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I left home at 4:30 am and flew to Tampa, arriving at 8:30 am. I met kayak fishing guide Neil Taylor (Strike Three Kayak Fishing) for breakfast. We launched at 11:15 am to jig bridge pilings for pompano and black drum. It was windier than we would have liked, making it tough to hold on pilings. We were jigging light lures (1" long Silly Willy jig [http://www.captainjoefishing.com/pro...ly+Willy+Jigs] with a pink teaser -- both tied to the running line with the same loop knot) in 12-15 ft depth. We used medium action St Croix Mojo Inshore rods with Daiwa spinning reels.
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Some days the bite is red hot, but not today -- bites were few and far between. After an hour I had a very strong pull. Neil told me not to wind it in but to wait until he could tow me into open water away from the pilings. Before he could get over to my location, the strong fish surged and broke the lure off. Neil told me it was a black drum -- probably 20-30 lbs. It was exciting to hook such a strong fish on light tackle.
An hour later, I caught my first pompano -- a new species for me. Later in the day I caught a second one that was an inch or so larger. These fish pull remarkably hard, bending the rod into the water several times on their energetic runs. I also caught two jacks and one ladyfish. Neil caught a small cobia.
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Tomorrow we will try another location to target specs, flounder, and redfish.
002.jpg
Some days the bite is red hot, but not today -- bites were few and far between. After an hour I had a very strong pull. Neil told me not to wind it in but to wait until he could tow me into open water away from the pilings. Before he could get over to my location, the strong fish surged and broke the lure off. Neil told me it was a black drum -- probably 20-30 lbs. It was exciting to hook such a strong fish on light tackle.
An hour later, I caught my first pompano -- a new species for me. Later in the day I caught a second one that was an inch or so larger. These fish pull remarkably hard, bending the rod into the water several times on their energetic runs. I also caught two jacks and one ladyfish. Neil caught a small cobia.
001.jpg IMAG1712.jpg
Tomorrow we will try another location to target specs, flounder, and redfish.
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