Report: You know we forget that we go kayaking not just to catch fish, but to enjoy nature and see things that we don’t see and enjoy nature in it real state. Sure we aim to catch fish each time we go out, but sometimes it’s tough and then there are those times it is really TOUGH.

A few weeks ago a friend and I were out chasing reds with flies.  The wind was out of the north and the water was way out. We start working a flat with the wind behind us.  We found deeper pocket (1 ½’ to 2’) water and in the sand pocket we see reds and black drum. We offer everything we have to them and can’t seem to get a bite. They will swim up and sniff your offering and take a close look at the flies, but won’t take them. I kept thinking of what I could do to get them to bite and nothing came to mind and everything I tried didn’t work. After many attempts we just sat back and let the wind drift us along.  As we are talking with the paddles across our kayaks, my buddy goes nuts. He is beside himself and grabs the paddle and off he goes. Most of what he said I can’t repeat here and I am trying to understand what he is after.

What happened was there was a 34” or better red between his paddle blade and kayak and it took off.  So he was in hot pursuit to catch him. He chased him from sand pocket to pocket trying to get him to bite and he wouldn’t. He was like a kid in a candy store chasing this red. Even weeks later he is still talking about having that one up close, not what we caught or didn’t catch, just having a big one that close to him.  Sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses, even if we can’t see them.

The bull drums are here in good numbers and would be a blast to catch on light tackle from a kayak.  That is something you would be talking about for years to come. The puppy drum and sheep head are still on the flats as is the redfish. Trout action should warm up as the water warms up; we have been catching dinks in fairly good numbers on sunny days. The larger trout are on the drop off in 3’ – 5’ water. The bite is still light and you must have patience to get them.

Have a great day and be safe, remember the pfd won’t help you if you don’t wear it.