My first Florida Kayak Fish!

[lowprofile]

was a HARDTAIL! my second was also a hardtail and my third a 10" blue runner! which caught...






After shark fishing sat. evening until Sunday morning i decided to load up the shark gear and take the yak to look for some baitfish to use next weekend (spanish, blues a barracuda maybe?). so i launched just west of P'cola pier and headed out and around it. I fish the pier every now and then and appreciate yakkers and boats not getting too close so i did my best not to be that guy when i passed but i really wanted to get in on that school of spanish. I set up to the east, about 100 or more yards away (well out of casting distance from both angles) and found a school of hard tails. nailed two then a blue runner... i didn't prepare my yak to fish out of it, just run shark baits, but when i opened my center hatch to toss the baitfish in i found a box of 2/0 treble hooks i used to trap rig mackerel with for halibut in California. well, i took one and attached it to my wire leader and pinned on that blue runner.
At first it wanted to float and act like it was dying or something... but a few good jerks and a steady troll it came back to life and was trolling very happily behing me about 40ft. i got almost inline with the pier (trying to make sure i was far enough away) when i felt some taps. like my bait, a 10" fish, was being attacked by pinfish or something. i slowed down and let it drop behind me then BAM! rod goes bendo and line starts peeling off the reel! 15 mins later my Shimano clarus, calcutta 200 and 20lb wire defeated a 45" king! my first official fish off a yak since moving here in January! i did not have a gaff, so i had to grab it by the tail.. no liping these guys!

[Ddwineguy]

Wow. Super cool. Waiting to see pictures of your first kayak tarpon.

[stephenG]

Cool. Those King mackerel can really burn some drag on the first run. Sure it was a good fight.

[PE.rider]

Smoked King Macks are the best!!!!

Make one of those Hawaiin spear gaffs. Stuns and kills them instantly so you won't get bitten.

Nice catch. Wait until late Summer when the monster Bluefish run.... Get your irons ready!

[FlyFishinYakr]

Don't forget the grouper , bonefish & permit.
Going to miss it this year, due to my 2.5 day on the Islander next month.
Keep on slayin' 'em. Show them we West coasters can fish the East side too.
I'm going to have to plan a trip like your's with my Outback!
I'd like to catch a bonefish, permit & tarpon with a Fly Rod from a yak.
100# tarpon on a yak. What a sleigh ride that would be.
FFY

[makobob]

100lb tarpon, sleigh ride! You could die if he gets airborn boatside. Be careful.

[roadx]

nice!

congrats you potential no food value but possibly good shark bait tarpon hunter

[lowprofile]

Originally Posted by roadx

nice!

congrats you potential no food value but possibly good shark bait tarpon hunter