Ft Myers - April 20

[J.A. Veil]

I arrived in Ft Myers, FL yesterday. I fished with Stefan Kuenzel of Kayak Excursions. Stefan met me at Little Carlos Pass on Lovers Key (just south of Ft Myers Beach). Stefan uses a Malibu with a BassYaks electric motor. He brought me a French-made RTM brand very basic sit-on top kayak.

We paddled a mile north and fished the incoming tide on the flats around some mangrove islands. The first half hour of fishing was excellent, then it stopped. I did not catch a fish for the rest of the 4-hour trip. But during that first half hour, I had a fish on that spit out my jighead and clear 4" twister tail. While that was happening, the live shrimp I was drifting behind a popping cork got hit hard. It turned out to be a pretty speckled trout about 18" long.

A few minutes later we saw a school of predators chasing bait next to the mangroves. I cast my jighead in there and had a strong fight for the next 5 minutes. It turned out to be a powerful jack crevalle that gave my tackle all it could take.

After releasing that fish, I saw two more brown colored fish follow my lure to the boat but turn off at the last instant. I wish the fast action had lasted longer, but I did enjoy catching those two fish.

I have a second kayak charter scheduled for tomorrow morning. However, the weather forecast is calling for heavy rain and strong winds. I suspect the trip will be cancelled.

[ictalurus]

Very cool, John. Congrats on the nice fish. Is the jack a new species for you?

[J.A. Veil]

Very cool, John. Congrats on the nice fish. Is the jack a new species for you?

I caught jack crevalles several years ago in this same part of Florida, but it was done from a fishing guide's power boat. Today was my first time catching them from a kayak. Today's jack may have been the most powerful fish I ever caught from a kayak, with the possible exception of 27" redfish caught in the Lynhaven area.

[kevinfry]

Jacks are such great fighters, i bet you had nice tussle.

[ronaultmtd]

Nice diversion, John- Jacks are a blast- next time fish around the marinas, docks and bridges right next to the launches- I used to go every year to Ft. Myers for a conference right after Thanksgiving and we would catch 20 (+) pound jacks up in the area right next to the marina where the charter boats were docked- we would use cast nets and catch small peanut menhaden and throw a dozen or so as chum then hook one on a small circle hook and toss it in on light spinning tackle- it was a blast as they are a very strong fighter- and the thing no one figured was that that close in next to the pilings under the docks and bridges everything that swims was there- we caught snook, redfish, ladyfish, speckled trout, cuban snappers, gaftop catfish, etc.

[OBX_RAT]

Looks like one hell of time you are having, I love fishing FL too, I'll be going down to Steinhatchee, fishing the Steinhatchee River at the Gulf of Mexico.

[DOGFISH]

Nice fishing. It is always a blast to fish in Florida.

[J.A. Veil]

I'm on Lido Key (Sarasota) until Wed attending meetings. I visited a local kayak rental place on Sun and met a guy who offered to take me out fishing on Wed morning either in a kayak or in his small center console boat. It has been blowing 20-25 mph from Sat through today -- hopefully it will lay down by then.

Here is another photo of my jack crevalle that was taken by the guide.

[ronaultmtd]

I'm on Lido Key (Sarasota) until Wed attending meetings. I visited a local kayak rental place on Sun and met a guy who offered to take me out fishing on Wed morning either in a kayak or in his small center console boat. It has been blowing 20-25 mph from Sat through today -- hopefully it will lay down by then.

Here is another photo of my jack crevalle that was taken by the guide.

A day fishing adds to youR lifespan, John- is is proven to add one and a half day to extend your life-