after that incident.
john

I'm sorry John,,but that is funny !
I could just see the look on your face ! Heck, I can just imagine the look on my face ! Those shocking moments are the best , aren't they !
Well I'm glad your doing well,,only thing that would improve your game would be havn me, Rog, and Jeff along for the hunt I spose pert near any fish can/will jump,,but your right, aint often a shark torpedoes outta the water.
Hava great time fishing !

 

[Just Beachy]

I hooked this freight train on 14 lb test line, ran straight away, stopped and came straight back at me. About 8 feet fromm the kayak, it went airborne. It scared the beejeezus out of me. "Damn, I hooked Flipper the dolphin from Sea World". No not a dolphin, a shark 4 to 6ft long. What kind, your guess is as good as mine. I had no idea sharks jump. I am sorta happy that big guy broke off. That was a fight I could not win. Up anchor, lets get out of this chum slick. Go where it is a bit safer. My kayak got real small after that incident.

in a KAYAK!!!? I would have

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

The Best thing about fishing from a kayak is that the fish are not scarred of your boat.......Some of them think it's lunch.

 

[john59]

Jeff is right---Jaws woulda ate my kayak. When he got to me for desert, I'm sure he woulda spit me out. TOOOOOOO old and tough.

Plus there was somethin in my drawers that really stunk ! ! ! !
john

 

[BigDaddyRog]

......there was somethin in my drawers that really stunk ! ! ! !
john

 

[john59]

Shirley38 (DW) and me john59 are leaving the Keys, early tomorrow morning.

Up and down the Keys was really fun. The campsites or RV Resorts are a bit pricey, but as a one time shot we hit some really good restaurants and some spectacular weather and fishing. I really don't know how to explain the fishing, but let me try.

My arms and shoulders really ache. No it was not from paddling a kayak and running from Jaws, I belive it was from the barracudas, sharks and the ton of Cerro and Spanish Mackerel, plus fish that I had no idea what they were, that I caught on light tackle. One thing I now: Incoming tide and chumming really work.

I have a zillion little nicks on my hands from being finned, from the finny fishies. Burns from the fly line ripping trough my hand as one of these assasins take off on a run. Every ding I have will heal up and be replaced by a memory.

Now off to Naples/Ft Myers, St Augustines and if the $$$ holds out DIS, then back home.

I still may have a crack at a good Tarpon, Redfish and Snook as we head north. They are still on my check list.

If you are fisherpeeeples ya gotta hit the Keys----Remember I was told, by locals, you are wasting your time fishing the bridges and backwaters. You gotta go offshore to catch fish, due to the January fish kill.

I have no idea what I did wrong, but it sure worked on the Keys backwater.
john & shirley

PS: One of the people at the place we are staying at, said they saw the shark jump near the kayak. They were fishing a few hundred yards from me. They were not sure it was a shark, but they said it happened to them in their boat (not the same day). They said the shark is called a Spinner. They are known to jump. I have to google Spinner Shark and see what I get.

Thanks, for putting up with my fish tales, or is it tails.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

John, I for one am impressed with your fish tails. Isnt Keys fishing just awesome ! I dont beans bout fish'n the salt water,,but the fish'n there is just awesome !

Keep them fish tails coming.

and all them cuts burns and pains,,it's a feel good kinda pain , isnt it ?

 

[john59]

Maybe Jeff, Rog, Frank and myself can get together someday. Maybe have a fishin contest----Bassmasters ; No maybe Carp Masters is more our style.

1st prize for the biggest Carp. 2nd prize--who fell in the river 1st

signing off====john

 

[BigDaddyRog]

John...I gotta say....that sounds like some real adventure you lived there in the keys!!! Fishing with a touch of danger......I can imagine how the kayak much take off when a big one hits....jeeeez.......I wanna try that sometime.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Maybe Jeff, Rog, Frank and myself can get together someday. Maybe have a fishin contest----Bassmasters ; No maybe Carp Masters is more our style.

1st prize for the biggest Carp. 2nd prize--who fell in the river 1st

signing off====john

3rd prize--who can tell the biggest whopper bout the one that got away.

 

[stacktester]

Please tell me you went to the Stuffed Pig on Marathon. I forgot to tell you it was a great breakfast dive. They had just put in a huge outdoor dining area last year when we went there.

 

[john59]

Sorry Donnie missed that one.

We did eat 2X Grassy Key (Marathon) at the WRECK. I am a ragin cajun when it comes to food. If you break into a little sweat "It's all good".

They have something called Jamaican Jerk at the WRECK. I had it on chicken filets. I thought it was just a play on cajun, but I went on-line----It is for real.

No more cajun DW Shirley 38. Gots to be Jamaican Jerk. "NO PROBLEM MON" ! ! !
john

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Since your are headed to St Augustines here are kayak fishing reports from that area http://www.jaxkayakfishing.com/phpBB/fishing-reports.html.

Slacktester lives in Jville maybe he could point you to some good spots and he has a kayak.

 

[john59]

Thanks Jeff for St Augustine kayak link---Now digging out the big gear for Tarpon at KOA Pine Island (near Sanibel)---Gonna do a little brain picking from fisherman and find a place to lauch the Kayak, what lures, bait, chum, not chum---what other finnies lurk here ?????

I hope they say you are wasting your time. That happened in the Keys and guess what---WOOHOO ! ! DOUBLE WOOHOO ! !

Coming in on Stringfellow Road, this has fishing village atmosphere. I may not get the kayak in the water till tomorrow.

Is it true Tarpon jump in boats ???? I wil just have to hook up one that has manners. Not like that bully of a shark in the Keys.
john