Tarpon, Sailfish and Kingfish

[YakMack]

Perhaps this is against the rules of the forum, but it was too good not to post. I'm a TKF, but hired a kayak charter while on business recently.

Went to Miami for training and wanted to see what the Kayak scene was like. Water gets deep real quick compared to our Gulf Coast. I'm talking 100 feet only 1 mile from the shore.

Did a Google search and found Deep Blue Kayak Fishing charter (http://deepbluekayakfishing.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) that launched out of Delray Beach, between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Price was good at $295 for one person and $100 for an extra person. I've searched before and most start about $100 higher so I went with these guys. They also had a good Facebook page, website, and Hobie Outbacks, which is a competitive advantage in my opinion. The advantage of pedaling, steering and holding your rod (fishing type) is priceless, especially when the current is moving and the fish is thicker than Earl Campbell's thighs. The tarpon took 30 min and I felt like the Old Man and the Sea.

We trolled with a Kingfish rig (wire with a treble and j hook) that had live fish as bait. Pedaled out to the area and zig zagged the area at about 1-2 knots. I also caught a Bonito while doing some vertical jigging with a diamond jig (fish flopped out before the picture).

Bucket list fish have been checked off, and fish were released safely back into the wild.

[Silverfoxfisherman]

Nice pictures and thanks for the info. I would check it out the next time that I am in Miami. The sailfish is on the bucket list for me.

[The Angler]

It's nice being able to hook up with pelagics about a mile or two from the beach. The Atlantic Ocean breeds some monsters for sure. Congrats!

[Tombo]

I have been trying to visualize what its like to catch either a Tarpon or Sailfish from a kayak. I have nothing to compare to your catch.
Not on my bucket list, yet!

[YakMack]

Imagine this:

Awoke at 5am (never really went to sleep since I was thinking about that trip for the last 2 weeks).

Found a Dunkin Donuts to get a bite along with some bowel moving liquid. Gulped it down in hopes that I could drop the kids off before launch time. Arrived at the Gulfstream park at 615 am. Park was open - THE BATHROOM WAS NOT. Stomach was rumbling, but not enough to delay the launch.

Winds 10-15 mph and choppy seas. Launched at 630am into the light surf. Guide called up the bait boat via radio and we pedaled out half a mile to get some live baitfish to troll with. We push another 1 -2 miles and start slowly zig-zagging the current around 1-2 knots from south to north.

Guide has a "FISH ON" and calls me over so I can reel it in (what a good guide should do). However, this dude (me) doesn't take another man's fish! I told him I couldn't, even if I didn't catch any fish that day, it's still his fish that he trolled/pedaled/worked for. He pulls in a 30+ inch Bonita, which he said he didn't usually catch while trolling with live bait. As I'm admiring the fight of that Bonita bending his rod, I pedal away from the guide to give him some space.

Suddenly, he yells "IT'S A SAILFISH!!!" I look back at my rod, see the bend and hear that tune of the drag. As I go to grab the rod from the back holder, I see the Sailfish "sail" out of the water desperately trying to schuck/spit the hook.

Heart starts pumping. I ask myself "do I really have a fish with a pointy bill tugging my rod?" YES! Sailfish fight is on...Sailfish flies out of the water 3-4 more times, each time closer and closer. Do I really want that sharp bill piercing through my heart as I close the distance with the fish (via Hobie pedal and reeling)? Will my last day end just like Steve Irwin's - in the water - killed by a fish? Luckily, the sailfish tired out closer to my Yak and I was able to fish another day.

Having no idea if his sail was sharp like a snapper's fins or that bill is sharp, the guide helped me out and I grabbed the bill to control the fish. The bill, by the way, feels like some heavy grit sandpaper. I grabbed the bill closer to the mouth, which was a bit too close and the fish let me know it by closing on my hand. OUCH!

And there I was....Sailfish on my lap. Picture snapped. Sailfish revived with some water through the gills....and it was off to the next fish....

[YakMack]

After catching a Kingfish (trolling) and a small Bonita (diamond jigging), it was about 1230pm and time to head back in.

We had drifted about 8 miles north and pedaled to our takeout spot. About 100 yards from the shore (15 feet of water), it was time to reel my bait in so no swimmers would get 'hooked.' I knew this was it....My last chance to catch a fish on this trip. I decided to slowly reel it in - JUST IN CASE.

I reeled it in about 30 yards and.....I felt a tug. Damn baitfish is foul hooked or wrapped in my line again! ZZZZZZZZZSSSSSTTSSSTSSSS!!! Fish on!!!

"Set the hook!!!" Just as I tried to set the hook, a monster flew out of the water - A TARPON!!!!! (Guide is happy as shizz, but realizes that his $$/hour will go down if I land this Tarpon). Another jump out of the water! Whoa!!! In the background, I can hear the beachgo-ers yelling "Whoa!!!" with every jump of the Tarpon and I know the bait soakers on the huge fishing pier are wishing they had a Yak at the time.

At this point, I have blisters all over my hands from reeling and casting along with a sand papered set of hands from the sailfish bill. But, I wasn't giving up - nor was the Tarpon.

Tarpon pulls me into deeper water....I did what the Tarpon told me. Would he jump again? 3-4 more times he did...and I still had him on....and the guide was cheering me on, despite his plan to have the kayak in the truck already.

30 min later....I had'em (and that ginormous mouth of his). No way that thing was making it into my kayak for the picture - plus, I wanted it to live another day - and he did - after a picture, of course.

I can't stop looking at those pics.....I'll be back.

[shoffer]

That is awesome. Nice job!!


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[YakMack]

Perhaps, a video of the action will suffice?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY5mYbuHKRc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[elnaco]

We need more of this! Looked like a trip of a lifetime. Congrats on a solid sail and tarpon.

[SurfRunner]

Perhaps, a video of the action will suffice?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY5mYbuHKRc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very very nice! Doesn't get much better than that! Congrats on the awesome catches!

[JMS]

Wow great report!


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[pdmarty]

Awesome !!!

[Forever Fishing]

Great stories!

[Chaz]

Neat! Delray is 30 minutes from my mothers house - I will go take the guide next time I am down there. Thanks for posting!