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I returned last evening from my latest trip to fish in the Tampa Bay area with kayak guide Neil Taylor of Strike Three Kayak Fishing. On Mon and Tues, I had two friends from Oklahoma fishing with me. On Mon, the water was calm as we drove across a bridge to the launch point. However, once we were on the water, the wind built to a brisk pace that kept my anchor from holding consistently. The bite was slow, with some speckled trout and a few small flounder. At one point, my back was getting stiff so I told Neil I would paddle to a beach on a nearby small mangrove island to stretch. As I approached the island, I took a few casts up against the mangroves. On the second cast I felt a strong pull, which led to a 20"+ snook.
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I made a circuit around the mangrove island casting as I went. Over the next 15 mins, I caught three more, with the largest in the mid-20s.
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I circled the island twice more, but the snook had departed.
On Day 2, we fished in heavy fog but calm winds. I ended the day with 22 specs, 1 ladyfish, and 1 flounder.
On Day 3, Neil let me tag along on someone else's charter. The weather was gorgeous and low wind. Both of those guys were really late (1.5 hours and 2 hours). After an hour of waiting, Neil told me to take a kayak and rod and paddle out looking for some grass flats just off a boat channel. I went off by myself and soon had bites. My first fish of the day was a 20" beauty. It was my longest spec in several years.
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I ended the day with 30 specs, 3 ladyfish, and 2 flounder.
As each of the new guys arrived, Neil sent them out to me to show them where to fish and how to use the anchor trolley system. For a few hours I was an assistant guide (fun for a day, but not something I would want to do as a regular job).
On the final day, Neil and I launched to another calm morning. We paddled a few miles to fish along a shallow flat next to a nature preserve. We could see large snook and redfish in the water but were unable to convince them to bite. After 2.5 hours with no bites, we found a pod of energetic ladyfish to give some badly needed pullage. All of them leaped several times and made fast drag screaming runs. I ended with 8 ladyfish, 1 puffer fish, and 3 specs. Two of the specs were 17” long.
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Mark and I have already booked several days with Neil in April. I can't wait.
001.jpg
I made a circuit around the mangrove island casting as I went. Over the next 15 mins, I caught three more, with the largest in the mid-20s.
002.jpg
I circled the island twice more, but the snook had departed.
On Day 2, we fished in heavy fog but calm winds. I ended the day with 22 specs, 1 ladyfish, and 1 flounder.
On Day 3, Neil let me tag along on someone else's charter. The weather was gorgeous and low wind. Both of those guys were really late (1.5 hours and 2 hours). After an hour of waiting, Neil told me to take a kayak and rod and paddle out looking for some grass flats just off a boat channel. I went off by myself and soon had bites. My first fish of the day was a 20" beauty. It was my longest spec in several years.
002.jpg 003a.jpg
I ended the day with 30 specs, 3 ladyfish, and 2 flounder.
As each of the new guys arrived, Neil sent them out to me to show them where to fish and how to use the anchor trolley system. For a few hours I was an assistant guide (fun for a day, but not something I would want to do as a regular job).
On the final day, Neil and I launched to another calm morning. We paddled a few miles to fish along a shallow flat next to a nature preserve. We could see large snook and redfish in the water but were unable to convince them to bite. After 2.5 hours with no bites, we found a pod of energetic ladyfish to give some badly needed pullage. All of them leaped several times and made fast drag screaming runs. I ended with 8 ladyfish, 1 puffer fish, and 3 specs. Two of the specs were 17” long.
IMAG0797.jpg
Mark and I have already booked several days with Neil in April. I can't wait.
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